university of rhode island linda t green cooperative...

University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension URI Watershed Watch Natural Resources Science Dept. The Coastal Institute in Kingston 1 Greenhouse Road Kingston, RI 02881

Linda T Green, Program Director

401-874-2905 - [email protected] Elizabeth M. Herron, Program Coordinator

401-874-4552 - [email protected] www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww/html/ww.html

University of Rhode Island, United States Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. Cooperative Extension in Rhode Island provides equal opportunities without regard to race, age, color, national origin, sex or sexual preference, creed, or handicap.

Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds Monitoring Results 2000-2005: A Brief Summary July 2006

Elizabeth Herron and Linda Green, URI Watershed Watch The 2005 monitoring season was the sixth year that the Salt Pond Coalition’s (SPC) dedicated Salt Pond Watchers volunteers have worked with the University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch (URIWW) program to expand the suite of parameters assessed at a number of sites on both Green Hill and Ninigret ponds (see table for site information). Funded through the Block Island and Green Hill Pond National Decentralized Wastewater Demonstration Project, monitoring sites were selected with the SPC in consultation with URI Watershed Watch staff and a technical advisory group. The intent was to continue the bacteria monitoring that SPC has conducted for twenty-years on seven coastal salt ponds, while adding the broader array of parameters typical of URIWW sites at a number of sites within the Green Hill Pond watershed. Four pilot sites were monitored in 2000 in order to determine how to best integrate URIWW monitoring protocols with the existing SPC procedures. Following that ‘shake down season’ additional sites on Ninigret Pond were added in 2001, with more sites added for the 2004 monitoring season and monthly through the winter of 2005 (December 2004 – April 2005). A URIWW protocol only, open water site was added to Green Hill pond in 2003, with both a shallow and deeper water sampling component (figures 1 & 2.)

Table: Green Hill Pond Watershed Watch Monitoring Site Information GH = Green Hill Pond NP = Ninigret Pond

Dockside locations monitored at mid-depth, or arms depth:

URIWW Site ID SPC Site ID Site notes GH – 3 Indigo Pt 14B GH – 1 Sea Lea 11 GH – 2 Teal Rd 16 Moved farther from shore in 2004

GH – 4 Twin Peninsula 16B NP – 2 Crawford Dock 15 Added in 2001

NP – 3 Pond Street 12B Added in 2001 NP – 1 Tockwotten Dock 11A Added in 2001

NP – 4 Ft Neck Cove 14 Added for 2004 and winter 2005 only NP – 5 Stumpy Pt 13B Added for 2004 and winter 2005 only

NP – 6 Tom Cod Rd NX Added for 2004 and winter 2005 only NP – 7 Vigna’s Dock 12A Added for 2004 and winter 2005 only

Mid-pond location monitored at 0.5 (a) meter and 1.5 (b) meter depths: GH 5 – In-pond none Added in 2003, not part of usual

SPC monitoring program

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Figure 1. Map showing Green Hill Pond Monitoring Sites

Salt Pond Watchers and other volunteers recruited for this project were trained by URIWW staff to conduct the additional water quality monitoring procedures, with annual refreshers after the initial training. These water quality monitors were provided with the necessary monitoring equipment and supplies as well as a written monitoring manual that detailed all the procedures. Their regular monitoring followed a schedule developed by URIWW to coincide with the SPW Wednesday morning May through September schedule, weather permitting. (Please see URIWW monitoring manuals and quality assurance project plans available on the website at http://www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww/ for more specific information.) The schedule consisted of biweekly on-site monitoring of water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll sample collection and processing, using equipment, supplies and procedures developed by URIWW, along with a sample collected for subsequent analysis of fecal coliform bacteria at the URI Microbiology Department (Micro) laboratory. Once a month the volunteers collected a suite of additional samples, packed them on ice in a cooler at a central collection point (the US Fish and Wildlife office in Charlestown) where they were picked up by

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a student intern from the Micro lab who transported them to the URIWW laboratory in the College of the Environment and Life Sciences in Kingston. These samples were analyzed for bacteria, pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, salinity and chlorophyll according to standard URIWW laboratory procedures (please see Quality Assurance Project Plan: University of Rhode Island Watershed Watch Analytical Laboratory for additional information.) All the on-site monitoring data was submitted on monitoring postcards. Brief summaries and discussion of the results of the six years of monitoring follow.

