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 support funding for two aspects of the Quinnipiac River Conservation and Development corridor Project. RPG will develop an inter-municipal agreement between the three lower river communities that will include land-use guidelines and a tax sharing agreement.

Complete three hydrographic dye dilution studies of the Wastewater Pollution Control Facilities.

Use plankton net to collect tautog embryos and assess their viability in New Haven Harbor.

To document the macrobenthic structure of the lower Quinnipiac River as an "ecological benchmark" against future changes.

To continue research on the utilization of sunlight for the destruction of toxic water pollutants.

To measure and assess organic and metal contaminants in the eggs, liver, kidney and flesh of tautog (blackfish) from New Haven Harbor.

To develop a geographical information system database for the Quinnipiac River Watershed.

Use ultra-clean methods to pinpoint sources of toxic heavy metals, to establish a history of metal pollution in the river.