1.0 INTRODUCTION 



This report summarizes disposal and monitoring activities conducted at the New 

 London Disposal Site (NLDS) from the 1991-1992 dredging season through monitoring in 

 July 1998. This information is presented as a single report to provide a clear, concise 

 picture of use of the New London Disposal Site during this time frame and to include 

 important monitoring information related to the dredged material mounds. This report 

 (Volume I) covers all disposal, monitoring and management activities at the NLDS over 

 the indicated period except those associated with the U.S. Navy Seawolf mound, which 

 will be presented separately in Volume II. 



1.1 Background 



Monitoring of the impacts associated with the subaqueous disposal of sediments 

 dredged from harbors, inlets, and bays in the New England region has been overseen by 

 the Disposal Area Monitoring System (DAMOS) Program since its inception in 1977. The 

 goals of the DAMOS Program pertain to detailed investigation and reduction of any 

 adverse physical, chemical, and biological effects on the benthic environment associated 

 with dredged material disposal activities. The activity sponsored by DAMOS helps to 

 ensure that the effects of sediment deposition over pre-defined areas of seafloor are local 

 and temporary. A flexible, tiered management protocol is applied in the long-term 

 monitoring of sediment disposal at ten open-water dredged material disposal sites along the 

 coast of New England (Germano et al. 1994). 



There has been an active dredged material disposal site near New London since at 

 least 1955. Disposal activity was focused on 19 disposal sites in Long Island Sound (LIS) 

 until the mid-1970s, when they were reduced to four regional sites, including New London 

 (Fredette et al. 1993). The Navy began detailed environmental assessment of the New 

 London site in 1973 (U.S. Navy 1973, 1975). In 1977, the DAMOS Program assumed the 

 monitoring responsibility for active disposal sites in New England including the New 

 London Disposal Site (NLDS). 



The New London Disposal Site (NLDS) is an active open-water dredged material 

 disposal site located 5.38 km (3.1 nmi) south of Eastern Point, Groton, Connecticut. This 

 site has been monitored under the DAMOS Program since 1977 (NUSC 1979; Figure 1-1). 

 Centered at 41° 16.306' N, 72° 04.571 ' W (NAD 83), the 3.42 km 2 NLDS has water 

 depths which range from 14 m over the NL-RELIC Mound to 24 m at the southern 

 disposal site boundary. 



Monitoring Cruise at the New London Disposal Site, 1992 - 1998 



