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Restore America’s Estuaries is excited to announce the third round of funding for the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund. Up to $1,200,000 in competitive funding will be awarded to support projects in New York and Connecticut in 2026. The Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is a partnership among Restore America’s Estuaries, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Long Island Sound Partnership. The purpose of LISCIF is to provide technical and financial assistance to communities for addressing environmental issues and to improve the quality and accessibility of the Long Island Sound.

This StoryMap describes how the Long Island Sound (LIS) Partnership has reduced hypoxia and improved nutrient management efforts in Long Island Sound and its watershed.

It includes an explanation of hypoxia, impacts from the region’s history, how LIS Partnership is addressing hypoxia, plans for the future, and how to use this information to inform meaningful action.

The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program provides financial assistance to municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land for open space, and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II water supply property.

The Quinnipiac River Fund, a component fund of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, makes grants for projects designed to benefit the environmental quality of the Quinnipiac River, the New Haven Harbor, and surrounding watersheds.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. ORLP is a nationally competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant program. It was created to aid disadvantaged, urban communities that lack access to close-by outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or substantial renovation of, public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces.

Entities interested in seeking funding under the ORLP program should contact their State’s Lead Agency (Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for Connecticut; Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation for New York) to get details about their state’s process for selecting and submitting projects to the NPS’ national competition.

The Land & Easement Acquisition Program (LEAP) is designed to bridge funding gaps and accelerate the protection of valuable conservation lands. CLCC will prioritize projects that:

• Have a closing time frame of 12 months or less.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation.

• Align with statewide land conservation goals.

• Have leveraged and/or exhausted other public and private funding sources.

The Land Capital Grant Program (LCG) is designed to bridge funding gaps and accelerate the protection of valuable conservation lands. CLCC will prioritize projects that:

• Have a closing time frame of 12 months or less.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation.

• Align with statewide land conservation goals.

• Have leveraged and/or exhausted other public and private funding sources.

The Land Capital Grant Program (LCG) is designed to bridge funding gaps and accelerate the protection of valuable conservation lands. CLCC will prioritize projects that:

• Have a closing time frame of 12 months or less.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation.

• Align with statewide land conservation goals.

• Have leveraged and/or exhausted other public and private funding sources.

The Land Capital Grant Program (LCG) is designed to bridge funding gaps and accelerate the protection of valuable conservation lands. CLCC will prioritize projects that:

• Have a closing time frame of 12 months or less.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation.

• Align with statewide land conservation goals.

• Have leveraged and/or exhausted other public and private funding sources.

The Land Capital Grant Program (LCG) is designed to bridge funding gaps and accelerate the protection of valuable conservation lands. CLCC will prioritize projects that:

• Have a closing time frame of 12 months or less.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to conservation.

• Align with statewide land conservation goals.

• Have leveraged and/or exhausted other public and private funding sources.

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, available through the Office of the Secretary of Transportation and US DOT, makes awards on a competitive basis for projects that reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development.

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Supports the development of urban agriculture and innovative production activities by funding Planning Projects and Implementation Projects led by nonprofit organizations, local or Tribal governments, and schools.

The Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) program was established in 2014 and is funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. ORLP is a nationally competitive, dollar-for-dollar matching grant program. It was created to aid disadvantaged, urban communities that lack access to close-by outdoor recreation. Funds can be used for the acquisition and/or development of, or substantial renovation of, public parks and other outdoor recreation spaces.

Projects may include any or all manner of outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, camping, unstructured play, picnicking, cycling, field and court sports, fishing, bird watching, swimming pools, paddling, and skating, as well as for outdoor recreation facilities and some supporting facilities and infrastructure like restrooms/bathhouses, or parking areas, when part of an overall recreation project.

This program provides funding for the acquisition, planning, development, and improvement of parks, historic properties, and heritage areas.

