The Long Island Watershed Program (LIWP) is a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) program to guide water quality related activities happening in and around the Long Island watershed. Long Island’s water resources are vital to the residents, countless tourists, and the aquatic and terrestrial species that inhabit the island.
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About Long Island
As the largest island in the continental United States, Long Island is a unique landscape that makes up the most eastern portion of New York State and is home to over 2.8 million New Yorkers. The Island is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east, the Long Island Sound to the north, and the East River to the west. While geographically the island includes Queens and Brooklyn, the term Long Island typically only represents Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Long Island is distinct compared to the rest of New York State. The Island’s natural beauty, attractions, and recreational opportunities draw an estimated 40 million visitors annually translating to an estimated $6 billion dollar tourism industry. This makes it one of the most visited regions in New York State. It’s dense population of residents and millions of annual visitors all rely on clean, safe water to recreate in and drink. Long Island’s drinking water supply comes from the groundwater and is a sole source aquifer, meaning it is the only source of water available to meet the needs of the Island’s population.
Splashy Water Facts
- 1,600 miles of coastline
- Home to three estuary programs: the Long Island Sound Study, the Peconic Estuary Partnership, and the South Shore Estuary Reserve.
- Protected by four barrier islands: Long Beach, Fire Island, Jones Beach, and Westhampton Beach
- Long Island’s sole source aquifer supplies more than 1,500 public-supply wells across Nassau and Suffolk Counties
