On June 10, Save the Sound released its 2021 Long Island Sound Beach Report at Orchard Beach in The Bronx.  The report offered good news for swimmers, noting that 79% of the more than 200 Long Island Sound beaches highlighted earned “A” or “B” grades for water quality in the 2020 swimming season. As inspiration to swimmers and beachgoers, the biennial report provided a list of the “Top 20” public beaches on Long Island Sound based on water quality (10 each in New York and Connecticut) and presented comprehensive grades for 204 swimming beaches overall for 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively.

However, the report also showed a decline in water quality at many beaches in the days following rain, which is especially troubling given predictions of increasing seasonal wet weather due to climate change.  Save the Sound is calling on elected officials to invest in repairs and improvements to sewer and stormwater systems, which impact beach water quality after heavy and even moderate rain.

How clean are the waters you’re swimming in? Our Water Quality team has the answers! Join Tracy Brown, regional director, Water Protection for an
in-depth webinar breaking down our 2021 Long Island Sound Beach Report.  We’ll break down how we score the 200-plus beaches around Long Island
Sound, the trends that we’ve seen, and what actions you can take to create healthier beaches for your community. Learn how your beach stacks up against
others throughout Connecticut and New York. (Submitted)