The NYS Department of State (NYSDOS) is soliciting applications from eligible villages, towns, cities located along New York’s coasts or designated inland waterways, counties, or regional planning councils to advance the preparation or implementation of strategies for community and waterfront revitalization through the following grant categories: Preparing or Updating a Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), including Updating an LWRP to be More Resilient to Climate Risks; Preparing an LWRP Component, including a Watershed Management Plan; Implementing an LWRP or a completed LWRP Component.

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Grant program was established in 2016 to provide grants to cities, towns, villages, and counties of the State of New York for eligible climate change mitigation, adaptation, and planning and assessment projects. Funds are available for two broad project categories – implementation and certification. The first project category supports implementation projects related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (mainly outside the power sector), climate change adaptation, and engineering feasibility studies for flood mitigation and Hydrofluorocarbons. The second supports planning and assessment projects aligned with Climate Smart Communities certification actions.

$1 million in competitive grant funding is now available through the NY State’s Community Forest Conservation Grant Program. Community forests build local ownership of forests, local participation in forest management, and contribute to the State’s goals of conserving 30 percent of New York’s lands and waters by 2030.

Municipalities can use this funding to purchase land or conservation easements to create or expand community-owned forests to sustain and protect wildlife habitat, promote clean air and water, preserve biodiversity, and increase access to recreation opportunities and open space.

Municipalities may apply for a minimum of $50,000 up to a maximum of $300,000. Eligible locations for acquisition include private properties of 10 or more acres within New York State. At least 75% of the property must be forested.

This grant program, supported by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), is designed to advance projects that target both aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state, with six funding categories that address invasive species spread prevention; early detection and rapid response; research; management planning; and education and outreach.

DEEP was awarded this funding from the EPA under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to administer to brownfield sites in Connecticut to perform environmental assessment and cleanup activities.

The Open Space and Watershed Land Acquisition (OSWA) Grant Program provides financial assistance to municipalities and nonprofit land conservation organizations to acquire land for open space, and to water companies to acquire land to be classified as Class I or Class II water supply property.

The Connecticut Society for Women Environmental Professionals Grant Program provides funding for local projects in Connecticut that benefit the environment. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded. Any application meeting the grant guidelines that is not successful in one cycle may reapply during any following cycle. The applications will be judged based on the environmental benefits of each project, in comparison to others. “Environmental benefits” can vary widely and successful applications have ranged from property clean-ups to environmental education.

Awards small grants in support of grassroots efforts and community-based environmental work in New England. The Grassroots Fund utilizes participatory grantmaking to move resources to New England grassroots groups working at the intersections of Environmental Justice. The program is geared toward groups who have some experience implementing a project in their community. Grants support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders, and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes.

Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund is an innovative program that provides fast, flexible funding and support for engaging your community on wide-ranging sustainability projects. Eligible projects receive dollar-for-dollar matching funds from Sustainable CT.

The Long Island Sound Stewardship Fund (LISSF) is a competitive grant program seeking proposals to restore and protect the health and living resources of Long Island Sound. LISSF is interested in empowering communities of all kinds (including communities typically underrepresented in environmental programs and projects) to access, improve, and benefit from Long Island Sound, its waterways, and surrounding lands. Up to $400,000 is expected to be available for grants in 2025. The most competitive proposals will incorporate multiple values including sustainability, resilience, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Acres for America is the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) premier land conservation program and was established to provide urgently needed funding for projects that conserve important large-scale habitats for fish, wildlife, and plants through voluntary land acquisitions and perpetual conservation easements.

The NEP Coastal Watersheds Grant Program is a nationally competitive grants program designed to support projects that address urgent and challenging issues threatening the well-being of coastal and estuarine areas within determined estuaries of national significance.

EPA Long Island Sound Study announced the second round of this program focused on the Long Island Sound watershed area within New York and Connecticut. The purpose of the Long Island Sound Community Impact Fund (LISCIF) is to provide technical and financial assistance to communities to address environmental issues and improve the quality and accessibility of the Long Island Sound. Technical assistance will be provided through LISCIF and is available to communities/organizations even if one does not submit a funding proposal.  

The Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF) is seeking proposals to restore the health and living resources of Long Island Sound (Sound). The program is managed by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Long Island Sound Study (LISS). Major funding is from EPA through the LISS with additional funding from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Zoetis Foundation.

This grant program supports efforts to test innovative approaches to conservation, deliver transformative projects, and support people and communities who value the sound and take a direct role in its future. Projects should advance implementation of the Long Island Sound Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan 2020-2024 Update (CCMP). The Futures Fund invests in projects under three CCMP themes: 1) Clean Waters and Healthy Watersheds; 2) Thriving Habitats and Abundant Wildlife; 3) Sustainable and Resilient Communities. 

Sea Grant and the NOAA Climate Program Office, with support from the NOAA Office for Coastal Management, seek to establish programs aimed at placing people across the country into good jobs that advance climate resilience and assisting employers in developing a 21st century workforce that is climate literate, informed by climate resilience, and skilled at addressing consequent challenges. NOAA will assist communities in coastal and Great Lakes states and territories so they may form partnerships that train workers and place them into jobs that enhance climate resilience.

With support from the Nature Conservancy and Sustainable CT, East Haddam organized a Community Resilience Building process and workshop, the results of which were compiled into this summary. The team engaged with community members to determine the present hazards and vulnerabilities and identify resilient solutions.

This project restored 46 acres of the Great Meadows Marsh in Connecticut that was degraded from dredge material that was dumped on site, poor drainage, and sea level rise. The marsh was also overrun with invasive plants and mosquitoes. A controlled fire was started to kill the invasive reeds growing in the marsh. Then a construction crew removed invasive plants and the dumped dredge material. Lastly, channels were carefully dug for tidal flushing which will allow the marsh to keep pace with sea level rise. Soil hummocks were constructed for Salt Marsh Sparrow habitat. Now the area continues to be monitored, assessed for resiliency, and provides a field for innovative solutions to be tested in.

Partners

Trustees: USFWS, NOAA, State of Connecticut; Project Partners: Audubon Connecticut, Town of Stratford

This comprehensive study and plan, funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Long Island Sound Futures Fund, identifies initial strategies to maintain and enhance the local watershed resources of Crab Meadow. It is meant to be a land management tool to guide the implementation of best practices. The plan was developed in consultation with many partners and stakeholders. There is now significant community buy-in to take action to protect and restore this important watershed. 

Following adoption of the plan, the Town of Huntington began working with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Audubon to study and restore Crab Meadow marsh and implement recommendations from the Stewardship Plan. Audubon, in partnership with Town of Huntington and USFWS, received a 2024 Long Island Sound Futures Fund Grant ($429K) to develop design plans for marsh restoration at Crab Meadow.

This NYSDEC tool provides information on shellfish closures in NY’s marine waters and can be used to help resource users understand where it is safe to harvest to shellfish.

This interactive map provides information on boat ramps and saltwater fishing access points on Long Island in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

Contains guidance documents and information on coastal permitting from the State of Connecticut.

User-friendly access to expert-reviewed interactive maps on key topics such as marine life and habitat, marine-based industry, use and resources in the northeastern United States. The Data Explorer allows the user to define and view any combination of data hosted on the Portal on one map.

This interactive map can help you find your way to over 350 diverse shoreline sites in Connecticut that provide a variety of opportunities for coastal enjoyment.

Guide that lists various beach-related actions/activities, permitting pathways, and other considerations

In this Coastal Resiliency Network webinar, Barbara Kendall from the NYS Department of State provides an overview of Local Waterfront Revitalization Programs (LWRP) and then representatives from four NYS coastal communities discuss their experiences developing and implementing their LWRPs. The Coastal Resilience Network, led by the New York State Association of Conservation Commissions (NYSACC) with assistance from NY Sea Grant, is a collaborative open forum for communities in coastal Westchester, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties to discuss and learn about opportunities to increase their resilience to sea level rise, flooding, and extreme events.