The U.S. Ocean Commission Report identified the need for regional ecosystem assessments to support coastal and ocean management. These assessments must provide greater understanding of physical and biological dynamics than assessments at global and national scales can provide but transcend state and local interests. This need and timeliness is apparent for Long Island Sound, where a multi-state regional restoration program is underway for America’s most urbanized estuary. Synthesis of the Long Island Sound ecosystem is needed to integrate knowledge across disciplines and provide insight into understanding and managing pressing issues, such as non-point sources of pollution, coastal development, global climatic change, and invasive species. Currently, there is a need for a comprehensive volume that summarizes the ecological and environmental dynamics and status of Long Island Sound and its myriad ecosystems. It has been 30 years since a comprehensive summary of Long Island Sound was prepared and 50 years since the pioneering work of Gordon Riley. Major advances in estuarine science are providing new insights into these systems, and yet, the condition of many estuaries is in decline in the face of continuing coastal development. There is an opportunity to lay a foundation for integrative coastal observing systems that truly provide the foundation for improved decision-making. This book will provide a key reference of our scientific understanding for work performed over the past three decades and guide future research and monitoring in a dynamic urbanized estuary.

A Gossipy, Anecdotal Book by Bob Colacello with luscious photography by Jonathan Becker of the homes & studios of forty prominent artists living in the Hamptons: from Julian Schnabel's ten-bedroom Stanford White spread to Ross Bleeckner's Sagaponack saltbox (formerly Truman Capote's), & including the personal places of Chuck Close, April Gornik, David Salle, John Chamberlain & others.

Get the most informative paddling guide to the area, featuring 50 of the best routes for canoeing and kayaking. Boasting more than 400 miles of coastline, beautiful sandy beaches, expansive salt marshes, and dozens of protected bays and harbors, Long Island is truly a paddler’s paradise. It offers something for everyone, from expert sea kayakers to families with young children. Amazing wildlife; ever-changing landscapes; charming history; and, on its western edge, a view of the setting sun behind the Manhattan skyline—there’s no better way to explore it all than from the water. Paddling Long Island & New York City is the most comprehensive guide to the area’s top paddling locations, including rivers, harbors, lakes, and portions of the New York City Water Trail. Written by expert local paddler Kevin Stiegelmaier, the guidebook provides engaging and concise information about Long Island’s geology, weather, history, and wildlife, while also offering carefully selected details vital to a successful paddling trip. You’ll appreciate Kevin’s helpful hints on trip planning, including notes on tides, equipment, training, and camping. Plus, the book’s safety information and navigational “rules of the road” are essential to know. Inside you’ll find: Details on 50 top paddling trips Route descriptions with full-color maps and photos Recommended runs for fishing, trips with children, wildlife viewing, and more At-a-glance data including difficulty, distance, and potential hazards GPS coordinates for put-ins and take-outs Whether you’re looking to spend a long day on the water or you only have time for a quick tour of a local harbor, this book has the information you need to make the trip enjoyable. Wet your paddle and whet your taste for outdoor adventure!

For more than five centuries, the waterways surrounding Long Island have profoundly shaped its history. Familiar subjects of lighthouses, shipwrecks and whaling are found alongside oft-forgotten history such as Pan-American flying boats landing in Manhasset Bay in the early days of transatlantic flight. From the British blockade and skirmishes during the American Revolution to the sinking of merchant vessels by Germany in World War II, the sea brought wars to these shores. Gold Coast millionaires commuted in high-speed yachts to Manhattan offices as the island's wealth grew. Historian Bill Bleyer reveals Long Island's nautical bonds from the Native Americans to current efforts to preserve the region's maritime heritage.

For centuries, Long Island's beaches have provided sustenance, relaxation, and inspiration. The coastline is renowned for its sandy Atlantic Ocean surf beaches, calm bayfront beaches, and rugged north shore Long Island Sound beaches. First inhabited by Native Americans, the area was called Sewanhacky ("Isle of Shells") in reverence to the offerings received where the water met the land. Drawing from the archives of local libraries, historical societies, museums, and private collections, Long Island Beaches presents a curated selection of vintage postcards illustrating the diversity of Nassau and Suffolk Counties' beautiful shores. Rare photographs and maps accompany the postcards to provide historical context. Through extensive research, author Kristen J. Nyitray documents a facet of Long Island's social and cultural history and the lure of its picturesque beaches.

For more than five centuries, the waterways surrounding Long Island have profoundly shaped its history. Familiar subjects of lighthouses, shipwrecks and whaling are found alongside oft-forgotten oddities such as Pan-American flying boats landing in Manhasset Bay in the early days of transatlantic flight. From the British blockade and skirmishes during the American Revolution to the sinking of merchant vessels by Germany in World War II, the sea brought wars to these shores. By the later part of the 20th century, Gold Coast millionaires commuted in high-speed yachts to Manhattan offices as the island's wealth grew. Historian Bill Bleyer reveals Long Island's nautical bonds from the Native Americans to current efforts to preserve the region's maritime heritage.