Federal and state programs have long focused on reducing nitrogen from point source discharges, like wastewater treatment plants, as a primary strategy to combat hypoxia in Long Island Sound. However, recent research indicates that non-point sources of nitrogen are largely responsible for degrading the water quality of coastal embayments and are a significant source of excess nitrogen to Long Island Sound in general. This means local actions play a major part of reducing the amount of nitrogen pollution in our waterbodies.

To kickstart some of these local efforts, NEMO partnered with CT DEEP to conduct outreach projects focused on nitrogen in Connecticut coastal communities.

Regional Meetings On CT Nitrogen Strategy

Three regional meetings (Waterford, North Haven, and Westport) were help in August 2017 on the status of nitrogen pollution in Long Island Sound, DEEP's strategy to address it and what communities can do to help. Tools and outreach materials available to help reduce nitrogen levels in stormwater and meet some of the requirements of the updated MS4 permit.

CT Nitrogen Strategy

presented by Kelly Streich, Chuck Lee, and Marybeth Hart, CT DEEP

Local Action to Support the Nitrogen Strategy

resented by David Dickson, Amanda Ryan, and Mike Dietz, UConn CLEAR

Webinars

Nitrogen experts presented two webinars in June 2017 covering the latest on nitrogen pollution in Connecticut.

Nitrogen Pollution In Long Island Sound Embayments: Where is it Coming From?

Presented by UConn Professor Dr. Jamie Vaudrey, highlighted her research on the sources of nitrogen pollution to Long Island Sound embayments. The results of her study are very useful in determining the greatest contributors of nitrogen to each of the coastal embayments along the sound. Armed with the knowledge towns and the state can make decisions about how best to focus nitrogen pollution reduction efforts.

CT's 2nd Generation Nitrogen Pollution Strategy

The second webinar, presented by Kelly Streich, covered CT DEEP's second generation strategy for addressing nitrogen pollution in Connecticut. She outlines progress made to date and what DEEP's strategy is going forward, including changes in approaches for wastewater treatment, new regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to stormwater management and a focus on coastal embayments. p>

Explore your Embayments

Zoom in and click on your embayment in the map below to see how much nitrogen is intering the emabyment, what part of the watershed it is coming from, and what sources are contributing Nitrogen.

For a larger version of this map, click here.