Branford, CT— Environment Connecticut was joined by State Senator Ed Meyer, Sandy Breslin of Audubon CT and Leah Schmalz of Save the Sound to release Protect Our Great Waters, a new report that outlines the regional, environmental, and economic significance of eight of America's most treasured waterways (download the report the right).

Because of its ecological significance, Environment America has named Long Island Sound as one of America's "Great Waters." This report lays out the specific problems facing each of the eight water bodies, as well as potential legislative solutions. The release of this report comes a week before a key vote in the Environment and Public Works committee in the U.S. Senate.

Long Island Sound is one of New England's greatest treasures. The Sound provides habitat for more than 1,000 species of marine life, and its watershed is home to nearly 9 million people. Consequently, as we continue to allow excess sewage to spill into the Sound, we are putting this essential ecosystem at risk.

"Our waterways are invaluable resources for the recreation, tourism and fishing industries in Connecticut. We need them protected- not polluted," said Nancy Pyne, Field Associate with Environment Connecticut.

The Protecting Our Great Waters report found:

• The revenue generated from the recreation, tourism, and fishing industries in the Sound exceed $5.5 billion annually.

• In 2008, the dead zone in the Sound, which develops every year due to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from storm water and agricultural run-off, grew to 180 square miles.

"Unlike in the Gulf, we don't have spill cam footage or front page New York Times photos of pollution in the Sound," added Pyne. "What we do have is a dead zone off our coast that can grow to be more than seven times the size of Manhattan."

The report describes legislation that Congress is currently considering- including a bill introduced by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act of 2009 (S.3119). According to Environment Connecticut, this bill would provide essential funding for restoration programs as well as strengthen pollution-controls throughout the Sound's watershed. A package of similar bills designed to protect Long Island Sound and other great waters across the country will be voted on next week.

"The States of Connecticut and New York have invested millions of tax-payer dollars in the restoration of Long Island Sound, and now is the time for the federal government to step up and match these strong state commitments," added Sandy Breslin, Director of Governmental Affairs for Audubon Connecticut, the state organization of the National Audubon Society. "In the face of emerging challenges like global warming and sea-level rise, and continuing threats like waste and storm water pollution, passage of the Long Island Sound Restoration and Stewardship Act of 2009 will set us on the right path toward ecological and economic health in the estuary. At a time when global attention is riveted on the suffering of birds and wildlife as a result of the Gulf Oil Spill, this legislation will ensure that Long Island Sound remains a true 'Great Water' for generations to come."

"Maintaining America's great waters is going to take new action and stronger measures than are currently in place. We are counting on the Senate to pass legislation not only for Long Island Sound, but for many of America's great waters," concluded Pyne.

Environment Connecticut Press Release