Special Edition of The What: The Long Island Sound
This is a special edition of The What, our free weekly newsletter, focusing on the importance of the Long Island Sound to southwest Connecticut.

Monday, February 3
Happy Monday! As many of you know, the Long Island Sound is essential to Connecticut. The Sound spans more than 1,300 square miles, from New York to the end of Connecticut, and is located in a “highly urbanized, highly populated area of the United States, with an estimated 23.8 million people living within 50 miles of its shores,” according to the Long Island Sound Blue Plan. It’s also home to many key habitats for fish, birds, mammals, and invertebrates.
Economically, the Sound contributes about $9.4 billion annually to the regional economy, while creating thousands of jobs, according to the Blue Plan. Recreationally, thousands of people swim, fish, and sail in its water, while even more play, relax, and eat along its shores. Environmentally, the Sound is home to hundreds of ecosystems and its coastline serves both as a barrier—and a challenge—against stronger and stronger storms.
That’s why we’ve done a lot of reporting on the water quality in the Long Island Sound and what that means for our region.
Follow along our trip into the Sound with scientists from the United States Geological Survey, as well as members of the Norwalk Health Department to see how water quality is measured.
You can also explore our reporting on Save the Sound’s most recent environmental report cards for the water in the Sound.
- How’s the Water at Southwest Connecticut Beaches?
- What the 2024 Save the Sound Report Card Means for Lower Fairfield County
We’ve also highlighted local investments and efforts to address environmental issues along the Sound, such as how communities are working to treat stormwater runoff before it ends up in the Sound.
- This Story Is About Trees: How cities and towns across southwest Connecticut are working to increase the number of trees in their communities, due to their many benefits.
- Plans Advance to Fix Fairfield’s Penfield Pavilion, Again
- Southwest Connecticut Adopts Resolutions, Creates Plans to Address Impacts of Climate Change
- How Stamford Is Working to Tackle Climate Change Locally
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Have a great week,
Kelly Prinz
Founder, Reporter at Coastal Connecticut Times