CMG/WRD Cooperative Research and Talks
January 2000 |
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On December 13, Frank Manheim (CMG and EMRT/Reston) delivered a
presentation at WRD's new New England District Office in Northborough,
MA. The subject was cooperation with WRD and state researchers on
the problem of submarine discharge of excess nutrients to the
Rehoboth and Indian River Bays. Due to a major chicken-farming
industry on the Delmarva Peninsula, the Delaware Bays (Rehoboth
and Indian River) and the adjoining Assawoman Bay have among the
highest ground-water-nutrient concentrations in coastal areas of
the U.S. For example, whereas raw sewage has about 55 mg/l
nitrate-N, ground waters near the bays have recorded up to 150
mg/l nitrate-N. A recent Delaware State nutrient management project
reported that Indian River Bay may receive up to two times more
nutrients from all sources than its capacity to accept them.
The role of submarine discharge of nutrient-rich water into the
bays is thought to be potentially large, but the pathways and
volumes are poorly known. The CMG project contributes by accumulating
geological framework data pertinent to this problem. Data are
acquired using a specially designed database and displayed in
GIS format (Laura Hayes, WHFC). The historic data are being
integrated with new field information and other data types to
contribute to a research consortium from the University of Delaware,
WRD Delaware (David Krantz), and the Delaware Geological Survey
(DGS). DGS researchers recently identified thermal anomalies
attributed to submarine discharge by aircraft-based infrared
surveys. When the University of Delaware completes its boat
development, USGS will mobilize a new multichannel resistivity
streamer system in conjunction with acoustic profiling.
Ironically, on the same day, Dennis LeBlanc from the Northborough
Office traveled to Woods Hole to present a talk on the WRD research
on groundwater problems on Cape Cod. These talks are part of a new
exchange series between the CMG and WRD offices.
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January 2000
in this issue:
cover story: Hudson Valley Shelf
CMG/WRD Co-op
Marine Facility Hosts Science Journalists
Co-op Research Open House
GIS Day '99
GD Managers Visit St. Pete
WHFC Visitors
WHFC Arrivals
January Publications List
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