Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory
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Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory Report by the: Long Island Sound Inventory and Science Subcommittee of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee 2019 Report by the: Long Island Sound Inventory and Science Subcommittee of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee Version 1.4 September 2019 Long Island Sound Inventory and Science Subcommittee of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee. (2018). Long Island Sound Resource and Use Inventory. Groton, CT: University of Connecticut Avery Point. Cover Photo by: Emily Hall II Acknowledgments The Long Island Sound Inventory and Science Subcommittee of the Blue Plan Advisory Committee would like to thank the contributing authors, reviewers, and editors for their help in preparing this report. Contributing Authors: Bruce Beebe David Blatt David Carey Sylvain De Guise Catherine Finneran Christian Fox Nathan Frohling Bill Gardella Emily Hall Hannah Hauptman Sid Holbrook Robert Klee Corey Leamy Evan Matthews Kevin O’Brien Tom Robben Leah Schmaltz Emily Shumchenia Mike Theiler Brian Thompson Ian Yue Reviewers: Melanie Bachman Brian Conte Daniel Forrest Donald Landers David Leslie Jerry “Captain” Morgan Deb Pacileo Mark Pappalardo Christina Walsh III Editors and Copy Editors: Emily Hall Mary-beth Hart Ian Yue The Subcommittee would also like to recognize the following individuals and organizations, not already acknowledged above, who went above and beyond to provide data or help facilitate data review for the Inventory. Other Contributors: LTJG Shannon Andrew Kathleen Atwood Kathleen Burns Bowen Chang Jack Conway DeWitt Davies Bart DiFiore Emily Farr Susan Filipowich Anne Hannan Brian Jones Eric Kretsch Sarah Nahabedian Ryan Patrylak Valerie Pinkerton Mike Pirri Alan Rios August Ruckdeschel Susan Ryan Geoffrey Steadman Andrea Watson Adam Wright Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office staff New London fishermen New York State Historic Preservation Office staff Southern New England Fishermen’s and Lobstermen’s Association The Subcommittee would furthermore like to thank and recognize all ecological experts and stakeholders for their valuable contributions to this Resource and Use Inventory. This document IV would not have been possible without their input, feedback, and support. For further information about stakeholder groups specifically engaged throughout the Inventory process, please see the appendices of each sector-specific Inventory chapter. Funding Sources: De Guise, S (PI), Frohling, N (co-PI). Using strategic engagement to achieve management and protection goals of the Long Island Sound Blue Plan. National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. $34,997. 10/1/16-12/31/17. De Guise, S (PI), Frohling, N (co-PI). Support marine spatial planning in Long Island Sound: the Blue Plan. EPA Long Island Sound Study. $200,000. 10/1/17-9/30/19. Frohling, N (PI). Initial planning steps towards development of a science-based marine spatial plan for Long Island Sound. Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. $60,000. 2/1/17-2/28/18. V Summary Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... VI Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... X Chapter 1: Ecological Characterization Process ............................................................................ 1-1 Chapter 2: Phytoplankton, Marcoalgae, Eelgrass, and SAV ......................................................... 2-1 Chapter 3: Marine Mammals ......................................................................................................... 3-1 Chapter 4: Sea Turtles .................................................................................................................... 4-1 Chapter 5: Birds ............................................................................................................................. 5-1 Chapter 6: Fish, Pelagic Invertebrates, Shellfish, and Zooplankton .............................................. 6-1 Chapter 7: Benthic Invertebrates ................................................................................................... 7-1 Chapter 8: Coastal Wetlands .......................................................................................................... 8-1 Chapter 9: Bathymetry and Seafloor Complexity .......................................................................... 9-1 Chapter 10: Sediments and Geochemistry ................................................................................... 10-1 Chapter 11: Physical Oceanography, Meteorology, and Water Quality ...................................... 11-1 Chapter 12: Ecologically Notable Places and Ecological Marine Units...................................... 12-1 Chapter 13: Ecologically Significant Areas ................................................................................. 13-1 Chapter 14: Human Use Characterization Process ...................................................................... 14-1 Chapter 15: Aquaculture .............................................................................................................. 15-1 Chapter 16: Commercial Fishing ................................................................................................. 16-1 Chapter 17: Recreational Fishing................................................................................................. 17-1 Chapter 18: Charter and Party Boat Fishing ................................................................................ 18-1 Chapter 19: Recreational Boating and Sailing ............................................................................. 19-1 Chapter 20: Harbors and Marinas ................................................................................................ 20-1 Chapter 21: Non-Consumptive Recreation .................................................................................. 21-1 Chapter 22: Waterfowl Hunting................................................................................................... 22-1 Chapter 23: Historic and Archaeological Marine and Coastal Cultural Resources ..................... 23-1 Chapter 24: Research, Monitoring, and Education ...................................................................... 24-1 Chapter 25: Marine Transportation, Navigation, and Infrastructure ........................................... 25-1 Chapter 26: Energy and Telecommunications ............................................................................. 26-1 Chapter 27: National Security ...................................................................................................... 27-1 VI Acronyms and Abbreviations Acronyms AC Alternating Current AIS Automatic Identification Systems AMAPPS Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species AMI Association of Marina Industries AWOIS Automatic Wreck and Obstructions Information System BEACON Beach Advisory and Closing Online Notification BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management B.P. Before Present CAD Confined Aquatic Disposal CBC Christmas Bird Counts CCPBA Connecticut Charter and Party Boat Association CCMA Connecticut Coastal Management Act CCMP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan CFE Connecticut Fund for the Environment CFR (U.S.) Code of Federal Regulations CGS Connecticut General Statutes CLEAR Center for Land Use Education and Research CMC Connecticut Maritime Coalition CMTA Connecticut Marine Trades Association COA Connecticut Ornithological Association CPA Connecticut Port Authority CRESLI Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island CRM Coastal Relief Model CSCC Cross Sound Cable Company CT Connecticut CT DA/BA Connecticut Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture CT DEEP Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection DAS Day at Sea DMMP Dredged Material Management Plan DO Dissolved Oxygen DSCRTP Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program EB Electric Boat EFH Essential Fish Habitat EMU Ecological Marine Units ENC Electronic Navigational Chart ENP Ecologically Notable Place EPA (U.S.) Environmental Protection Agency ESA Ecologically Significant Area ESI Environmental Sensitivity Index FERC (U.S.) Federal Energy Regulatory Commission FLAG Fiber-optic Link Around the Globe GIS Geographic Information System HVDC High-Voltage Direct Current VII IBA Important Bird Area LILCO Long Island Lighting Company LIPA Long Island Power Authority LIS Long Island Sound LISEA Long Island Sound Ecological Assessment LISFF Long Island Sound Futures Fund LISICOS Long Island Sound Integrated Coastal Observing System LISS Long Island Sound Study LISTS Long Island Sound Trawl Survey LNG Liquefied Natural Gas LNM Local Notice to Mariners MARCO Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean MGEL Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab MOU Memorandum of Understanding NARWC North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium NCCA National Coastal Condition Assessment NCCOS National Center for Coastal Ocean Science NCR Non-Consumptive Recreation NE Northeast NMFS National Marine Fisheries Service NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NODP Northeast Ocean Data Portal NOEP National Ocean Economics Program NOS National Ocean Service NREL National Renewable Energy Laboratory NS&T National Status and Trends NUWC Naval Undersea Warfare Center NWI National Wetlands Inventory NY New York NYDOS New York Department of State NYGIG New York Geographic Information Gateway NYPA New York Power Authority NYS DEC New