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sulphidic sediments, larger grains, and pockets of methane gas. These indicators can be 

 linked to past dredged material disposal operations at the historic Stamford Disposal Site. 

 To date, a total of three WLIS reference areas (EAST, WLIS-REF, and 2000S) have been 

 abandoned due to the presence of dredged material. Due to recurring indications of 

 anthropogenic activity, and the lack of comparability between 2000W and the two other 

 DAMOS reference areas at WLIS, it is recommended that 2000W be abandoned and a 

 replacement reference area be sought to the southeast of the current WLIS boundaries. 



Clasts of reduced sediments were also discovered at the sediment- water interface in 

 one replicate of ST A 8 over reference area SOUTH. The presence of two gray clasts of 

 newly deposited silts may be attributable to a small amoimt of disposal barge spillage 

 during the final phase of deposition over the WLIS H moimd. However, the area 

 surrounding WLIS is subjected to intense lobster fishing activity throughout the spring, 

 summer, and fall. Furthermore, the gray color and angular shape of the clumps of fine- 

 grained material suggest these reduced clasts are linked to the recent deployment or 

 recovery of lobster fishing gear. 



There were no adverse impacts detected in association with the presence of clmnps 

 of reduced material, but the attention focused on STA 8 and reference area SOUTH, did 

 reveal a second issue. Reference area SOUTH was accepted for comparison with WLIS 

 sedunents in July 1992 when the disposal site was erroneously reported as the 3.42 km^ (1 

 nmi^) area by the DAMOS Program. The new reference point was located 392 m south of 

 the disposal site with a water depth of approximately 23 m (75 ft) at MLLW. The use of 

 the WLIS III boundaries provides only 207 m of separation between the disposal site and 

 the center of SOUTH, reducing the available samplmg area to the north of the central 

 reference point. In order to maintain a random sampling scheme for statistical validity, it 

 is recommended that ftimre samplmg activity at SOUTH be confined to a 300 m semi- 

 circular area to maintain a buffer zone between the reference area and the southern 

 boundary of WLIS or relocate SOUTH 150 m south to eliminate overlap. 



The newest WLIS reference area, SW-REF, appeared to be healthy, relatively 

 undismrbed, and supporting a stable benthic mfaunal population. REMOTS® photographs 

 detected Stage I organisms in all fourteen replicates with evidence of Stage III individuals 

 represented in eight photographs, as well as deep RPD depths, resulting in high OSI 

 values. Physical and biological indicators suggest SW-REF remains valid for continued 

 use as a DAMOS reference area for WLIS without modification to its location or sampling 

 radius. 



Past DAMOS monitoring activity at the Long Island Sound disposal sites was 

 conducted in mid-sunraier, allowing four or more weeks for benthic recovery after the 

 completion of the disposal activity. This practice tended to promote the completion of 



Monitoring Cruise at the Western Long Island Sound Disposal Site. July 1996 



