Project Grant 00A01413

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION TO IMPLEMENT ITS OWN PROJECT TO SUPPORT THE LONG ISLAND SOUND COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF LONG ISLAND SOUND AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THESE ACTIVITIES ARE INTENDED TO SUPPORT THE RECIPIENT'S GOAL TO RESTORE AND DE-LIST AREAS OF CONCERN, RESTORE AND PROTECT HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS TO BEACHES AND WATERWAYS, MAXIMIZE ACRES OF HABITAT RESTORED AND RIVER CORRIDORS WITH IMPROVED HEALTH, PROTECT AND RESTORE COASTAL WETLANDS, ENHANCE THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS AND UNDERSTAND OF THE SOUND, IMPLEMENT AND COORDINATE HABITAT RESTORATION AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING, STUDY OF NITROGEN LOADING FROM ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS, DEVELOP DYNAMIC HABITAT-BASED ECOLOGICAL DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS, CHARACTERIZE AND MAP HABITATS AND CONDUCT THE ACOUSTIC TELEMETRY OF KEY MIGRATORY FISH SPECIES.ACTIVITIES:SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES INCLUDE, EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO COMMUNITIES, COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS OF WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND EMBAYMENT DATA ACROSS THE WATERSHED; INCLUDING COASTAL ACIDIFICATION PARAMETERS, COORDINATION OF HABITAT RESTORATION, STUDY ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS, DEVELOP BENTHIC INDEX OF BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY TO MODEL EMBAYMENT HEALTH, CHARACTERIZE DEEP-WATER HABITATS, UPDATE DATABASES, AND CONDUCT THE TECHNICAL INTEGRATION OF NITROGEN MODELING IN EMBAYMENTS. SUBRECIPIENT:SUBAWARDS INCLUDE: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT LABORATORY FOR PLANKTON AND COMMUNITY SAMPLING AND ANALYSES AND COASTAL ACIDICATION MONITORING; UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT AND COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S LAMONT-DOHERTY EARTH OBSERVATORY FOR SEAFLOOR MAPPING AND CHARACTERIZING DEEP-WATER HABITATS; UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT'S CENTER FOR LAND USE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH FOR LAND COVER DATASETS AND SOFTWARE UPDATES TO ENSURE THE CONTINUITY OF THE DATA.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES WILL BE PROGRESS AND FINAL REPORTS; QUALITY ASSURANCE PROJECT PLANS (QAPPS); AND TECHNICAL REPORTS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE, IMPROVED MANAGEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS AND OBJECTIVES; IMPROVED WATER QUALITY, LIVING RESOURCES HABITAT, AND PUBLIC SAFETY; REDUCED CONTAMINANT AND NUTRIENT LOADS; IMPROVED WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT TO GUIDE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES AND IMPROVE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH; MAPS AND DATA PRODUCTS, AND WORKSHOPS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT. UPDATED DATABASES, WEBPAGES, CREATE OUTREACH VIDEOS, WORKSHOPS, OPEN ACCESS TOOLS, PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS, AND ACQUIRE LIS COASTAL PROPERTY. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE THE GENERAL POPULATION IN THE CONNECTICUT AND NEW YORK PORTION OF THE WATERSHED AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS, SCHOOLS, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS AND POLICY MAKERS.