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NYSG Posts Impact Statements for Research, Extension Projects in NY's Great Lakes, Hudson and Marine Waters

A sampling of results and impacts from recently completed New York Sea Grant's research, extension and education initiatives.

New York, NY, March 23, 2023 - In the late Spring 2023 issue of New York Coastlines, we share our annual review of impactful NYSG programming and research. Included are nearly 30 summaries of select work conducted by our program's extension specialists and funded researchers to develop and provide stakeholder-driven, science-based information, tools, and other resources to support local communities, businesses, and individuals achieve objectives related to coastal community, environmental, and economic resilience and sustainability.

The new profiles posted below provide a summary of how NYSG's extension specialists and funded researchers addressed a variety of marine, Hudson and Great Lakes concerns and opportunities in 2022, including the partners involved and any additional funding sources.

Also, check out our visually-driven story map version of this past year’s successes … www.nyseagrant.org/successstories2023.

For project profiles filed in previous years, complete with partners and funding sources, visit www.nyseagrant.org/successstories.

And for NYSG resource sites related to these and other topics below, see www.nyseagrant.org/resourcesites.

We also offer a "What is New York Sea Grant" one-pager, which was updated in April.

On the national front ...

Check out the by-the-numbers one-pager "Sea Grant: A Smart Investment in Our Economy" or search impacts of Sea Grant's work, browse current projects, and explore any of the Sea Grant Colleges at seagrant.noaa.gov/Our-Work.


NYSG Research

For over five decades, New York Sea Grant (NYSG) has been supporting university-based research related to a variety of marine, Hudson estuary, and Great Lakes topics and issues. 

Some recently-completed investigations address topics including: early detection of aquatic invasive species; impacts of marine debris on coastal environments; effectiveness of sugar kelp against  harmful algal blooms; aiding communities needing to apply for flood assistance through The New York Climate Smart Communities Program.

A sampling of ongoing research is focusing on: examining effective options to yield benefits at shellfish hatcheries; establishing a summer seaweed product for NY marine aquaculturists; identifying factors limiting recovery of certain fisheries, detailing genetic traits in shellfish that provide improved survival under stresses, and assessing the value of other key cultural and economic species; addressing the impacts of ocean acidification; helping to increase spawning success and assist native fish restoration efforts in Lake Ontario; and improving public understanding of rip currents.


NYSG Extension

Coastal Ecosystems, Fisheries

2022 New York Statewide Celebration of Sturgeon (PDF)
NYSG and DEC, alongside many partners, coordinated a seven-event series to celebrate the continuing recovery of three of New York’s unique sturgeon species Read on >>

Long Island Sound Marine Debris Plan Completed (PDF)
NYSG in partnership with CT Sea Grant identified and prioritized goals, objectives, strategies, and actions and completed an Action Plan to reduce marine debris in their shared coastal region of Long Island Sound Read on >>

Progress to Improve NY’s Hard Clam Resiliency (PDF)
NYSG partnership is helping hard clam growers who operate under harsh environmental conditions Read on >>

Understanding & Managing Floodplains for Healthy Watersheds and Resilient Communities (PDF)
NYSG’s healthy floodplains workshops empower localized watershed decision makers to reduce risks and improve water quality Read on >>

Coastal Communities, Climate Resilience

Assessing Climate-Driven Migration in the Great Lakes (PDF)
NYSG is part of a national research collaboration consortium focused on climate-induced human migration Read on >>

Community Engaged Internship Comes to The Bronx (PDF)
NYSG participation in National Sea Grant’s Community Engaged Internships program provides professional development to undergraduate students from underrepresented and Indigenous communities as well as benefiting local communities Read on >>

First Annual Long Island Sound Sustainable & Resilient Communities Workshop (PDF)
NYSG Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professionals have created a new foundation for focusing shared interest in building the resilience of Long Island Sound communities Read on >>

Flushing Climate Meeting: Preparing Communities for Future Flooding (PDF)
NYSG and partners’ outreach to local communities includes access to science-based expertise and resources to better address potentially deadly climate-related challenges Read on >>

Public Participation Guide From NYSG Helps Communities Engage in the Offshore Wind Development Process (PDF)
NYSG’s public participation guide helps reduce barriers to public participation in the offshore wind energy development process Read on >>

Regional Needs Assessment: Building a Sustainable & Resilient Long Island Sound (PDF)
NYSG Sustainable and Resilient Communities Extension Professionals facilitated a needs assessment to understand climate-related environmental challenges and barriers to action in Long Island Sound communities Read on >>