Figure 2. Map showing Ninigret Pond Monitoring Sites

Weather summary: Weather can significantly affect water quality, and can confound the assessment of water quality findings. This summary (figure 3) is based on weather data from the URI Weather Station in Kingston, RI. Departures from normal were in relation to the average temperature and precipitation values over the past thirty years. Monthly temperature was above normal for the vast majority of months in the six monitoring seasons. Rainfall was more evenly distributed between above and below normal in this same time span.

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Figure 3. Summary of Weather during the Monitoring Period

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During the first year of monitoring in 2000 precipitation was above normal for the first four collections, but at or slightly below normal prior to the last collection of that year. Temperatures were also about average. The 2001 monitoring season was generally warmer than average, with about average rainfall during the monitoring season (that year July - October.) Droughts during much of the summers of 2002, 2004 and 2005 brought long periods of sunny days and warmer than average temperatures, and potentially increased impacts from a better boating season. Annual precipitation was above average from 2003 through 2005 – particularly in 2003 and 2005. However, distribution of precipitation was typically erratic with extended dry periods followed by unusually wet periods. In 2004 the remnants of two hurricanes in September produced nearly six inches of rain over two weekends, ending a summer long drought. And in 2005 a wet winter preceded a record dry summer, which ended with week long rains including an October record setting rain event. Those types of extreme weather patterns make assessment of the water quality data challenging, and argue for continued long-term monitoring in order to help differentiate between true water quality trends and weather related impacts.

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Green Hill Pond summaries for water clarity, chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity: These basic water quality indicators all pointed to moderately to highly nutrient enriched conditions throughout Green Hill Pond. Due to the shallowness of the pond, water clarity as measured by Secchi depth transparency, was only assessed at the

Figure 4. Green Hill In-Pond (GH-5) Site Field Data Charts

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“In-pond” site (GH-5, figure 4.) While the center of the pond was typically less than 2.0 meters (6.5 feet) deep, the black and white Secchi disk was seldom visible on the bottom of the pond, within the range considered to be poor clarity, or eutrophic. Algae levels, measured as chlorophyll concentration, in the moderate to high range were largely responsible for that poor clarity. Dissolved oxygen, which can be reduced by decomposition of algae, were generally at levels considered sufficient for most aquatic organisms at the In-pond site. However a trend of declining dissolved oxygen in the bottom water at the center of the pond was apparent and should be closely monitored.

Figure 5. Green Hill Indigo Point (GH-3) Site Field Data Charts

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Conditions at the more sheltered Indigo Point site (GH-3) were more variable (figure 5.) Again, algae levels were typically in the moderate to high range, with occasional very high spikes. Those peaks could be caused by wind concentrating algae in the cove, or responses to localized nutrient inputs. While dissolved oxygen levels were generally at levels not considered stressful to aquatic organisms, the algal spikes did reduce DO sufficiently to produce short-term stressful events for species not able move out of the cove. (Charts for the remaining Green Hill Pond sites are included in the appendices.)

Figure 6. Ninigret Pond Tockwotten Dock (NP-1) Site Field Data Charts

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Ninigret Pond summaries for chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity: These basic water quality indicators all pointed to moderately to highly nutrient enriched conditions throughout Ninigret Pond. Salinity values at the Ninigret Pond sites tended to be a bit higher than at adjacent Green Hill Pond sites, reflecting the more direct connection to Rhode Island Sound via the Charlestown Breachway. The increased flushing may also have contributed to generally higher DO values found in the eastern portion of Ninigret Pond (Tockwotten Dock, NP-1, figure 6) compared to the western pond (Crawford Dock, NP-2, figure 7.) Maintaining good flow through the breachway may be especially important for water quality protection especially in the more densely settled portions of Ninigret Pond, and of Green Hill Pond which is connected to the sound via the eastern portion of Ninigret Pond.

Figure 7. Ninigret Pond Crawford Dock (NP-2) Site Field Data Charts

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(Charts for the remaining Ninigret Pond sites are included in the appendices.)

