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4.0 CONCLUSIONS 



The findings of this survey indicate that the use of the Morris Cove borrow pit as an 

 alternate dredged material disposal site during the 1999-2000 disposal season was successful. 



• Controlled disposal of small barge loads of dredged material facilitated the 

 development of a small-scale sediment deposit within the confines of the pit. 



• REMOTS® photographs indicated the presence of sediments displaying 

 characteristics of dredged material in close proximity to the MCDA buoy position and 

 extending out 100 m to 150 m from the central disposal point. 



• Side-scan sonar and towed video data suggest the impacts associated with the 

 deposition of new material (small-scale bottom features and heterogeneous surface 

 sediment composition) were contained within the southern portion of the borrow pit. 



• At five months post-disposal, benthic recolonization of the new sediment deposit 

 appears to be progressing as expected. 



• Many of the REMOTS® stations within the borrow pit displayed moderate to deep 

 RPD depths and advanced successional status (Stage n and/or HI organisms present at 

 8 of the 22 stations occupied). 



• Due to the protected nature of the borrow pit and the recent input of organically 

 enriched sediment, benthic habitat conditions exceeded those observed at the New 

 Haven Harbor reference area. 



Monitoring Cruise at the Morris Cove Borrow Pit 



