Lisa S. Alter
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90% of its freshwater comes from the Connecticut, Thames, and Housatonic Rivers.
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110 miles long; 600 miles of coastline (271 miles belonging to Connecticut).
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21 miles at its widest point.
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1300 square miles (787,000 acres) = 0.04% of the world’s coastal ocean.
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Surface temperatures; 32-73 degrees fahrenheit.
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Salinity ranges from 23ppt-33 ppt(at the Race).
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Currents strongest at eastern end.
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Tides greatest at western end. Two high tides and two low tides each day.
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5 million people living within fifteen miles of its coast.
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14.6 million people living within its drainage basin.
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2 states bordering the Sound.
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5 states contributing to the Sound’s watershed (Ct, MA, NH, NY, VT).
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3 New York counties and 24 Connecticut towns with coastlines on the Sound.
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40% of Connecticut’s population lives on its coast.
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44 sewage treatment plants discharging directly into the Sound.
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248 miles of beaches, 95 miles publicly owned.
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200,000 boats registered “Sound-wide.”
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Sport fisheries worth $70-$130 million to the economy in 1987.
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6 million people visited state-owned beaches in 1988.
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Commercial fisheries worth $36-$40 million to the economy in 1987.
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750,000 recreational fishermen.
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20,000 boat slips.
Long Island Sound, unlike most other estuaries, has two connections with the ocean. Through the East River/NY Harbor to the west and through the Race to the east. The water entering through the Race has a higher salinity.
Long Island Sound is really a combination of two systems, a sound and estuary. A sound is defined as a relatively narrow passage of water between an island (Long Island) and the mainland (Connecticut). (Random House, 1991)
The focus of this unit will be on Long Island Sound as an estuary. An estuary is defined as a coastal area where fresh water from rivers and streams, mixes with salt water from oceans. Examples include; bays, sounds and lagoons near the coast. Estuaries also include portions of rivers and streams connected to the above. (EPA, 1993)
Estuaries are safe spawning grounds and nurseries for organisms, that when young would not be able to survive in the open ocean. Marshes and other vegetation in estuaries, protect water quality by filtering out sediments and pollutants. These areas store large amounts of water and are barriers against storm waves and floods. (EPA, 1993)
Estuaries, such as Long Island Sound are highly valued for their recreational and economic value. About 31% of our GNP is produced in coastal counties. Almost one half of the United States population lives in coastal areas, including the shores of estuaries. Due to the above, estuaries all over the world are under stress, becoming polluted, upsetting the ecological balance and impacting our lives. (EPA, 1993)
Due to the above, Congress established the National Estuaries Program in 1987 as part of the “Clean Water Act.” Its mission is to protect and restore the health of estuaries, while supporting economic and recreational activities. NEP also helps to create partnerships between the government and people of the area, through grants and technical assistance. (EPA, 1993)
Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. Long Island Sound is no exception. In 1990, the value of the Sound was $5.5 billion per year. This included (in millions of dollars);
boating
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3322.2
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sportfishing
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1065.2
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swimming
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842.8
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commercial fishing
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148.4
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intrinsic value
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151.6
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(Long Island Sound Study, 1992)
Two-thirds of the U.S. commercial fish species depend on estuaries as nurseries and breeding grounds. Prior to the 1970’s, many estuarine wetlands were filled in for residential and commercial uses. (Metler, Tiner, 1992)