23 



might look at, through the board, is in making an effort to try to 

 include an increased variety of groups in certain projects. 



A lot of the partnerships that are done are done with one or two 

 organizations with substantial financial might like TNC, DU, and I 

 think they have worked on this in the past and have been success- 

 ful. But I think their board needs to be aware and make an in- 

 creased effort perhaps to involve local partners in some of the 

 kinds of projects that we are doing with them. I think that would 

 be an added benefit to the program. 



But, like I say, that is a footnote. They are doing a very, very 

 good job and have done a good job. 



I also would echo Mike on the board, the commitments of their 

 board. One of the advantages for adding the members to their 

 board will be to get some more diversity on their board and to 

 bring some folks who can bring financial resources to the table to 

 help run the Foundation and to find more corporate contributions 

 to the projects that are being done. I think that there is a tremen- 

 dous interest out there from corporate America in getting involved 

 in environmental and conservation projects, and I know that Amos 

 has been very, very interested. He has put in a lot of hours in 

 trying to get corporate America linked up, and having a few more 

 of the right board members can help his efforts in that area. 



Mr. HocHBRUECKNER. Thank you. 



One last question for Mr. Eno. From a personal point of view, 

 representing the eastern half of Long Island and New York as I do, 

 could you educate me on — I notice in New York State you have a 

 project called the Long Island Sound Challenge. Could you share 

 with me what that is and enlighten me? 



Mr. Eno. I will start. I may ask my grants director, Whitney Tilt, 

 to speak to this as well, but the Long Island Sound is, basically, a 

 volunteer network of people taking water quality samples up and 

 down the Sound, both on the Long Island side and on the Connecti- 

 cut side. It is one of several grants that we have done to target get- 

 ting coastal communities involved in understanding what is going 

 on with the dynamics of the offshore area and getting them to sup- 

 port broader conservation initiatives. 



We have also given grants on striped bass for the Hudson River 

 and the New York bite area to determine the origin of those popu- 

 lations. TTTIJ 



We have also done a land acquisition at Seatuck National Wild- 

 life Refuge on Long Island. 



Mr. HOCHBRUECKNER. On the Long Island Sound Challenges, es- 

 sentially, these folks contribute to the Long Island Sound study 

 which is part of the national estuary program study? 



Mr. Tilt. Mr. Chairman, that is part of an overall citizens' action 

 group that is part of the Long Island study being funded by the 

 EPA. 



Mr. HocHBRUECKNER. Very good. 



Thank you very much and allow me to thank all of you for shar- 

 ing your valuable time with us. We appreciate the input. I do 

 apologize for the lack of controversy today, but it seems like every- 

 body loves you, and we are going to do our best to maintain our 

 support. 



Thank you very much. This hearing is ended. 



