Resilience Steps

The Long Island Watershed Action Agenda is a clear-cut blueprint for water quality improvements, aquatic habitat conservation, groundwater protection, and the public engagement necessary to ensure success for the surface, coastal, and ground waters of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Long Island Watershed Action Agenda is an evolution of the success of the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP) and will expand the scope of its work beyond nitrogen reduction.

The Long Island Garden Rewards Program offers reimbursement of up to $500 total for making your yard more water friendly. Homeowners can be reimbursed for installing rain barrels, rain gardens, or native plantings on their properties. These actions reduce the amount of nitrogen pollution entering local waterways and helps conserve water. Funds are limited and available on a first come, first serve basis.

Due to the high participation in the program, as of May 20, 2025 the Long Island Garden Rewards Program is closed. Thank you to all who participated. Check back for when applications open again!

The 2025 expansion of the Climate Action Tool (CAT) allows you to:
1) Access information on climate impacts and vulnerability of species and habitats; and

2) Explore adaptation strategies and actions, related to connectivity, conservation planning, and forestry, among other relevant areas. 

This tool was developed by the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center and the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass) Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment.

Check out our interactive map to learn about living shoreline projects located in the marine district of New York. 

More information about living shorelines and their benefits can be found on the NYSDEC Living Shorelines webpage.

A start guide for addressing flooding and erosion in coastal communities. Learn about the steps communities can take to adapt along with different adaptation strategies. 

The Atlas of Inspiration is a national database that highlights real projects helping communities adapt to extreme weather, flooding, heat, and sea-level rise. It showcases innovative infrastructure, planning strategies, and funding approaches that can be adapted or scaled by other communities. The Atlas is designed to celebrate successful ideas and give decision-makers examples they can use when seeking state or federal funding.

The Atlas is fully searchable, allowing users to browse projects by type, climate hazard, or location. It builds on Rebuild by Design’s earlier work including the Atlas of Disaster and the Atlas of Accountability by showing not only the risks communities face, but the solutions that are already making a difference.

Rebuild by Design also invites communities to share their own climate resilience projects for inclusion in the Atlas. Submissions help expand the collection and highlight new approaches being used across the country.

This report provides on guidance on ways to adapt the Shoreline Greenway Trail to the increasing frequencies of heavy rain, wildfires, hurricanes, flood events, and storm surges. The report defines what we mean by resilience for a trail in coastal Connecticut, identifies climate impacts facing the trail now, and in the years to come, shares design suggestions that could build resiliency on existing and new sections, and explores how the trail itself can be essential to wider community resiliency.

The GSI Impact Hub is an interactive platform that provides tools, research, and data to help communities plan and evaluate green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects. GSI uses natural systems like plants, soil, and stone to manage stormwater on-site reducing flooding, improving water quality, and creating healthier, more resilient neighborhoods. The Hub includes a benefits calculator, educational resources, and guidance to support city planners, advocates, and policymakers in designing projects that maximize environmental, social, and economic benefits.

Explore the GSI Impact Calculator, Detailed Resource Library, and Project Background to better understand how GSI can reduce flooding, improve water quality, and build climate-resilient neighborhoods.

This fact sheet produced by the Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA) reviews how culverts are defined in Connecticut, explains their connection to climate resilience, provides examples of how Connecticut towns are addressing needs for upgraded culverts, and highlights related resources.

Use this fact sheet to learn about riparian buffers and how they can be a tool for filtering excess nutrients and sediment from runoff, reducing flood impacts, and providing habitat. Learn more about buffers using this fact sheet. Details include what buffers are, why they are important, best practice recommendations, and design considerations.

This workbook made by Groundwork Bridgeport provides a thorough but accessible introduction to green stormwater infrastructure. The workbook explains the issues that green infrastructure can help solve, introduces several green infrastructure methods, and then provides definitions, explains why each is uses, and details how to build them.

This fact sheet for Conservation Commissions in Connecticut reviews the role of these commissions for enhancing the climate resilience of their communities. The resource was developed by CIRCA and covers the authority and duties of conservation commissions as well as detailing specific strategies and approaches.

A website and a downloadable app for your mobile device. The resource has information about rain gardens, designing, selecting plants, and installing a garden on your property.

A guide listing the trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, reeds and herbaceous plants best for the banks of rivers, streams or other bodies of water (a companion to: A Planting Guide for Riparian Sites Along the Connecticut Coast)

lists native trees, shrubs, ferns, grasses, sedges, reeds and herbaceous plants suitable for planting along the banks of a river, stream or other body of water.

