8-5 



second tow were measured only when composition of the tows were deter- 

 mined subjectively to be dissimilar or if considerably fewer individuals 

 of a given species wore collected in the first tow. 



Impinqement data collected by United Illuminating Company per- 

 sonnel have been used to provide additional information on the epiben- 

 thic community, particularly in terms of seasonal abundance patterns as 

 well as a basis for consideration of the potential impact of the New 

 Haven Harbor Station operation on the epibenthic community. Impingement 

 data are presented as the average n\imber of organisms impinged per 24 

 hours, monthly from August 1975 through October 1977. 



Data acquired as part of monitoring programs for other utili- 

 ties in Long Island Sound have been used as a basis for comparison of 

 New Haven Harbor with other Long Island Sound sites. The Stamford 

 Harbor Ecological Studies (NAI, 1974) conducted for the Northeast 

 Utilities Service Company supply epibenthic invertebrate data for 

 Stamford Harbor from April 1971 through October 1973. The same otter 

 trawl as was used in the New Haven program was utilized in Stamford, and 

 tow duration (15 minutes) was the same as in the 1971 through 1973 

 NHHSEMS (NAI, 1972, 1973, 1974) epibenthic sampling. Sampling was 

 conducted monthly from April 1971 through December 1972 and bimonthly 

 through October 1973. All months but January were sampled at least 

 once. Monthly catch per unit effort as well as seasonal and annual 

 averages for the seven most abundant invertebrate species is presented 

 in the Stamford Harbor report. 



Epibenthic surveys at Shoreham and Port Jefferson, Long 

 Island, are not directly comparable to NHHSEMS data because of the 

 difference in sampling techniques. However, these data are useful in 

 making qualitative comparisons of seasonal trends . Sampling was con- 

 ducted using lobster pots and whelk traps at Shoreham; and lobster, crab 

 and whelk pots, clam rakes, and bottom grabs at Port Jefferson. 



Impingement programs conducted in conjunction with monitoring 

 programs for various Long Island Sound power plants provide information 



