Grantee Research Project Results
2003 Progress Report: New Bedford Harbor Monitoring Partnership
EPA Grant Number: R829325Title: New Bedford Harbor Monitoring Partnership
Investigators: Alfonse, Scott , Howes, Brian , Rothschild, Brian , Belknap, Cheryl
Current Investigators: Alfonse, Scott , Howes, Brian , Rothschild, Brian , Peterson, Susan
Institution: City of New Bedford , The School for Marine Science and Technology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth , New Bedford Oceanarium
Current Institution: City of New Bedford , New Bedford Oceanarium , The School for Marine Science and Technology
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: September 1, 2001 through October 30, 2003 (Extended to May 31, 2005)
Project Period Covered by this Report: September 1, 2002 through October 30, 2003
Project Amount: $351,928
RFA: Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) (2001) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Aquatic Ecosystems , Ecological Indicators/Assessment/Restoration , Environmental Statistics , Water , Air
Objective:
The objectives of this research project are to: (1) determine the role of watershed inputs in determining estuarine nutrient-related water quality; (2) demonstrate the role of wet versus dry weather in estuarine water quality and how responses to nutrient inputs vary with season; (3) demonstrate estuarine circulation (salt wedge, stratification, etc.) within a drowned river valley estuary and how it changes over tidal and seasonal time scales; (4) demonstrate the freshwater hydrologic cycle and the role of rainfall in driving river flow and urban runoff; (5) inform the citizens of New Bedford and surrounding communities of the need for nutrient management to support the waterfront redevelopment and use of the Acushnet Estuarine System; (6) educate the citizens of New Bedford and surrounding communities as to the role of watershed inputs to estuarine water quality; (7) educate the public on the role of combined sewer outfalls (CSOs) in the health of their estuary; (8) demonstrate conditions in Clarks Cove following the City of New Bedford’s implemented management of CSOs surrounding that embayment; (9) inform the regional and national public as to the linkages between watersheds and embayment water quality via the Web; (10) use public exhibits, the informal learning environment of the New Bedford Oceanarium, direct neighborhood outreach, environmental organizations, and the media to raise public consciousness as to the future of the Acushnet Estuary and management options for its continued restoration; (11) improve the science and math education for students within the New Bedford Public Schools through the incorporation of Environmental Monitoring for Public Access and Community Tracking (EMPACT) information and time-relevant data displays into their curriculum; (12) use the EMPACT project as a module within the New Bedford Summer Sea Lab Program (for advanced students); and (13) network the EMPACT information throughout the regional schools through New Bedford Oceanarium education programs and alliances.
The New Bedford Harbor Monitoring Partnership will meet these objectives through its Web site, exhibits, presentations to neighborhood groups, Harbor stakeholders, environmental organizations, the press, and mailings.
Progress Summary:
Water Quality Monitoring
We created the public database, which is being tested by using existing data from the estuary. Secure locations for monitoring equipment were identified and then modified because of equipment security concerns. Permission to use four of these sites has been obtained. The monitoring equipment required relay antennas to capture the signal and send it to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) data collection platform. The antennas were installed at Acushnet River and Regency Building (relay stations). This proved more time consuming than we had anticipated because: (1) the location of the primary antenna was privately owned and shared with other private antennas; and (2) the transceivers used were subject to Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission regulations. Following 1 month of high-fidelity transmission, data collection became erratic. New, higher gain antennas were retrofitted at the relay stations after troubleshooting indicated interference from recently installed commercial radios. The analysis was also extended to ensure that the sites selected for monitoring equipment were appropriately located, particularly in relation to turbidity that may influence both data collection and data transmission. A method for identifying and verifying the timing of collecting the data points was determined: diurnal, high tide, low tide, spring tide, and neap tide.
Computer Program and Web Site Development
The Web site’s “user interface” has been developed using Macromedia Flash as a delivery media. A topology contour of the surrounding land area as well as representative bathometric contours was developed through computer animation. The land area has been surface mapped using MassGIS scans. The exhibit criteria were developed. An exhibit team was hired to develop and create the exhibit for public display.
Changes to the System
Time intervals for data display have changed to reflect tidal cycles that are environmentally relevant. Hourly, daily, and weekly intervals remain unchanged, whereas monthly and annual time intervals are now coincident with 28-day lunar months and 13-month lunar years. The information to be conveyed in the visualizations has been changed to demonstrate: (1) salinity over tidal cycle; (2) depth (tidal range at each site) over tidal cycle; (3) light over tidal cycle; (4) chlorophyll annual cycle; (5) temperature/dissolved oxygen annual cycle; and (6) flow at the upper Acushnet River location.
During the past year, we developed educational parameters and age levels for all materials, including the Web site. We also developed the educational needs and requirements as generated by the data. In addition, we made presentations and wrote and edited educational materials for the Web site. We sought to make the usability of the Web pages consistent with the Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. The GLOBE program is managed by University Corporation for Atmospheric Research/Colorado State University with support from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of State.
Future Activities:
Because of difficulties installing data transmission systems, the water quality instruments were not deployed in 2002-2003. We will deploy them during summer 2004. As transmission of data streams begins, the final software debugging and testing will commence to ensure data fidelity and continuity. The User Interface Flash Media with textual information will be completed and tested technically with groups of formal and informal educators. The Web site, which will contain all of the navigational elements to direct people to the visualization data at SMAST, will be completed. The Web site also will contain Web links to the program partners’ Web sites. The public will be informed regarding the Web site and exhibit through press releases, presentations, and ongoing educational presentations.
Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 7 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
data monitoring, public education, environmental education, environmental monitoring, public awareness, natural resources, New Bedford Harbor, water quality, Buzzards Bay watershed, Acushnet River, estuarine water quality, nutrient management, watersheds, Massachusetts, MA, EPA Region 1,, RFA, Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Scientific Discipline, Geographic Area, Water, ECOSYSTEMS, Restoration, Ecological Risk Assessment, State, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, estuarine research, Environmental Chemistry, Aquatic Ecosystems, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecological Monitoring, Wet Weather Flows, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Monitoring, coastal watershed, environmental indicators, ecosystem health, restoration strategies, environmental restoration, water quality, contaminated waterfronts, estuaries, nutrient loading, risk assessment, combined sewer overflows, aquatic ecosystem, recreational area, coastal ecosystems, monitoring, real-time monitoring, storm drainage, environmental stress, eutrophication, aquatic degradation, precipitation monitoring, bays, wetlands, coastal zone, groundwater pollution, stormwater runoff, continuous monitoring, ecosystem restoration, conservation, watershed, downstream effects, nutrients, nutrient monitoringRelevant Websites:
http://www.ci.new-bedford.ma.us/ Exit
http://www.smast.umassd.edu Exit
http://www.nbocean.org Exit
http://www.globe.gov Exit
http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org Exit
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.