Soundkeeper

The term Soundkeeper. was first used in the American lexicon by the Long Island Soundkeeper Fund, Inc. in 1987 upon the founding of an environmental protection organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of Long Island Sound. The name and the organization's principles were modeled after the Hudson Riverkeeper Fund. Later, both organizations independently changed their official names to Riverkeeper and Soundkeeper. Soundkeeper and Riverkeeper are founding members of the Waterkeeper Alliance. The term Soundkeeper is a registered trademark of Soundkeeper, Inc. However, it has also become common practice to refer to the lead person who is the water presence of the organization as the "Soundkeeper".

Soundkeeper Inc. is located in Norwalk, Connecticut and was incorporated in 1987 as a not-for-profit environmental organization. Its program area extends from the Battery Park in New York City up the East River, including portions of Queens County and Kings County New York, as well as all of Long Island Sound and its rivers and the watershed in New York and Connecticut.

Soundkeeper states its mission as the protection and enhancement of the biological, physical, and chemical integrity of Long Island Sound and its watershed. To accomplish the organizations stated goals, Soundkeeper Inc. undertakes activities in several program areas. In addition to the main program areas which include legal advocacy, monitoring and patrol of Long Island Sound and wetlands restoration, Soundkeeper operates five pump out vessels in western Long Island Sound to prevent sewage from being discharged overboard from vessel into the Sound. Most recently, Soundkeeper pioneered new storm water pollution prevention by establishing a pilot program in Norwalk, CT. The "Filter Project" placed 254 storm drain filter inserts in catch basins designed to kill bacteria, and capture hydrocarbons and other pollutants.