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2022 UWS Season | QAPP
2021 UWS Season | QAPP
2020 UWS Season | QAPP
2019 UWS Season | QAPP
2018 UWS Season | QAPP
Quick Links
Requirements
Participant’s Sampling Areas
Long Island Sound Report Card
Participants
Ash Creek Conservation Association
Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and
Techechnology Education Center
Bronx River Alliance
Clean Up Sound and Harbors
Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor
Connecticut River Conservancy
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Marine Program
East Basin Enterprises, LLC
East River Watershed Research Institute
Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition
Friends of the Bay
Friends of the Farm River Estuary
Guardians of Flushing Bay
Harbor Watch
Interstate Environmental Commission
Maritime Aquarium of Norwalk
New England Science & Sailing Foundation
North Fork Environmental Council
Project Oceanology
River Advocates of South Central Connecticut
Salonga Wetland Advocates Network
Save the River — Save the Hills
Save the Sound
Setauket Harbor Task Force
SoundWaters
SUNY Maritime College
Town of Darien
Town of Fairfield — Conservation Dept.
Town of Stratford — Conservation Dept.
Unified Water Study (UWS)
Launched by Save the Sound in 2017, the Unified Water Study: Long Island Sound Embayment Research (UWS) is a groundbreaking water quality monitoring protocol developed so groups around Long Island Sound can collect comparable data on the environmental health of our bays and harbors. Historically, the monitoring work is conducted by different groups with different monitoring approaches making it difficult to accurately compare water quality conditions in the Sound’s many inlets. By standardizing the protocol, the UWS will deliver more reliable data to further our understanding of the health of Sound which, in turn, will inform and support our actions to preserve and protect it.
Monitoring Our Bays and Harbors Together
Local monitoring groups receive support from Save the Sound, the study’s Science Advisors, and its funders. They are provided with monitoring equipment, training, Standard Operating Procedures, a custom study design for their monitoring locations, inclusion in the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP), and other resources they need to successfully collect high quality monitoring data.
What We Are Studying
The Unified Water Study measures the relative environmental health of the bays and harbors of Long Island Sound and human impact on them. It has two tiers: baseline data, and an optional set of data to be collected in addition to Tier 1.
Tier 1 monitoring measures:
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Tier 2 monitoring additionally measures:
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Background
The Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative initiated this Sound-wide study after creating the first Long Island Sound Report Card in 2015 and finding a scarcity of comparable data for the Sound’s bays and harbors. Save the Sound was selected to design and coordinate the study, working in collaboration with science advisors, other monitoring groups, and regulatory agencies (EPA, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission and Interstate Environmental Commission).
The Science Advisors to the Unified Water Study are Jamie Vaudrey, PhD, and Jason Krumholz, PhD. The Study Coordinator is Peter Linderoth, plinderoth@savethesound.org. Additional guidance is provided by Long Island Sound Study (LISS) staff as well as members of the Long Island Sound Study Science Technical Advisory Committee and Citizen Advisory Committee.
Requirements
Requirements for participation in Unified Water Study: Long Island Sound Embayment Research (UWS).
- 12 water quality sampling events occurring within three hours of sunrise and associated preparation and post sampling event work
- 3 macrophyte sampling outings and associated preparation/follow-up
- 1 full day training, plus you will receive ongoing tech support
- Access to boat may be necessary
- Willingness to join a network of water quality monitoring groups with shared goal
- Adhere to the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
- Use these Application instructions
If you are interested in participating in this important study, please contact the Unified Water Study Coordinator, Peter Linderoth, at plinderoth@savethesound.org.
Participant Sampling Areas
Harbor or Bay: | Organization: |
Black Rock Harbor | Bridgeport Regional Aquaculture Science and Techechnology Education Center |
Bridgeport Harbor(Inner & Outer) | Ash Creek Conservation Association |
Bronx River | Bronx River Alliance |
Centerport Harbor, Huntington Bay, Huntington Harbor, Lloyd Harbor, Northport Bay, Northport Harbor | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Marine Program |
Connecticut River | Connecticut River Conservancy |
Darien Harbor, Cove Harbor, Scott Cove | Town of Darien |
Eastchester Bay, Hunter Island Bay, New Rochelle Harbor | Save the Sound |
Farm River | Friends of the Farm River Estuary |
Flushing Bay | Guardians of Flushing Bay |
Goldsmith Inlet, Mattituck Harbor | North Fork Environmental Council |
Guilford Harbor | East River Watershed Research Institute |
Hempstead Harbor | Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor |
Housatonic River | Town of Stratford – Conservation Department |
Inner Norwalk Harbor, Saugatuck River | Harbor Watch |
Little Neck Bay, Manhasset Bay | Interstate Environmental Commission |
Mamaroneck Harbor | East Basin Enterprises, LLC |
Mill River (Southport Harbor) | Town of Fairfield – Conservation Department |
Mumford Cove, Poquonnock River | Project Oceanology |
New Haven Harbor | River Advocates of South Central Connecticut |
Niantic River | Save the River – Save the Hills |
Nissequogue River | Salonga Wetland Advocates Network |
Outer Norwalk Harbor | The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk |
Oyster Bay, Cold Spring Harbor, Mill Neck Creek | Friends of the Bay |
Port Jefferson Harbor | Setauket Harbor Task Force | Stamford Harbor, Holly Pond | SoundWaters |
Stonington Harbor, Alewife Cove | New England Science & Sailing Foundation |
Wequetequock Cove, Mystic River, Mystic Harbor | Clean Up Sound and Harbors |
Westchester Creek | SUNY Maritime College |
West Harbor | Fishers Island Seagrass Management Coalition |