Senate Resolution No. 2076
BY: Senator MARTINEZ
MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 22, 2026, as Long Island Sound Day in the State
of New York
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase public awareness of, and
appreciation for, the natural resources of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is moved to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim Friday, May 22, 2026, as Long Island
Sound Day in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Sound, which stretches from the Western
Narrows in New York City and the Sound Shore of Westchester County to
Connecticut and the northern shores of Long Island, is an estuary where
salt water from the Atlantic Ocean mixes with fresh water from inland
rivers and upwelling groundwater, stretching 21 miles wide, at its
widest points, and 113 miles long; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Sound has been designated as an Estuary of
National Significance by the Environmental Protection Agency, and as
such, the Environmental Protection Agency, the States of New York and
Connecticut, researchers, user groups, and other concerned organizations
and individuals are working collaboratively to protect and improve the
health of the Long Island Sound; and
WHEREAS, Commercial and recreational activities in the Long Island
Sound generate upwards of 9 billion dollars in the economy every year
with 500,000 boats registered in the area of the Long Island Sound and
nearly 750,000 recreational fishermen utilizing this extraordinary
natural resource; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Sound has 600 miles of coastline with
beaches, ports, parks, and more that are enjoyed by many, and its nearly
17,000-square-mile watershed, which covers six states, including parts
of nine New York counties, is home to 9 million people, nearly 4 million
of whom are New York residents; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Sound is home to a diverse array of
wildlife, including sea turtles, seals, diamondback terrapins, horseshoe
crabs, humpback whales, river otters, and more than 120 species of
finfish, as well as several shark species; and
WHEREAS, Several notable bird species can be found in Long Island
Sound's coastal habitats, including the American oystercatchers, piping
plovers, saltmarsh sparrows, roseate terns, snowy egrets, bald eagles,
peregrine falcons, and ospreys; and
WHEREAS, This water body serves an important role in the life cycles
of many species, with at least 50 species known to spawn in the Sound,
and some places along its coastal environment serve as stopover sites
for migratory birds; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Sound is a destination appreciated by both
residents and visitors who seek the exceptional natural, scenic, and
recreational qualities of this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, New York State joins with its sister state, Connecticut,
declaring the Friday before Memorial Day as Long Island Sound Day; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 22, 2026, as Long
Island Sound Day in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.
