Projects

To support the study of the risk of runoff from artificial turf fields into the Quinnipiac River's watershed.

To support the study of sediment accretion and elevation change in the Quinnipiac marshes, and for a wildlife-exclusion experiment to test the hypothesis that herbivory is preventing vegetation from recolonizing mudflat areas.

To support the study of benthic algae to detect seasonal variation in species composition, as well as testing copper content in situ algal samples and conducting mesocosm copper uptake experiments to test the bioremediation potential of various algal species.

To support the study of several sites along the Quinnipiac River to determine whether endocrine disruptors are present and then trace their source.

To support the study of plasticizers and other chemical pollutants from industrial point sources in Wallingford and North Haven with an emphasis on the pollutant's impact to indigenous fish populations in the Quinnipiac River.

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.