Empowering students to increase environmental stewardship and community resilience in the face of climate change.
Action Projects
What is the problem?
For over three decades, many organizations and efforts have been put into place to improve the health of Long Island Sound. In 2017, Save the Sound launched the Unified Water Study: Long Island Sound Embayment Research (UWS) in efforts to standardize and fill gaps within the data. This program aims to monitor water quality parameters from embayments: our contributions are continuous monitoring of Mumford Cove and Poquonock River.
Why is this important to the area?
The Poquonnock River is a small river adjacent to Groton-New London Airport, and the direct water connection between Long Island Sound and Groton Reservoir. Mumford Cove is bordered by CT Haley’s Farm nature preserve, Bluff Point, Palmer’s Cove, and Long Island Sound. The two embayments experienced ecological problems in the 1970’s due to continuous raw sewage disposal into its waters and salt marshes. This practice was halted until the water quality levels were safe. Currently, both locations are used for recreational purposes like hiking and fishing. Nearby salt marsh and eelgrass habitats provide ecological services such as nutrient cycling, preventing erosion, providing nursery for commercial and recreational fisheries, and protection against floods.
Continued monitoring is vital to provide a record of current environmental state, allowing for better management and conservation efforts in the future.
What did we do about it?
Project Oceanology has partnered with Save the Sound to conduct water quality assessments of Mumford Cove and the Poquonnock River from May – October each year. Twice a month, the Project Oceanology staff records water quality parameters, such as, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and chlorophyll at multiple locations. Additionally, we conduct macrophyte or seaweed surveys to determine distribution and classification of various marine algaes in local waters.
What did we find?
In 2023, Project Oceanology joined Save the Sound on this project. Prior to our involvement, there was not an agency monitoring Mumford Cove and Poquonnock River embayments. It’s too soon in sampling to see any definitive trends, but, we are seeing similar results to what we (Project O) have observed within Long Island Sound.
Who was involved?
Project Oceanology’s staff, Callie, Kat and Amanda completed the first monitoring assessment in 2023. Our team has grown to include Haylie, Kim, and Debbie for the 2024 season!
Read more Action Projects
Transforming Storm Drains into Messages: Educating Through Art in Baker Cove
Highlighting the impact of pollution on Baker Cove through creative art.
Investigating the Connecticut River Watershed: Students as Environmental Stewards
Students gain hands-on experience on how to protect this vital ecosystem.
Every contribution to Project Oceanology empowers over 25,000 students and adults each year to explore and learn through hands-on, oceanic adventures.
Your support is vital in providing our life-changing programs that enrich the education of the next generation of environmental stewards and marine scientists. Our work wouldn’t be possible without donations from supporters like you.