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The distance between the Crawford Dock site and the breachway, as well as prevailing summer winds from the southwest in southern Rhode Island produce little mixing with Rhode Island Sound waters in the western part of Ninigret Pond. This resulted in annual periods of low, potentially stressful, dissolved oxygen levels at Crawford Dock. In 2005, conditions of large quantities of potentially nutrient enriched stormwater runoff in the spring and early summer followed by an extended drought and warm temperatures produced very low, potentially lethal, DO levels during intense late summer algal blooms. Continued monitoring at this site is especially critical.

Fecal coliform bacteria: Fecal coliform bacteria are an indicator of fecal contamination and potentially the pathogenic, or disease causing organisms, often associated with that contamination. Both shellfishing and swimming standards for fecal coliforms in marine waters (14 colony forming units (cfu)/100 mL and 50 cfu/100 mL respectively) have been established in order to protect the public from potential exposure to unsafe levels of these pathogens. Shellfishing has been prohibited in Green Hill and eastern Ninigret Ponds for several years due to fecal coliform levels that regularly exceed the shellfish standard. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) has listed those areas as impaired waters – meaning they are not meeting their designated uses due to the elevated fecal coliform levels. To identify and manage the sources of bacteria, RIDEM completed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) study. Additional information and studies related to that effort can be found on the RIDEM website at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/ quality/rest/index.htm.

Figure 8. Green Hill Pond Fecal Coliform Bacteria

Green Hill Pond Annual Geometric Average Fecal Coliform Values (May - Oct Mean)

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http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/rest/index.htm

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/quality/rest/index.htm

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Results from this project have confirmed that fecal coliform levels were often high in many portions of Green Hill Pond, particularly in areas near stream outflows or with high density development. The Teal Road site (GH-2) recorded consistently very high fecal coliform levels until it was moved away from the shoreline and two stream outflows (Teal Pond and Factory Brooks), further out into the pond before the start of the 2004 monitoring season. The sudden decline of fecal coliform bacteria in samples collected away from the streams was a dramatic demonstration of the impact of the brooks as a source of bacteria, and of the effect of dilution. The RIDEM study identified those tributaries as a significant source of bacteria to the pond. Reducing those inputs would be especially critical during wet weather when both the volume of water and bacterial concentration of the brooks increase tremendously, resulting in much higher bacterial loads. Those wet weather flows elevate the bacterial concentrations throughout much of the pond in excess of not only the shellfish standard, but also the swimming standards. Other areas in Green Hill Pond that frequently exceeded shellfish standards were off of Sea Lea Road (GH1) and the Twin Peninsula (GH4) area. Both of these portions of the shoreline are characterized by dense, small lot development. Stormwater seems to be a particularly significant source of bacteria at Sea Lea, as bacteria levels during dry periods were typically quite low. Bacteria levels at Twin Peninsula showed a disconcerting trend of being quite low during the first three years of sampling, followed by consistently high levels during the second three years. Continued monitoring at that site is critical, and it would be useful to conduct a shoreline survey to determine what changes may have occurred during that time period.

Figure 9. Ninigret Pond Fecal Coliform Bacteria

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Consistent with its having been identified as an impaired waterbody, fecal coliform levels in the eastern portion of Ninigret Pond were very frequently high, exceeding the shellfish standards. The westernmost Ninigret site, Crawford Dock (NP2), typically had quite low levels of bacteria, but very large wet weather events would cause elevated values, just not as

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high as the more densely developed eastern portion of the pond. The supplemental sites were only monitored for bacteria during 2004, with most sites exceeding the shellfishing standard about half the time, with particularly high values following a wet weather. Due to the variability of bacteria, it is difficult to assess those supplemental sites without more years of data.

Total, Nitrate-, and Ammonia- Nitrogen. (BayWatchers II produced by the Coalition for Buzzard’s Bay http://www.savebuzzardsbay.org/document.doc?id=116 provided the background information for this section.) Total nitrogen is widely used by scientists as an indicator of eutrophication or nutrient enrichment in marine waters. Levels below 350 ppb are characteristic of low nutrient waters, while values above 600-700 ppb indicate nitrogen enrichment. Using those values for comparison, water samples analyzed for total nitrogen indicate that Green Hill Pond is moderately nutrient enriched (figure 10.) This data also suggest a slight increase in total nitrogen over these years, which should continue to be monitored closely. Areas with periods of particularly high total nitrogen values include Twin Peninsula, Teal Rd. and Indigo Point (GH-4, GH-2, and GH-3 respectively). These nitrogen enriched waters have contributed to bottom waters in the center of the pond having total nitrogen levels that average more than 800 ppb – the highest of the longer term monitoring sites in either Green Hill or Ninigret Ponds.