Explore a range of tools and guidance to support climate adaptation planning through EPA New England’s Resilience and Adaptation in New England (RAINE) initiative, which supports users in exploring climate resilience planning across the New England. These resources include more than 1,200 climate adaptation plans. Practitioners can use the Featured Locations Interactive Map to view climate action examples or explore additional climate visualization platforms through the Mapping Climate Change Impacts Tools page. The database also highlights Tribal Climate Adaptation Resources, featuring plans from federally recognized tribes in New England. Users can view recorded webinars and trainings for technical guidance.

CT DEEP recently released a new tool allowing users to search for DEEP financial assistance programs based on a variety of parameters such as eligibility requirements, grant cycle status, project types, and more. This resource and offers “one-stop shopping” for many DEEP funding opportunities.

This website contains New York City’s Federal Emergency Management Agency–mandated Hazard Mitigation Plan, which identifies natural hazard risks and vulnerabilities that are common to New York City (NYC) and long-term strategies for reducing them. It also features a Mitigation Actions Database and Map that tracks and records actions that are taken to mitigate risk from the hazards profiled in the Hazard Mitigation Plan.​

This portal contains the comprehensive dataset of awarded projects for the Water Quality Improvement Project Program (WQIP) and the Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source Planning and MS4 Mapping Grant (NPG). Data is displayed simultaneously on a map and data table and can be filtered by Grant Program, Applicant, County, Project Type, and Funding Source.

Includes information about preparing for, and implementing green infrastructure with helpful links to other fact sheets and resources.

The primary goal of this guide is to help communities identify and engage the staff and resources that can be used to implement nature-based solutions to build resilience to natural hazards, which may be exacerbated by climate change.

This guide gives community leaders five main strategies to carry out Nature-Based Solution projects: 1) Building Strong Partnerships, 2) Engaging the Whole Community, 3) Matching Project Size with Desired Goals and Benefits, 4) Maximizing Benefits, and 5) Designing for the Future. This is not a technical guide for planning, constructing, or funding NBS. It covers the value of each strategy and suggests how to move forward with NBS projects.

This guidance document is intended for stakeholders pursuing FEMA HMA grants for nature-based solutions to mitigate risks associated with flooding (riverine and coastal) and wildfire.

The New York State Department of State worked with the Department of Environmental Conservation and other partners to create model local laws to help local governments be more resilient to sea-level rise, storm surge, and flooding. Cities, towns, and villages are invited to adapt model local laws to meet the resilience needs of the community with the assistance of their municipal attorneys.

Developed by the NEMO program at the UConn Center for Land Use Education and Research, this website provides guidance and tools to help Connecticut municipalities and institutions comply with the MS4 general permit.

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2025 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on resources and tools available to help take advantage of state resilience funds, a panel discussion on why and how to incorporate nature-based solutions into resilience planning, and an overview of our available assistance programs.

Session 3 – LIS Resilience Planning Support Program: New Round Available & Showcase of Completed Projects was held on Friday, December 5, 2025. Participants learned about the newly available 3rd round of the LIS Resilience Planning Support Program and heard from three communities who received awards through the first round of the Program. Video of the session along with supporting materials is available below.

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2025 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on resources and tools available to help take advantage of state resilience funds, a panel discussion on why and how to incorporate nature-based solutions into resilience planning, and an overview of our available assistance programs.

Session 2 – Using Nature-Based Solutions for Resilience: A Panel Discussion on Common Challenges & Strategies for Success was held on Thursday, December 4, 2025. In this interactive session, practitioners and experts discussed techniques for integrating nature-based solutions into resilience initiatives. The panel highlighted common challenges and shared successful strategies from projects in the Long Island Sound region. Video of the session along with supporting materials is available below.

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2025 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on resources and tools available to help take advantage of state resilience funds, a panel discussion on why and how to incorporate nature-based solutions into resilience planning, and an overview of our available assistance programs.

Session 1 – Resilience 101: Helpful Tools and Strategies for Building Community Resilience was held on Thursday, December 4, 2025. Participants learned about available resilience resources and tools and then moved into breakout rooms to hear about state climate certification programs and resilience funds in both NY and CT. Videos of the main session and both breakout rooms are available below, along with supporting materials.

2025 Nassau Coastal Resilience Forum field trip to Sands Point Preserve. Credit: Sumayyah Uddin / NYSG

On October 9, 2025 state and local decision makers, municipal staff, and other interested parties working to address flooding, shoreline erosion and other coastal issues gathered at the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy in Sands Point, NY for the 3rd Annual Nassau County Coastal Resilience Forum. The Forum provided a chance to share information on best practices, discuss challenges, identify opportunities to increase resilience, and enhance coordination across communities. Forum attendees heard updates on State resilience initiatives from agencies like the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as well as presentations on new resilience tools and resources from Seatuck Environmental Association, the U.S. Geological Survey, New York Sea Grant, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, and Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District. In the afternoon, Forum attendees were given a guided tour of the recent expansions to the bluff stabilization project at the Preserve.

