Long Island Soundkeeper Associate

**WHO WE ARE**:
Save the Sound is a leader for environmental action in our region. We fight climate change and build resilient communities, save endangered lands, protect the Sound, and restore its rivers. We do this in many ways, from legislative advocacy and legal action to engineering, environmental monitoring, and hands
- on volunteer efforts. For more than 50 years we’ve been ensuring people can enjoy the healthy, clean, and thriving environment they deserve—today and for generations to come.

**Long Island Soundkeeper Background**:
The Long Island Soundkeeper Fund began in 1987 founded by Terry Backer and was a founding member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, now a global water advocacy program operating in over 40 countries with over 300 member groups. Growing from a commercial fishing advocacy group, the CT Coastal Fisherman’s Association, who organized to clean-up poor water quality Soundkeeper merged with Save the Sound in 2017. As a regional leader protecting Long Island Sound’s shoreline, marine habitat, and water quality for more than 30 years Save the Sound merged with Connecticut Fund for the Environment (CFE) in 2004. Linking Soundkeeper’s mission of swimmable, drinkable, fishable water with CFE’s legal, scientific and policy expertise and Save the Sound’s stewardship, restoration, and community outreach capability has further enhanced our reputation for leadership in protecting and restoring Long Island Sound. In 2020, the organizations combined under one banner as Save the Sound and has remained committed to making every beach and its surrounding waters in the Sound safe for swimming, fishing, and wildlife.

**THE POSITION**:
This is a full-time position, expected to begin in May or June 2024, reporting to the Long Island Soundkeeper and is based out of Save the Sound’s office in Larchmont, NY. Boat and field work can take place throughout Long Island Sound leaving from the home port of Mamaroneck, NY and at times Blackrock Harbor in Bridgeport, CT with a primary focus on the Western Sound. The Western Sound runs from Bridgeport, CT to Port Jeff, NY and down to Queens, the Bronx and back up through Westchester County. The position will collaborate with the Water Quality, Legal, and Ecological Restoration Teams.

The Soundkeeper Program actively patrols the Long Island Coastline from Plum Island to the East River. Boat days can be long with exposure to the elements and rough seas. Tracking down pollution sources by collecting water quality data and samples are primary duties associated with this position. Many issues are identified through citizen reports requiring frequent travel to diverse locations around the Sound. This work may involve launching a kayak from the patrol vessel to access shallow water discharge pipes. In addition, river patrols and stream walks may occur to identify inland pollution sources that drain to the Sound as well as potential habitat restoration projects and fish passage impediments. Job responsibilities are diverse and require a flexible schedule within the 40-hour work week.

**The applicant must have a CT or NY safe boating certificate and be able to pilot vessels up to a 25’ Parker 2530**

**ESSENTIAL TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- _Vessel maintenance_: Cleaning, small repairs, equipment maintenance
- _Data Collection_: Using scientific equipment such as handheld GPS units, water quality meters, bacteria sample bottles and data loggers.
- _Research_: Online research of water pollution incidents, history, and impacts.
- _Program Development_: Tabling events such as boat shows, oyster festivals and National Estuary Day
- _Outreach/Education_: Supporting the Soundkeeper in scheduling and preparing for evening presentations on water quality and fishery topics to yacht clubs, conservation groups, community programs and schools.
- _Internship Mentoring_: This position will assist with providing a well-rounded experience for 1-2 Soundkeeper interns.
- _Advocacy:_ Attend rallies, hearings, press conferences and lobby the NY state legislature for laws protecting water.
- Other responsibilities of the role_
- Periodically assist academic researchers with projects by providing a sampling platform.

**Specific Projects for 2024 -**
- Assessment and Retrieval of Abandoned Lobster Pots_ - Abandoned pot retrieval is a collaboration with CTDEEP Marine Fisheries, Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County, NY, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, and Project Oceanography who may be contracting commercial vessels to retrieve pots this season depending on grant funding. The vessel will support these efforts in Bridgeport and _may_ include scuba diving to assist the project.
- Eel Grass Restoration_ - We are involved with eel grass monitoring, research, and restoration. We will assist the EPA in monitoring eel grass meadows for flowering and seeding times, seed collection, gluing seeds to clams and outplacing clams on permitted experimental restoration sites. Scien