A sediment cap of 400,000 m^ was expected to fully cover the original MQR 

 mound, as well as the recent deposit of UDM. However, complications in the disposal 

 sequence during the 1982/83 disposal season caused two barge loads of Black Rock Harbor 

 UDM to be placed over the final CDM deposit, leaving a thin layer of UDM exposed at 

 the sediment- water interface. As a result, monitoring activity over MQR from 1983 

 through 1992 had shown cycles of benthic habitat decline and slow recovery, relative to 

 other capped mounds at CLIS (Murray 1996a). 



In 1993, the decision was made by NED to spread additional capping material over 

 the MQR mound in response to the anomalous benthic conditions. In addition, volumes of 

 UDM and CDM generated by a de facto capping project were also directed to the MQR 

 mound during the 1993/94 disposal season. A total of 65,000 m' produced by the smaller 

 dredging projects was released at the CDA 93 buoy position over the MQR mound during 

 the 1993/94 disposal season. The deposition of the supplemental material covered much of 

 the northeastern region of the mound, increasing the mound height and improving benthic 

 conditions. 



The scope of the most recent sampling activity at CLIS was expanded to include the 

 collection of data over the MQR mound, observing changes in mound height and 

 environmental conditions at the sediment-water interface. SAIC conducted several 

 bathymetric, sediment profiling, and geotechnical coring surveys over the NHAV 93 

 project area to monitor the progress of the 1993/94 disposal and capping operations, 

 producing a comprehensive time-series dataset. From 10 to 18 July 1994 Science 

 Applications International Corporation (SAIC) conducted field operations over the most 

 active area of CLIS to monitor the long-term progress of the disposal site, evaluate the 

 success in the formation of the CAD mound, and document the improving conditions over 

 the MQR mound. 



Results of the July field surveys over NHAV 93 indicated the successful 

 development of a stable CAD mound with an adequate cap material thickness, and a 

 recolonization rate over the majority of the mound, that met or exceeded the predicted 

 recolonization rates of the DAMOS tiered monitoring and management protocol (Germano 

 et al. 1994). The data collected over MQR mound indicated a net increase in mound 

 height at the apex and an overall improvement in habitat quality at the sediment- water 

 interface. 



Monitoring Cruise at the Central Long Island Sound Disposal Site, July 1994 



