Reagan ’26 is advancing coastal conservation in the Long Island Sound by expanding water quality testing and partnering with SoundWaters to cultivate seagrass as a sustainable solution for improving marine habitats and reducing pollution.
Almost four years ago, what began as my occasional excursion to local beaches throughout Fairfield County, CT, as part of a broader coastal cleanup effort, gradually evolved to water quality sampling, research and analysis of marine ecosystems, and has finally come full circle (well, almost) with a coordinated approach to helping preserve the water quality and coastal habitats of the Long Island Sound ecosystem.
With an area covering almost 18,000 square miles and extending all the way from the Canadian border south through six U.S. states, the Long Island Sound ecosystem provides more than just natural beauty – it is home to over 9 million people and supports a diverse economy, beyond just aquaculture and shellfishing.
So, what are the issues?
Although the Sound’s water quality has improved considerably over the past several decades, population growth, ongoing commercial and industrial activities, and at times, indifference to environmental sustainability, continue to have an impact on its water quality. Weekly water testing in lower Fairfield (CT) and Westchester (NY) Counties often varies from one testing site to another, with some coastal, less populated areas testing more favorably (less Enterococci in salt water) versus some inland, more populated areas testing less favorably (more E. coli in fresh water).
These results are not surprising considering that population density and aging or inadequate infrastructure (e.g., storm and sanitary sewers) are often the leading contributors of the Sound’s water pollution. This not only has an impact on our health, but the adjacent marine ecosystem upon which we rely.
What can be done?
Ongoing water monitoring (sampling and analysis) is the first step, and although it helps identify many issues, it doesn’t address them directly. Active engagement with local communities and municipalities is the next step, but this is beyond the scope of my project.
So, one aspect of my project has been to expand the testing areas further along the Fairfield County coastline, and to incorporate more testing parameters beyond fecal contamination, some of which include: pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, temperature, turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, coliform bacteria, and chloride. These tests are intended to help identify different types and sources of pollution.
And, beyond this?
As a means of incorporating more natural and environmental approaches to address water pollution by way of aquaculture, I am working with SoundWaters on building an outdoor testing pod (garden), in which to grow and cultivate different varieties of seagrass. Not surprisingly, seagrass is a sustainable resource that not only helps control coastal erosion, through its extensive root system, but it helps to purify water and improve marine habitats. And through additional water testing during the growth cycle of the seagrass, I hope to identify any improvements in the water quality of the testing pod.
