Fourteen coastal communities in the Long Island Sound region have been awarded $909,121 combined in planning support to advance resilience-focused projects through the second round of the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program, with two of said communities being based in Rye. The overall program is a collaboration of New York Sea Grant (NYSG), Connecticut Sea Grant (CTSG), and the Long Island Sound Partnership.
The two projects, which both received just over $70K in grants, are the Hen Island Shoreline Adaptation Plan (headed by Hen Island Nature Society, INC. and contracted by EA Engineering & Geology, P.C.) and the Natural Resources Inventory Report for the City of Rye, NY (headed by the Rye Sustainability Foundation and contracted by Biohabitats).
“The Long Island Sound (LIS) Resilience Planning Support Program was launched in October 2023 by a team of NYSG and CTSG Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Extension Professionals who are focused on developing resources and tools to assist Long Island Sound communities in achieving their sustainability and resilience goals,” LIS Parternship said in a press release from November 7. “The Program aims to address a major barrier that many communities face: a lack of capacity and resources to identify, conceptualize, and develop resilience projects to respond to changing environmental conditions.”
The Hen Island Shoreline Adaption Plan intends to use its new funds to develop a holistic strategy for dealing with coastal erosion and options for protecting and restoring the undeveloped approximately 10-acre high marsh meadow between the south and middle island sections. The final shoreline adaptation plan will include a prioritized list of nature-based projects to improve shoreline resilience, a conceptual design for the high marsh meadow, and an outline of the required steps necessary to successfully design, permit, and implement identified priority projects.
The Rye Sustainability Foundation intends to use its funding to develop an updated Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) report. The current report dates back to 1979. The goal of a new NRI report is to help Rye understand the current status of their natural resources and achieve their Climate Smart Communities Silver Certification goals. This report and certification will allow for precise land use and conservation decision-making within Rye and open the door for future future fudning.
“Rye Sustainability Foundation is thrilled to receive this award from the Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program,” said James Ward, City Councilman and Rye Sustainability Foundation Co-Founder and Director. “The new NRI will serve as a baseline for future planning efforts and resilience projects. It will also be incorporated into our Comprehensive Plan that kicks off in early 2026. Thank you, New York Sea Grant and the Long Island Sound Partnership!”
“Congratulations to all of the recipients of this year’s Long Island Sound Resilience Planning Support Program, including the Hen Island Nature Society and the Rye Sustainability Foundation,” said Congressman and Rye resident George Latimer. ““These important investments will help protect our natural habitats and monitor the health of our ecosystems. We must continue to support projects like these through robust funding now and in the future.”
To learn more about LIS Partnership and this initiative, click here.
