Protects life and property and ensures the safety of the boating public on the 500 square miles of navigable waterways from the Connecticut state line which bisects the Long Island Sound, to the New York state line three miles south of Fire Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Land areas covered include Fire Island and Jones Island barrier beaches and the islands of the Great South Bay. Marine units also respond to water and ice rescues on the inland lakes, ponds and streams of the District. Provides Emergency Medical Service (EMS) to barrier beach communities, enforces the NYS Navigation Law, the Environmental Conservation Law, local ordinances and the NYS boating while intoxicated (BWI) laws. Additional duties include evacuation of communities threatened by floods, clearing vehicles stranded by blizzards, search and rescue (SAR) missions for overdue or disabled vessels and Homeland Security checks of bridges, ferry terminals, etc., and missing persons. The SCUBA Unit is available 24 hours/day and responds to water rescues, submerged vehicles and aircraft, evidence recovery and drownings.

Civilian volunteer element of the U.S. Coast Guard team promotes boating safety through public education (including classes leading to NASBLA and NYS accredited boating safety certificates), vessel safety checks, on-the-water operations to assist boaters in distress and other programs.Flotilla 22 in Ithaca serves Cayuga Lake and the Finger Lakes community.