Figure 10. Green Hill Pond Total Nitrogen

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Total nitrogen values in Ninigret Pond were generally in the moderate range – not yet clearly indicative of nutrient enrichment (figure 11.) However a slight trend of increasing total nitrogen bears watching, particularly since it is usually more cost-effective to prevent eutrophication than it is to reverse it. In addition, in 2005 very high total nitrogen values were noted at several of the supplemental sites, significantly higher than during the first season of monitoring. Those higher values may have been an artifact of those sites having only had nutrients sampled during the winter and early spring of 2005, a period during which macro

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algae and submerged aquatic vegetation are not actively growing and using nutrients from the water column. However, when comparing the winter total nitrogen values of other sites with the summer values, no clear trend of higher winter values was evident. In fact at many sites the mid-summer values were higher than during the colder months (monthly data available in the appendices.) Additional nutrient monitoring at those supplemental sites in particular is critical in order to determine whether the high 2005 values were part of a trend of increasing nitrogen in those coves, and what implication that might have on other water quality parameters. For example, the increasing total nitrogen values at Crawford Dock have caused increased algal blooms, and decreasing dissolved oxygen levels (figure 7.) It could be expected that continued increases in nutrients in other coves would leave to similar impacts.

Figure 11. Ninigret Pond Total Nitrogen

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Winter total nitrogen. In order to determine if there were seasonal variation in nitrogen concentrations, particularly total nitrogen, in the water column due to nutrient uptake by macro algae such as sea lettuce during the summer “growing season”, samples were collected approximately monthly from the spring of 2002 through the fall of 2005. It was expected that winter (cold season) concentrations would be significantly and uniformly higher than the growing season samples from those same sites.

No clear trends were apparent when comparing the growing season and cold season total nitrogen values for Green Hill Pond sites (figure 12.) Overall weather patterns (i.e. wet versus dry years) seemed to have a greater impact than the time of year. In addition, the seasonal usage of many of the homes in the watershed may be skewing the seasonal concentration values as well. The increased summer population in the watershed likely contributes more nutrients to the ponds via septic discharge into groundwater during the summer, as well as pet wastes and lawn and garden fertilizers, than during the winter. These

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results confirm that a growing season based monitoring program (which is easier and safer for the volunteers) provides good estimates of annual nutrient levels.

Figure 12. Green Hill Pond Year Round Total Nitrogen

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Figure 13. Ninigret Pond Year Round Total Nitrogen

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As with Green Hill Pond, no discernable pattern in cold season versus growing season total nitrogen levels was found in Ninigret Pond sites (figure 13.) However a fairly distinct, trend of increasing total nitrogen levels were noted. This was partly due to the fact that 2004 and 2005 cold season samples included a number of supplemental sites which had quite high

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total nitrogen levels. Continued monitoring of some of those supplemental sites is recommended to determine long term trends, as well as to help identify the source of those nutrients.

Nitrate-nitrogen is a soluble form of nitrogen, readily taken up and used by algae and submerged vegetation, especially during the summer growing season. By promoting excessive algae growth, high nitrate-nitrogen levels contribute to biological oxygen demand or BOD, through algal respiration at night and when it decomposes. Thus high nitrate-nitrogen is often associated with low dissolved oxygen concentrations in water. Nitrate-nitrogen levels at most sites in Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds were low, often below the detectable range for many sampling events, but most yielded a measurable annual average (figures 14 and 15.) However, the Teal Rd. (GH-2) and Indigo Point (GH-3) sites had quite high values during some sampling events, which resulted in nitrate-nitrogen annual average values that exceeded 200 ppb, higher than most Greenwich Bay sites, an area considered impaired by excess nutrients. Maximum values at the Tockwotten and Crawford (NP-1 and NP-2, respectively) Docks sites in Ninigret Pond were much higher in 2005 than the maximum values recorded in earlier years, more similar to the maximum values common at GH-2 and GH-3. Again, as winter samples had been collected for those sites in both 2004 and 2005, the winter values did not adequately explain the increased nitrate-nitrogen found in 2005. Continued monitoring at those sites will help determine if those were short term inputs, or part of a long-term trend.