The event was hosted by Long Island Sound Partnership and New York Sea Grant, in partnership with the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy and Nassau and Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation Districts. 

On December 5, 2024, the Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) team of the Long Island Sound Study hosted a field trip featuring the Town of Hamden’s Bioretention Project – the largest municipally owned rain garden in the state! Participants began with a guided tour of the rain garden and bioretention areas at Town Center Park, where they heard from project planners and managers about its history, partnerships, challenges, and maintenance. Following this, participants gathered at the Hamden Government Center for a working lunch and presentations on topics including UConn’s Stormwater Corps, native plants, project engineering, and using nature-based solutions to advance climate resilience goals. The day concluded with a lively group discussion. Special thanks to our partners with the Town of Hamden, Save the Sound, the Hamden Land Trust, and UConn Extension.

Photo credit: Judy Benson

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2024 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 2 – Resilience Tools was held on Tuesday, December 10th from 1:30-3:30 PM. Participants learned about new Resilience Tools being developed and used throughout coastal Long Island Sound.

The Long Island Sound Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) Team held our 2024 Annual Workshop virtually as three sessions over two days. Session topics focused on our assistance programs, new regional resilience resources and tools, and a discussion on planning for inundation and different considerations communities may face.

Session 1 – SRC Resilience Assistance Programs was held on Tuesday, December 10th from 10-11:30 AM. Participants learned about our Sustainable and Resilient Communities resilience assistance programs and heard from communities who have successfully utilized them to advance resilience project plans, build capacity, and secure competitive grant funding!

The second annual Long Island Sound Bi-State Sustainable and Resilient Communities Workshop brought together nearly 200 people virtually on Dec. 7, 2023 to learn about a new Long Island Sound Resilience Resource Hub (launching in early 2024), hear from communities and groups around the Sound working on resilience planning, and consider pathways for updating codes and ordinances. Videos of the workshop’s six sessions are available on YouTube. They can be accessed below along with supporting documents.

The first annual Long Island Sound Bi-State Sustainable and Resilient Communities Workshop brought together more than 260 people virtually on Dec. 1, 2022 to learn about opportunities to increase the resilience of the Sound’s communities to climate change and other environmental threats. Interactive sessions included opportunities to learn more about the SRC Extension Professionals’ needs assessment findings and recommendations, the newly released Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program, and tips for success with Long Island Sound funding opportunities. Concurrent breakout sessions highlighted the work of partners related to shoreline planning and implementation, using green infrastructure for stormwater management, sustainable climate planning for relocation, and new sustainability/resilience tools available in both New York and Connecticut. Videos of the workshop’s six sessions are available on YouTube. They can be accessed below along with supporting documents.

This online information session held Sept. 19, and repeated Sept. 21, provides an introduction to resilience planning in the Long Island Sound region. It includes discussions on local climate impacts and projections, resilience planning strategies, and climate certification programs for both New York and Connecticut municipalities. In addition to the main presentation, videos of the Connecticut and New York breakout sessions can be accessed below. The presentations and other resource materials are available here.

The Town of Hamden’s Bioretention Project is the largest municipally owned rain garden in the state! Save the Sound, in partnership with the Town of Hamden, completed this large-scale rain garden project at Hamden Town Center Park to improve local water quality, restore habitat, and enhance community resilience. The project transformed approximately 2.5 acres of lawn into a functioning green infrastructure system that now manages runoff from an 88-acre urban watershed draining Dixwell Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods. Prior to the project, stormwater often overflowed directly into Pardee Brook and the Mill River, carrying pollutants and inundating the park.

The newly constructed rain garden was engineered with layers of soil, sand, and rock, and planted with more than 7,000 native grasses, flowers, and shrubs thanks to additional support from the Land Trust of Hamden. These plantings naturally filter pollutants such as fertilizers, road salt, and chemicals. Community volunteers helped complete the planting, strengthening local stewardship in the Town of Hamden.

With support from the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program, in December 2024 1653 Foundation was awarded $549,955 from the NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program to fund the Final design and implementation of habitat improvements and green infrastructure at Halesite Park, NY.

1653 Foundation Inc. will restore degrading shoreline at Halesite Park on the eastern shore of Huntington Harbor. The project will remove a failing seawall to expand shallow water habitat, install an offshore rock sill and oyster reef, and expand salt marsh vegetation, and upland plantings.

