Long Island Sound pollution study begins in Mamaroneck.
The survey, led by Save The Sound, a conservancy organization with offices in Mamaroneck, will span 116 bays and harbors in New York and Connecticut along the Sound.
"We know plenty about the open water, but these little nooks and crannies are where the most public interest is.
The study’s first year will measure water cleanliness at 24 sites starting in Mamaroneck and spanning the Sound’s length and breadth up to Mystic Harbor in Connecticut.
Twelve environmental and conservation groups are participating, with more preparing to join next year.
From May through October, researcherswill be out on the water twice a month at dawn measuring dissolved oxygen and other indicators of water pollution.
Pollution in the water has increased steadily in recent years, said Peter Lindroth, a researcher with the group.
"What you do in your home — from using fertilizer to not taking care of septic systems — can all impact the Sound and lead to pollution," he said.
"The hope is that this data will give us a road map for action."
Brown said she hopes to complete the study by 2019.