Figure 14. Green Hill Pond Nitrate-Nitrogen

Green Hill Pond Annual Nitrate-Nitrogen (May - Oct Mean)

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Figure 15. Ninigret Pond Nitrate-Nitrogen

Ningret Pond Annual Nitrate-Nitrogen (May - Oct Mean)

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Ammonia-nitrogen is the other soluble form of nitrogen that the URI Watershed Watch program analyzes for. It is also readily used by algae, thereby indirectly contributing to increased BOD, and reduced dissolved oxygen levels. The RI numeric criteria for ammonium are pH, salinity and temperature dependent in salt water, and temperature, pH and life stage (of critical organisms) dependent in freshwater (see http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/ water/h20q06.pdf for specifics.)

Figure 16. Green Hill Pond Ammonia-Nitrogen

Green Hill Pond Annual Ammonia Nitrogen (May - Oct Mean)

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Critical chronic ammonia-nitrogen level for Green Hill Pond 164 ppb

http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/water/h20q09.pdf

http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/water/h20q09.pdf

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Based on salinity, pH and temperature values typically found in the Green Hill Pond in mid-summer chronic ammonia-nitrogen levels in excess of approximately 164 ppb for extended periods of time could be hazardous to aquatic species. With the exception of several sites in 2005, average values were typically well below that critical level in Green Hill Pond (Figure 16). However, since ammonia is difficult to accurately analyze in the laboratory these values should be viewed as a guide. But while ammonia-nitrogen levels were typically low, a very slight trend of increasing values has been noted that bears continued watching.

Figure 17. Ninigret Pond Ammonia-Nitrogen

Ningret Pond Annual Ammonia Nitrogen (May - Oct Mean)

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Critical chronic ammonia-nitrogen level for Ninigret 411 ppb


Based on the salinity, pH and temperature values commonly seen mid-summer in Ninigret Pond, chronic ammonia-nitrogen values of approximately 411 ppb or higher would be a concern to aquatic species. With the exception of 2005, the average values were quite low, and well below the value of critical concern (figure 17.) Again, a recent trend of increasing ammonium-nitrogen has been noted, and should continue to be monitored, particularly at the supplemental sites which consistently had higher ammonia-nitrogen values than the sites which were monitored from 2001 – 2005.

Phosphorus. In most estuaries such as salt ponds nitrogen is the primary nutrient that controls algal growth. However like nitrogen, phosphorus is also essential for life, and thus in salt water environments phosphorus levels must be considered in relationship to nitrogen levels. In estuaries the recommended level of total phosphorus is 10 to 100 ppb with 100 to 1000 ppb of total nitrogen (a 10:1 ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus). Under these conditions, most algal blooms would be avoided. (Please see http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/ info/phos.html for more information.) Like nitrogen, phosphorus also occurs in the total form which includes phosphorus bound to or taken up in particulate matter and soluble or dissolved form which is readily used by algae.

The total phosphorus levels in Green Hill Pond were generally low, typically below the maximum recommended value of 100 ppb (figure 18). Occasional high spikes were noted

http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/phos.html

http://www.water.ncsu.edu/watershedss/info/phos.html

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that were likely linked to stormwater events. More than half of the phosphorus was in the dissolved form (data not shown) at nearly all of the Green Hill Pond sites, indicating that it was not being taken up and used by microscopic algae and aquatic plants. The only exception was in the deeper waters at the center (GH-5b) where only about 20% of the phosphorus was dissolved; suggesting that much of the phosphorus at depth was bound up in decaying algae and bottom sediments. Overall, Green Hill Pond phosphorus values were within the recommended range.

Figure 18. Green Hill Pond Total Phosphorus

Green Hill Pond Annual Total Phosphorus(May - Oct Mean)

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Figure 19. Ninigret Pond Total Phosphorus

Ningret Pond Annual Total Phosphorus (May - Oct Mean)

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The total phosphorus levels in Ninigret Pond were generally low, typically below the maximum recommended value of 100 ppb (figure 19). Again, more than half of the phosphorus was in the dissolved form (data not shown) at the Ninigret Pond sites, indicating that it was not being taken up and used by microscopic algae and aquatic plants, confirming that productivity in the pond is limited by nitrogen levels.

