Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP) Newsletter

May 2017

Visit NYSDEC’s LINAP webpage for more information about the LINAP, past newsletters,
documents, and more.

This issue’s topics:

• Public Meetings & Events
• Nassau County Subwatershed Advisory Workgroup
• Unified Water Study
• Consolidated Funding Application
• LINAP Webpage Updates

Public Meetings & Events

Nassau County Subwatershed Advisory Workgroup

The Nassau County Subwatershed Advisory Workgroup provides input and advises the LINAP Project Management Team as it works with Nassau County to develop groundwater and surface water nitrogen load reduction strategies. The first meeting was held on April 20, 2017. Members were introduced to the nitrogen load model (NLM) and hydrodynamic modeling currently underway. The NLM will determine the nitrogen load from wastewater, fertilizer, and atmospheric deposition to 13 subwatersheds throughout the County. Hydrodynamic modeling is being used to estimate nitrogen loading and flushing rates in the bays. The models will determine the priority subwatersheds in the County and inform nitrogen load reduction strategies.

Visit the LINAP Workgroups webpage to review presentations from the April 20 meeting.

Save the Sound Unified Water Study

Save the Sound has launched a surface water sampling program for groups conducting water quality sampling in the Long Island Sound. The Unified Water Study (UWS) is a water quality monitoring protocol designed to collect data and measure the health of the bays and harbors of the Long Island Sound. Save the Sound led the process to design and coordinate the study, working in collaboration with science advisors, other monitoring groups, and regulatory agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, NYSDEC, New York City Department of Environmental Protection). To reach as many locations as possible, Save the Sound is training a wide variety of groups in the study methods. These “Sound Sleuths” include citizens, scientists, environmentalists and municipalities. The findings will inform and support actions to help direct restoration funding to the most stressed locations.

Regional Economic Development Council Consolidated Funding Application

$800 million is available for the annual Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) competition. Applications are coordinated through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The CFA Resource Manual describes all available CFA funding opportunities. Funding programs related to water quality include: the Water Quality Improvement Project Program, Climate Smart Communities Program and Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant. Applications are due July 28 at 4:00 PM.

The REDC’s statewide training workshops will provide an overview of the CFA process. Additionally, there will be breakout sessions with more information on the three grant programs mentioned above. The training workshops are open to local economic development officials, municipalities, non-profits, businesses and members of the public. A CFA workshop will be held on Long Island:

June 9, 2017 from 10:00AM – 12:30 PM
Stony Brook University
Charles B. Wang Center, Main Theatre
400 Circle Road
Stony Brook, NY 11790-3404

NYSDEC LINAP Webpages Updated

NYSDEC’s LINAP webpages have been redesigned with updated information on LINAP activities and progress. The new webpages include information about LINAP partners and initiatives, a calendar of events, newsletter archives, and workgroup updates

The webpages will be updated regularly and will continue to be an excellent resource to stay informed as LINAP progresses.