LIS Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program Details:

Grant Writing Consultant: DLB Planning, LLC.
Grant Writing Assistance Award: $9,900

With support from the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance (GWA) Program, in December 2024 the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed was awarded $419,900 from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to support the project: Developing a Mystic River Watershed Resilience Action Plan Using Equitable Community Engagement, CT.

The project will launch a robust engagement effort and planning process throughout four municipalities and two Tribal Nations within Mystic, Connecticut, in order to initiate efforts to improve the watershed health along the 30.6-square-mile Mystic River Watershed. The project will develop a community- and stakeholder-supported EPA Nine Element watershed-based plan, which will strive to address water quality impairments, community inequities and resilience challenges in the watershed.

LIS Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program Details:

Grant Writing Consultant: Resilient Land and Water, LLC.
Grant Writing Assistance Award: $9,950

With support from the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance (GWA) Program, in December 2023 ReWild Long Island was awarded $230,300 from the Long Island Sound Futures Fund to fund the project – ReWild Gardens for Long Island Sound: Implementation of an expanded community garden program Long Island within the LISS watershed.

The Community Gardens Program installs native plant gardens with community partners who plant & maintain them. The Summer Program to Fight Hunger and Climate Change supports high school students to plant & tend gardens with local nonprofit partners.

LIS Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program Details:

Grant Writing Consultant: Elizabeth Skolnick
Grant Writing Assistance Award: $7,500

With support from the Long Island Sound Resilience Grant Writing Assistance (GWA) Program, in December 2023, North Shore Land Alliance was awarded $192,969 from the NYSDEC Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) Program to fund the implementation of green infrastructure at the North Shore Land Alliance Shore Road Sanctuary in Cold Spring Harbor, NY. The North Shore Land Alliance will install an upland infiltration system to reduce the volume and velocity of stormwater on a 40-acre parcel and replace invasive plants along the shoreline with a native plant community. The project will restore habitat and reduce the amount stormwater and pollutants entering Cold Spring Harbor and Long Island Sound.

LIS Resilience Grant Writing Assistance Program Details:

Grant Writing Consultant: Nelson Pope & Voorhis
Grant Writing Assistance Award: $9,900

This comprehensive study and plan, funded through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Long Island Sound Futures Fund, identifies initial strategies to maintain and enhance the local watershed resources of Crab Meadow. It is meant to be a land management tool to guide the implementation of best practices. The plan was developed in consultation with many partners and stakeholders. There is now significant community buy-in to take action to protect and restore this important watershed. 

Following adoption of the plan, the Town of Huntington began working with US Fish and Wildlife Service and Audubon to study and restore Crab Meadow marsh and implement recommendations from the Stewardship Plan. Audubon, in partnership with Town of Huntington and USFWS, received a 2024 Long Island Sound Futures Fund Grant ($429K) to develop design plans for marsh restoration at Crab Meadow.

The Hempstead Harbor Protection Committee and Village of Sea Cliff completed subwatershed improvements at Scudders Pond to address stormwater drainage problems impacting the water quality of the pond and Hempstead Harbor, highlighted as a priority in the 1998 Hempstead Harbor Water Quality Improvement Plan. The improvements included dredging the pond, installing a hydrodynamic separator to intercept sediment, removing invasive Phragmites australis and replacing with native plants, realigning the stream to reduce erosion, redirecting the stormwater from residences to the bioswale, creation of a biofilter wetland area, replacement of the weir between the upper and lower ponds and weir at Shore Road.

Friends of the Bay installed two raingardens at the Western Waterfront, which was done in October 2021 with the help of volunteers.

In 2019, the City of Norwalk secured a LIS Future Fund grant to install green infrastructure in the Webster Street Parking to reduce the impacts of stormwater on the Norwalk River and Harbor and mitigate local flooding of surrounding businesses through the installation of four different types of infiltration and bio-retention structures:
1) Underground infiltration systems.
2) Retention basins and curb inlet planters in eight different areas.
3) Porous pavement with storage in two areas.
4) Infiltration gutters and tree filters in two other areas.

The City of New Haven has installed 286 right-of-way bioswales throughout the city as part of a multifaceted approach to reducing flooding in the downtown area. Right-of-way bioswales are engineered planted areas that are located on sidewalks. They are designed to capture and infiltrate stormwater into the ground that would otherwise directly enter a storm drain. These bioswales were installed as the result of various partnerships and funding opportunities related to flood prevention, localized drainage solutions, combined sewer overflow mitigation, research, and traffic calming projects.

Project Lead

City of New Haven, Dept of Engineering

Project Partners

Urban Resources Initiative, EMERGE Inc., Save the Sound, Yale School of the Environment, and Quinnipiac University, among others.