Projects

To support investigation of the various stresses that may be contributing to the extensive loss of vegetation in the Quinnipiac tidal marshes and begin to gather data on the relative importance of sub-surface compaction, decompositon in causing elevation loss in this ecosystem.

To offer a short course in river processes to local members of conservation/inland wetland commissions and environmrntal activists.  The course will cover the basic hydrologic, geomorphic, chemical and biological processes that govern stream exosystems, and how they are perturbed by human activities.  Participants will receive the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environemntal data on the Q River.

To continue monitoring vegetation change and mudflat development in the Quinnipiac River brackish marshes, and begin to test hypothesized causes for the observed wetland loss.  To complete a nitrogen and trace metal analyses and begin to assess how marsh loss has affected the load of pollutants to the river.

To continue monitoring vegetation change and mudflat development in the Quinnipiac River tidal marshes.  In addition, to conduct field and lab work to begin to test hypothesized causes for the observed wetland loss and to assess how marsh loss has affected the load of pollutants (N,trace metals) to the river.

To support Field Research Program to document wetland loss along the Quinnipiac River Estuary and document baseline conditions and historic trends.

To collect and  publish a systematic review of municipal land-use regulations in the Quinnipiac River Watershed.

To support studying nutrient export from subwatersheds during storm events, including phosphorus (P), which is the limiting nutrient in fresh waters.

To test the hypothesis that Cytec is discharging into the Quinnipiac a large amount ot polymeric formaldehyde which a) has not been accounted for in the permitting process; b) becomes bioavailable over time; c) has great potential to accumulate in sediments and organisms.

To analyze and report on a comparison of effluent monitoring data to permit requirements for industrial National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit holders in the Quinnipiac River Watershed.

To support the project entitled Comparison of Sediment Contaminants in the Branford River and the Quinnipiac River and their effects on the Benthic community.  This proposed research is an investigation of the sediment contaminant load of five sites in the Quinnipiac River and three sites within the Branford River.