Suffolk Reporter

Nearly a dozen communities on Long Island, in the Bronx, and Westchester County are among those benefiting from more than $1 million in resilience planning support grants. These funds have been distributed through the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program, initiated by Sea Grant programs in New York (NYSG) and Connecticut (CTSG) with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency via the Long Island Sound Study.

Elizabeth Hornstein, NYSG's Sustainable and Resilient Communities specialist at Stony Brook University, stated, "We’re thrilled that these communities, including three on Long Island (Laurel Hollow, Oyster Bay, and Lattingtown), are taking these steps to adapt to a changing climate." She emphasized that these projects aim to enhance quality of life and local ecosystems for years to come.

The Village of Lattingtown has received over $37,000 for developing a conservation plan for the marsh complex at Kate Trubee Davison Preserve. Mayor Robert Fagiola remarked that the program will provide necessary environmental tools for preserving the village while ensuring storm preparedness and coastal resiliency.

St. John’s Episcopal Church in Laurel Hollow was granted over $72,000 to hire a contractor for developing a plan concerning their marsh and pond adjacent to Cold Spring Harbor. Luke Gervase of GEI Consultants noted issues like flooding due to deterioration of constructed areas over time. The project aims to identify potential issues for future conservation efforts.

Seatuck Environmental Association received over $71,000 to explore improvements for Beaver Brook's protection. Executive Director Enrico Nardone highlighted its recreational and ecological value but acknowledged challenges due to human-made infrastructure and climate change effects like sea-level rise.

NYSG Director Rebecca Shuford expressed optimism about the program's outcomes: “By equipping communities with actionable plans...we are setting the stage for transformative resilience initiatives.” A second round of grants is currently available with up to $1 million on offer.

New York Sea Grant operates as part of Cornell University and State University of New York under NOAA’s National Sea Grant College Program.