Harbor Watch / River Watch (HW/RW) is a water quality monitoring effort that is actively engaged in the scientific monitoring of local estuaries and watersheds in lower Fairfield County. Earthplace lies geographically within the ecologically important Long Island Sound (LIS) watershed. Since the mid '80s, the LIS watershed has attracted much interest and effort with respect to the restoration of its health and the improvement of its biological integrity.

In conjunction with Earthplace staff members, volunteers collect dissolved oxygen data in shallow water harbors using field equipment such as dissolved oxygen meters, conductivity meters and pH meters. This information is used to construct oxygen profiles of harbors and document hypoxic (low oxygen tensions) events which may occur during the warm summer months. These conditions are damaging to most marine life forms.

Data that is collected and processed is supplied to the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) to aid in their study of hypoxic events in LIS.  Volunteers also actively participate in catch-and-release research efforts on benthic (bottom dwelling) marine juvenile fish in local near-shore estuaries of LIS.  Data from this effort is also supplied to the CT DEP Fisheries Division.  Photos from a typical boat trip in the Norwalk harbor.

Data on nutrient concentrations, bacteria and aquatic insect populations are gathered in freshwater watershed areas.

HW/RW data analysis is conducted in the Earthplace Water Quality Research Lab. This is a fully equipped research lab with fecal coliform count, nutrient analysis, and larval fish and insect identification/count capabilities. State and federally approved Quality Control / Quality Assurance (QA/QC) protocols are in place and the lab has Environmental Laboratory certification from the State of CT Department of Health.

HW/RW activities not only allow Earthplace to have a role in collecting and disseminating valuable scientific data, they also support our mission by teaching participants about aquatic and marine resources and the need for wise use and conservation of these critical and fragile habitats.

Each month HW/RW compiles a water quality report on data collected at 10 established water-sampling sites.  Thanks to the Norwalk River Watershed Association (NRWA), these reports are available at www.norwalkriver.org/waterreadings.htm.  The reports contain information on indicator bacteria levels, dissolved oxygen conditions, and conductivity.  The headwaters of the Norwalk River Watershed are in Ridgefield and its terminus is the Norwalk Harbor.
 

HW/RW In The News

View a Movie about Harbor Watch/River Watch
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Assessing the Health of a River, Westport Minuteman, September 15, 2007