Federal Funds Flow to Continue Long Island Sound Restoration

By Leslie Yager
A crowd of about about 100 environmentalists convened at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk on Thursday to mark the awarding of nearly $1.3 million in grants for environmental projects related to Long Island Sound.

The projects improve water quality, restore habitat, enhance living resources and educate and involve the public with the ultimate goal of protecting and restoring the Long Island Sound. 

"We've gone from degradation of the Long Island Sound to restoration," said Curt Spalding of the US Environmental Protection Agency's New England Region, with a tone of optimism.

US Sen. Richard Blumenthal commended the National Fish and Wildlife Association for their leadership, noting that since it was chartered in 1984 it has awarded grants totaling than $2 billion dollars to hundreds of thousands of organizations across US.

Noting that the gathering spot inside the Aquarium was called "Newman's Own Hall," Blumenthal recalled a conversation he had had with the late Paul Newman. 

"I will never forget one of my moments with Paul Newman," he said, pausing to make fun of himself for dropping a name, "...when he said to me you need to do to more to save open space and Long Island Sound because pretty soon the only open space and precious resources you'll see are in the movies I make."

Blumenthal acknowledged the shouts and squeals of delight of the school age children on a field trip in the adjacent exhibits. "We have an obligation to save Long Island Sound for those voices and faces that will walk through here, without any realization about why all these grown-ups are sitting here."

Blumenthal commended the environmentalists for their spirit and commitment and for fighting on behalf of LI Sound. "The fights that have been won on behalf of LI Sound have been won because of you, citizens willing to put their lives on the line to say, 'No, we will not allow the industrialization of LI Sound. We will not permit its desecration.'"

Blumenthal pointed out that the projects funded by the grants include, "saving 12 miles of river, stopping 600,000 gallons of sewage," and projects that will touch the lives of close to a million people. "If we can enlist those people to be advocates for the Sound...the effect will ripple and magnify the effects of this grant."

Blumenthal concluded by saying, "I hope this may be a milestone, that of federal and state partnerships will result in saving Plum Island," he said, drawing applause. "And making sure we get the EPA funded," he added emphatically, to another round of applause.

Daniel Esty, Commissioner of CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recalled bringing his children to the Aquarium for many years when they were younger, as did Blumenthal. 

Esty said he would willingly "reveal his environmental nerd side," before speaking enthusiastically of statewide habitat protection, resource conservation and environmental education, and singling out the Long Island Sound Ecosystem Health Report Card as a project he admires. 

Other speakers included Mayor Richard Moccia of Norwalk, Amanda Bassow of National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Jennifer Herring, President and CEO of the Aquarium and Paul Phifer from US Fish and Wildlife Service.