Monitoring & Protection

The keeper concept is built on monitoring the water quality and marine life of a particular waterbody, and that is where Soundkeeper's roots are. Soundkeeper started in 1987 with a single patrol boat on Long Island Sound, and that evolved to including a number of boats and a network of "stewards" around the Sound that report problems to headquarters. Today, it is still critical to have eyes and ears on the Sound, which is accomplished by an informal network of concerned citizens and by the monitoring and pumpout boats we have in various harbors around the Sound.

Program Area Initiatives

Ad Hoc Pollution Monitoring & Patrol -- Soundkeeper has built its reputation on addressing pollution problems as they arise by investigating, testing, and solving, or referring the problems to the proper authorities.
Fish Toxics Initiative -- As the first step in a new program initiative, Soundkeeper will begin collecting and testing local fish stock from the Sound as part of a national initiative to demonstrate the impact of airborne mercury emissions on marine life.  This action is in direct response to the recent decision of the EPA to rollback limits and goals previously set. (see fish toxins information area.)
Pump Out Program -- A program to eliminate sewage dumping by private citizen boaters.
Soundkeeper's Filter Project -- Polluted runoff from our streets remains a critical problem for the health of Long Island Sound. This toxic runoff is a persistent and pervasive pollution problem. Soundkeeper's Filter Project has undertaken the task of resolving polluted runoff through an innovative yet non-invasive and cost efficient technology.