Save the Sound, based in New Haven, has been awarded two grants from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund (LISFF), administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). The funds awarded include $200,000 to produce a watershed-based plan for the Hutchinson River in Westchester County and $172,000 to design a nature-like fishway at Long Pond Dam on Whitford Brook in Ledyard, Connecticut.
Using the awarded funds and matching contributions, Save the Sound and the Westchester County Department of Planning will work closely with local stakeholders to develop a watershed plan for the portion of the Hutchinson River watershed in Westchester County.
“We”™re really looking forward to working with Westchester County and community partners across all the lands that drain to the Hutchinson River to complete our first watershed plan in New York,” said Nicole Davis, watershed coordinator at Save the Sound. “These plans are critical for developing a comprehensive approach to building pollution reduction, flood resilience, approaches to stormwater management, and community engagement in advocacy and stewardship across municipal lines.”
“Our department, due to the landscape of our county, is no stranger to watershed plans like this,” said Norma Drummond, Westchester County Planning Commissioner. “We look forward to partnering with Save the Sound on behalf of Westchester residents”¦.”
With an award of $172,000 from this round of the Long Island Sound Futures Fund, Save the Sound and project partners will design a nature-like fishway to help migratory forage fish like alewife pass Long Pond Dam.
“With this design funding, we”™ve moved one step closer to a connected river system on Whitford Brook,” said Gwen MacDonald, director of ecological restoration at Save the Sound. “The restoration of our rivers and the fish runs that bring them so much vitality each spring must remain a top priority across the Long Island Sound region”¦.”
