LIWP Action Agenda

The time is ripe to address water quality and quantity concerns across Long Island. Never before has there been as much investment, momentum, and collective action to mitigate water resource concerns.  

While much has been achieved since LINAP’s inception in 2015, there is still work to be done. DEC has released the Long Island Watershed Action Agenda (LIWAA) (PDF), a 10-year strategic framework focusing on water quality and that which is impacted by it. 

The four goals of the LIWAA are: 

• Clean Water – Understand, improve, and protect surface water and groundwater quality to meet or surpass ecological and public health targets.
• Healthy Habitats – Protect, restore, and enhance habitats to sustain the long-term viability of healthy and holistic ecosystem functions to benefit people and nature.
• Sustainable Groundwater Resources – Achieve sustainable use of water resources through protection, conservation, and management efforts to ensure a dependable supply of clean water now and into the future.
• Inspired & Engaged Public – Engage the public in the protection of Long Island’s waters to create and foster stewardship which inspires change and mobilizes community support for personal, enduring, and effective environmental action.

The Long Island Watershed Action Agenda was drafted with the input of an implementation committee made up of regional stakeholders. Learn more about the Implementation Committee below. 

Implementation Committee

A Long Island Watershed Action Agenda Implementation Committee was assembled by NYSDEC to identify key water quality and quantity issues that need to be addressed, and to support implementation projects across Long Island. The organizations that are members of the Implementation Committee are listed in the table below. These member organizations have been critical to the development of this strategic plan and will be taking the lead on many of the actions outlined. The successful implementation of the Action Agenda will rely on the partners on the Committee, as well as other partners across the island. 

There are many other partners who can take the charge of the Action Agenda and implement projects that achieve water quality improvements. All are welcome to join in efforts. The successful implementation of the Long Island Watershed Action Agenda depends on the collective efforts and impact of many different local, regional, state, and federal partners. The Partners table lists organizations that are already implementing the corresponding action or may be a likely partner based on their organizational mission. They are suggestions only and do not commit partners to implementing specific actions, nor do they limit the possibility of other organizations or individuals acting as partners on specific actions.

Public Comment Period

The Long Island Watershed Action Agenda went out for public comment from June 30, 2025 – July 30,2025. Two public webinars were held during the public comment period to provide an overview of the Action Agenda and encourage interested New Yorkers to provide comments. View a recording of the webinar.

NYSDEC thanks those who provided comments on the draft Long Island Watershed Action Agenda. View the comments that were submitted and DEC's responses in the Division of Water's Response to Comments for the Long Island Watershed Action Agenda (PDF).