Nitrogen is the leading cause of water quality deterioration on Long Island. Excess nitrogen can cause toxic algal blooms that lead to low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and degraded wetlands and marine habitats. Nitrogen also contaminates the groundwater which is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water.
Nitrogen Smart Communities (NSC) is a program administered by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)’s Long Island Watershed Program (LIWP) in conjunction with the Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC).
Funding for the pilot phase of the NSC program has been provided by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Long Island Sound Partnership (LIS Partnership). Since the program is funded by the LIS Partnership, municipalities located within the Long Island Sound Partnership boundary in Nassau and Suffolk Counties are eligible to participate at this time.
Nitrogen Smart Communities Program Overview
Nitrogen Smart Communities (NSC) is a voluntary program created to promote local action and awareness to reduce and/or eliminate nitrogen from all sources within municipalities on Long Island.
This can be achieved by better understanding a community’s unique sources of nitrogen and committing to implementing reduction activities associated with those priorities. By participating in the Nitrogen Smart Communities program, a community can reduce nitrogen pollution in degraded waterbodies and protect areas before impairments occur. Participating municipalities will follow a series of steps and submit completed worksheets to earn tiered levels of Nitrogen Smart Communities status certification (Bronze, Silver, Gold).
To read the full NSC program overview, click here.
Program Guide
This document will guide the municipality through the Steps and Actions of the NSC program.
Each section will provide detailed instructions and information needed to complete the associated Steps and Worksheets.
To read the full NSC program guide click here.
Program Summary
The one page Summary gives a quick description of the program and how communities benefit by participating. To read the 1-page Summary click here.
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