Training Extension Educators to Develop Climate Stewards to Establish Local Climate Programming (PDF)
NYSG’s Climate Stewards program is providing science-based training to equip volunteers to organize climate mitigation and resilience projects in New York Read on >>

Coastal Processes, Recreation

2022 New York Shoreline Site Visits (PDF)
NYSG provides New York’s freshwater and marine shoreline stakeholders with expertise on natural and nature-based shoreline management methods Read on >>

2022 Working with Nature Workshops (PDF)
NYSG provides New York’s freshwater and marine shoreline stakeholders with expertise on natural and nature-based shoreline management methods Read on >>

Informing Stakeholders about Erosion and Recession of New York’s Coastal Bluffs (PDF)
NYSG works with research partners to ensure information about coastal bluff erosion and recession is reaching stakeholders most impacted by these processes Read on >>

Lake Ontario Shoreline Resident Information Folders for Wayne County (PDF)
NYSG-developed resource folders empower waterfront property owners with tools and information for shoreline management and hazards preparedness Read on >>

MyCoast New York: Engaging Communities to Document Floods & Storm Damage (PDF)
NYSG is piloting a statewide community science tool that engages New Yorkers in documenting and sharing their experiences with floods, storm damage, and coastal changes through photos Read on >>

Seeking Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Designation (PDF)
NYSG is collaborating with NOAA and diverse local partners to support designation of a Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Read on >>

Sustainable Seafood

6th Annual Seafood Summit Hosted By New York Sea Grant (PDF)
NYSG fosters growth and resilience in NY’s seafood industry through active and positive engagement among the industry’s diverse sectors statewide Read on >>

2022 Great Lakes Aquaculture Days (PDF)
NYSG is engaging stakeholders with educational and experiential learning opportunities through its participation in the Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative Read on >>

Guide to Seaweed Processing & Marketing Supports New York’s Emerging Industry (PDF)
NYSG helps coastal producers adapt to changing environmental, social and political climates through updated practices and novel technologies and products Read on >>

New York State Aquaculture Report Updated (PDF)
NYSG’s updating of the New York Aquaculture Industry status report supports New York’s opportunity to become an industry leader Read on >>


NYSG Education

A “Day in the Life” Student Experience Debuts in Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River Watershed (PDF)
NYSG, in partnership with NYS DEC, engaged middle schools with “A Day in the Life” experiential learning focused on the Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River watershed Read on >>

Adapted Curriculum Helps Students in NYC Explore Sea Level Rise Past and Future (PDF)
NYSG provided scientific expertise to update and enhance a climate-focused curriculum to help NYC area students envision and plan for climate resilience Read on >>

Community Science LI Educational Webinars Year Two (PDF)
NYSG’s successful Community Science LI webinar series of 2021 continued in 2022, connecting the public with the local environment through participatory science Read on >>

Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Projects Engage Youth (PDF)
NYSG, in partnership with NYS DEC, administers New York’s Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program to benefit diverse coastal stakeholders, including youth Read on >>

Great Lakes Coastal Resilience & Climate Change Curriculum Workshop (PDF)
NYSG professional development training for teachers is increasing their awareness, knowledge, and capacity to teach on Great Lakes topics, including climate change Read on >>

Long Island Sound Mentor Teacher Program Returns (PDF)
The Long Island Sound (LIS) Mentor Teacher program supported by NYSG and the LIS Study estuary program connects educators with local resources Read on >>

Marine Camp Classes From NYSG Resume After COVID Hiatus (PDF)
NYSG Marine Camp partnership creates an interactive learning environment for students from underserved and underrepresented communities Read on >>

Plastic Pollution and You: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum (PDF)
NYSG-developed curricula focus teacher and student attention on today’s pressing environmental issues, including plastic pollution and marine debris Read on >>


More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York (SUNY), is one of 34 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program.

Since 1971, NYSG has represented a statewide network of integrated research, education and extension services promoting coastal community economic vitality, environmental sustainability and citizen awareness and understanding about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources.

Through NYSG’s efforts, the combined talents of university scientists and extension specialists help develop and transfer science-based information to many coastal user groups—businesses and industries, federal, state and local government decision-makers and agency managers, educators, the media and the interested public.

The program maintains Great Lakes offices at Cornell University, SUNY Buffalo, SUNY Oswego and the Wayne County Cooperative Extension office in Newark. In the State's marine waters, NYSG has offices at Stony Brook University in Long Island, Brooklyn College and Cornell Cooperative Extension in NYC and Kingston in the Hudson Valley.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube links. NYSG offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/nycoastlines for its flagship publication, NY Coastlines/Currents, which is published quarterly.