Lisa S. Alter
Much effort has been made at the federal, state and local level to clean up Long Island Sound. As one can see in my Teacher Resource section, interest in the Sound is widespread. Some actions that have been taken to date to help clean up the Long Island Sound are;
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Nitrogen loads from certain point sources have been regulated and now they are 5000 pounds per day below 1990 baseline levels.
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Connecticut has one denitrification plant on line, and plans for another.
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CT and NY share a fund that is targeted to reduce nonpoint nitrogen sources.
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Broader efforts are underway in CT and NY to address nonpoint sources of pollution and stormwater management. This will help in the control of pathogens.
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New York City has reduced floatables by 70%, by placing booms across tributaries, and improving capture of combined sewer overflows.
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In CT and NY, beach cleanups have removed over 11,000 pounds of trash, over a distance of 53 miles.
(DEP, 1993)
Long Island Sound is our student’s “backyard.” A unit on the Sound is very meaningful to them, as they can all relate to it. The students are the Sound’s future and hopefully they will continue in its restoration.