Long Island Sound is ever changing, through the seasons, years, and centuries. Some of those changes are part of a natural cycle, as universal as the tides. Other changes are caused by human activity. With the dawn of the industrial age, as a consequence of human population growth and development, these changes accelerated and were often detrimental to Long Island Sound and the publics use of it. But change can also bring renewal and recovery. The callous indifference to pollution during the early industrial development of the region was unsustainable. Inevitably, changes in public perception culminated in the environmental movement and national and state legislation was enacted to protect the nations natural resources. Programs were established to improve water quality, preserve critical habitats, and restore living resources. As a result, the change in Long Island Sound that the public now expects is one of renewed health, even as we continue to develop the Sounds watershed and use its resources. The purpose of Sound Health 2006 is to report on the changes in Long Island Sound and its watershed, and the linkages between those changes. Environmental indicators are used to present these changes and linkages, using data from researchers, agency programs, and other sources. The report highlights trends in pollutant levels, land use and development, water quality, living resources, and sensitive habitat.