The Connecticut River Watershed Council is one of seven partners receiving a $10 million federal grant funded through USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program, the council announced Friday.

This project will bring together seven partners, including The Nature Conservancy, to improve the health of Long Island Sound. The funding will be matched by other local, state and private funding sources.

Excess nutrients have been identified as the primary driver of hypoxic conditions in Long Island Sound and are also impacting upland water resources in the watershed, which extends into Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. This project will develop a comprehensive program for farmers in the area and use both working lands and easement programs to improve soil health and nutrient management; lead projects that focus on enhancing riparian areas, and institute a land protection program to protect agricultural and forestry areas, the council said.

The Connecticut River contributes more than 70 percent of the freshwater to Long Island Sound and plays an important role in the health of the Sound, the council noted.

For information about the council, visit: www.ctriver.org.