1.0 INTRODUCTION 



This report summarizes disposal and monitoring activities conducted at the Seawolf 

 Mound of the New London Disposal Site (NLDS) from the 1995-1996 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 Seawolf Mound during this time frame and to include 

 important monitoring information related to this dredged material mound. This is Volume II 

 of a report which covers all monitoring activities at the NLDS from 1992-1998. A 

 companion report (Volume I, SAIC 2001) presented results of activities at all other NLDS 

 mounds during this period. 



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 conducted 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- 1 970s, when the number was reduced to four, 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) (NUSC 1979; Figure 1-1). 



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. 

 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, Seawolf Mound 1995 - 1998 