Overall Water Quality Summary: Both the on-site monitoring and laboratory analyses indicate that Green Hill Pond is a nutrient enriched waterbody, with some threats to ecological and human health. Ecological health threats include over enrichment leading to moderate - high algae levels, poor water clarity, and short periods of critically low dissolved oxygen levels. Excessive algae shade desirable submerged aquatic vegetation, preventing the growth of eel grass, resulting in loss of habitat for many juvenile species. Excess nutrients also contribute to the growth of macro algae such as sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca), which can smother shoreline organisms when driven by winds, and contribute to localized low oxygen when decomposing. Human health threats in Green Hill Pond include potential pathogens from the sources contributing to the high fecal coliform levels. Accumulations of sea lettuce can also lead to noxious odors when decomposing, and make swimming unpleasant. Fortunately a number of efforts are underway to restore Green Hill Pond including efforts to reduce loads of nutrients and bacteria from stormwater and groundwater. The Block Island and Green Hill Pond National Decentralized Wastewater Demonstration Project that funded the monitoring reported here also provided funds to install a number of innovative septic systems to help address concerns regarding septic system contamination of groundwater. In addition, the RIDEM and Coastal Resources Management Council have funded the Salt Ponds Watershed Restoration Project, which was designed to beginning planning for addressing stormwater and wastewater improvements in the watershed. The implementation of those plans will require additional funds and local support, both to help secure those funds and to ensure that residential best management practices are put into practice to protect the pond. The monitoring data collected to date suggests that while much of Ninigret Pond is currently in good health, there are signs that this very sensitive ecosystem is responding to watershed impacts. While nutrients have been quite low, there are indications that they have increased slightly. Algal blooms have been noted that resulted in significant declines in dissolved oxygen, a critical concern to shellfish populations. The coves in the northeastern portion of the pond showed periods of quite high nutrient concentrations, and should be a focus of future monitoring and restoration efforts. Preventing continued increases in nutrient inputs to Ninigret Pond would likely be more cost effective than trying to restore the pond once it reaches the state of being considered “enriched.” Continued monitoring of both Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds is essential in order to determine whether apparent nutrient increases are an actual trend in water quality, or due to natural variability in response to weather patterns and the degree of associated uses of the summer homes common in these watersheds. Continued monitoring enables us to more accurately pinpoint if and when problems begin to develop, and how the ecosystem responds to changes in its watershed. Ecologists recommend that ten years of monitoring is needed to

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fully assess the health of a water body. During that time there will be drought and deluge, warm and cool weather, maybe a hurricane - a full span of natural conditions. Once restoration activities commence, it will also be critical to monitor the ponds in order to identify responses to those actions, and allow modifications to occur as needed. Acknowledgements: Volunteer water quality monitoring would not be possible without the dedication of outstanding volunteers. For this project we were fortunate to have a long and distinguished list including: Lynn Fairweather, George, Nick and Dan Hill, Gus Walker, Pam Ganz, Brenda Dillman, Ted Truslow, Terry Mallon, Pat and Bill Barber, Phil Degaetano, Betty Fielder, Dottie Bianco, Gudman Lovvoll, Stephan Endres, Dick Horstmann, George Lyons, Donald Rocheleau, Michael Roy and Ralph Minapoli who not only monitored multiple site but helped to coordinate all the volunteers and ensured that everyone had the bottles and other supplies they needed. All these individuals have devoted a great deal of time on the water – usually very early in the morning - collecting a variety of field values and water samples and in their kitchens running tests and diligently processing samples for later URI lab analysis. We are indeed indebted to them for providing the information that has gone into this assessment. We also thank the Salt Pond Coalition for helping to oversee the Green Hill Pond monitoring component of the Demonstration Project. In particular Dave Monk and Vic Dvorak were instrumental in keeping things on track. Finally the project managers and staff including Lorraine Joubert, Galen Howard McGovern, Lisa Philo and Marie Esten were a tremendous help – and always made sure we weren’t too far behind our deadlines.

university of rhode island linda t green cooperative...

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