Projects

To support water testing of the Quinnipiac estuary and New Haven Harbor for contaminants and evaluation of abnormal reproductive development of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) by endocrine disrupting compounds.

To support a study about the impacts of wastewater from municipal waste water treatment plants on fish health in the Quinnipiac River.

To support the Safe Grounds Campaign to reduce and ultimately eliminate the use of toxic lawn pesticides in the Quinnipiac River watershed and throughout Connecticut.

To support the surveying of the Quinnipiac River for polyaromatic hydrocarbons and phthalate plasticizers in an effort to characterize contamination from industrial and municipal sources.

To support the review of Cytec's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) water permit for discharges into the Quinnipiac River and see if there have been any violations of their permit during this year or during the past 5 years.

Funds are requested to conduct mercury contamination research at Wharton Brook in Quinnipiac River system. Research activities include measuring mercury in water, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish along the length of thw Wharton Brook and its tributaries.

Funds are requested to support implementation of informational and educational efforts and activities advocating for pesticide use reduction. These efforts will focus on the 80 property owners whose properties abut the Quinnipiac River in Plainville, CT. The activities will include 2 river clean-ups, coordination of a fishing derby, Earth Day Extravaganza, promotion and advocacy of Freedom Lawn Initiative, and a Tomasso Nature Park clean-up. (see grant notes)