An Environmental Survey of Effects of Dredging and Spoil Disposal, New London, Connecticut.
Abstract
This Center presented comparative data on benthic macrofauna populations of June 1974 (predisposal) June 1975, and Oct 1974 vs Oct 1975. At a station representing the original disposal point, significant decreases (according to 95% confidence limits) were found between Junes in number of individuals (N), number of species (S) and Shannon-Weaver species diversity (H'). No species had systematic increases or decreases which might dictate their use as indicators of spoiling impacts. Preliminary comparisons of Oct 74 vs Oct 75 samples again reveal apparently random, rather than spoil-related, changes outside of the spoil pile itself. The univ. of conn. found only limited correlations between suspended loads in the Thames River and season or streamflow. Sediments suspended in surface waters were predominantly fine-grained, while bottom waters had a bimodal distribution of sediment sizes. Geofungi concentrations were inversely related to salinity. Transmissivity measurements made by the New York Ocean Science Lab. upstream and downstream of the spoil pile indicated that turbidity increased slightly as a water mass passed over the spoils.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA026347
Entities
Organizations
- National Marine Fisheries Service