Provide assistance to save the sound to implement its project to support the long island sound comprehensive conservation and management plan to protect and restore long island sound by coordinating…

Save The Sound Inc. received a $562,984 Project Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 under the Geographic Programs – Long Island Sound Program (CFDA 66.437) for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The grant supports the implementation of the River Restoration Network, a coordinated initiative designed to advance the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan by removing stream barriers, restoring riverine habitat connectivity, and enhancing regional capacity for ecosystem restoration. Save The Sound serves as the grant administrator on behalf of the River Restoration Network, overseeing project management, reconnaissance studies, and apprenticeship program development to build a pipeline of skilled project managers within the region.

The award funds specific products and services delivered through six subawards to partner organizations: five $6,500 subawards to Connecticut River Conservancy, Farmington River Watershed Association, Housatonic Valley Association, The Nature Conservancy, and Trout Unlimited to develop an apprenticeship program framework; a $126,500 subaward to American Rivers for dam reconnaissance studies and shared project management support; and a $106,650 subaward to Seatuck Environmental Association for culvert reconnaissance studies and shared project management. These coordinated efforts aim to achieve the Long Island Sound Partnership's barrier removal targets, increase habitat connectivity, support migratory pathways, and enhance regional biodiversity through a systematic, EPA-quality-assured approach to project development and implementation.

Description

The purpose of this agreement is to provide assistance to save the sound to implement its project to support the long island sound comprehensive conservation and management plan to protect and restore long island sound by coordinating and implementing the river restoration network to establish a networked approach to capacity building and a more systemic approach to project development. The expected outcomes of the river restoration network is the achievement of the long island sound partnership's barrier removal target, increasing the connectivity of the region's riverine habitat to enhance biodiversity and support migratory pathways. The recipient will follow a standard method, detailed in an EPA-approved quality assurance project plan (qapp), to score potential projects and conduct reconnaissance studies.activities:specifically, under this grant agreement the recipient will increase regional project management capacity for stream barrier removal, develop a pipeline of new project managers through apprenticeships, and accelerate project development and implementation. Save the sound, LLC will administer the grant funds on behalf of the river restoration network. Subrecipient:five subawards at $6,500 each to help develop a framework for an apprenticeship program to cultivate future project managers. These will be awarded to: o connecticut river conservancy o farmington river watershed association o housatonic valley association o the nature conservancy o trout unlimited a subaward for $126,500 will be awarded to american rivers in support of a DAM reconnaissance study, to hire a shared project manager, and to assist with the development of a framework for an apprenticeship program. A subaward for $106,650 will be awarded to the seatuck environmental association in support of a shared project manager, a culvert reconnaissance study, and to assist with the development of a framework for an apprenticeship program. Outcomes:under this grant agreement, the recipient will coordinate and implement the river restoration network to establish a networked approach to capacity building and a more systemic approach to project development. The expected outcomes of the river restoration network is the achievement of the long island sound partnership's barrier removal target, increasing the connectivity of the region's riverine habitat to enhance biodiversity and support migratory pathways. The expected outcomes of the river restoration network are increased regional project management capacity for stream barrier removal, an apprenticeship program that creates a pipeline of new project managers, and accelerated project development and implementation. Save the sound will follow a standard method, detailed in an EPA-approved quality assurance project plan (qapp), to score potential projects and conduct reconnaissance studies. Direct beneficiaries of this program include the general population in the new york/connecticut/upper basin portion of the long island sound watershed and its surrounding areas, schools, universities and other institutions of learning, environmental managers and policy makers and the participants in the long island sound partnership.