Projects

To support measuring mercury in fish from ponds spanning the Quinnipiac River's watershed to see where it exceeds safety thresholds.

To support the study of several sites along the Quinnipiac River to trace sources of endocrine disruptors and toxicity.

To support the study of copper uptake efficiency of various ulvoid species in order to pinpoint potential candidates for bioremediation of heavy metals at marine and brackish water sites along the Quinnipiac River.

To support Lunch and Learn sessions for municipal department of public works crews in the lower Quinnipiac watershed for best practices in stormwater pollution prevention; enforcement of public access site at Little River, a Quinnipiac tributary at Lowe's on Route 80 in New Haven; education of phosphorus control; and monitoring of pollution and diversion permits.

to support identification, characterization and assessment of industrial pollutants in Wallingford and North Haven with an emphasis on the pollutant's impact to indigenous fish populations in the Quinnipiac River.

To support informational signage, as well as educational programs and printed materials about North Haven's Tidal Marsh Trail.

To support educational programming and volunteer events at the Quinnipiac Meadows and Long Wharf Nature Preserves and as well as to support the process of acquiring land adjacent to Quinnipiac Meadows.

To support start up staff to expand public access to rowing and other non-motorized watercraft, to grow participation in the annual dragon boat regatta, and to maintain a partnership with the University of New Haven, which will offer programs in environmental education to the general public.

To offer a 2-day short course in river processes to local environmental activists and municipal officials.  The course will cover the basic hydrologic, geomorphic, chemical, and biological processes that govern stream ecosystems, and how they are perturbed by human activity.  Participants will receive the scientific tools that they need in order to understand and critically evaluate environmental data on the Quinnpiac 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.