(Figure 3-11) . The average apparent RPD depth for the disposal site 

 stations was 3.1 cm, with almost an equal number of station values 

 falling above and below this mean. The pattern of RPD depths across 

 the site appeared to be irregular (Figure 3-12) , and the RPD at many 

 stations was patchy and interrupted by reduced material extending 

 to the surface from depth (Figure 3-13) . 



The five reference stations had an average apparent RPD 

 depth (2.9 cm) slightly shallower than the disposal site stations; 

 however, there was no significant difference in the distribution of 

 RPD values at the reference versus the disposal site stations 

 (Mann-Whitney U-test; p = 0.6225) . The RPD layers at many reference 

 stations were characterized by the same patchiness exhibited at the 

 disposal site stations (see Figure 3-13) . The RPD depths at the 

 disposal and reference sites had not changed significantly since the 

 November 1987 REMOTS® survey (Mann-Whitney U-test, p = 0.6832 for 

 the disposal site and p = 0.5712 for the reference sites). 



Approximately 64% of all the photos obtained at WLIS 

 (including both disposal site and reference stations) exhibited 

 Stage III infauna, compared to 53% in November 1987, 50% in August 

 1986 and 33% in August 1985. At many stations, all three replicate 

 photos showed Stage I on III successional seres (Figure 3-14) . In 

 the replicates at other stations, both Stage I on III seres as well 

 as either Stage I or Stage I going to Stage II seres were evident. 

 As in 1987, the Stage I organisms at many stations included both 

 small, tubicolous, surface-dwelling polychaetes, as well as the 

 near-surface dwelling, opportunistic mactrid bivalve Mulinia 

 lateralis (Figure 3-15) . Stage I going to Stage II seres were 

 designated where the Stage I assemblage appeared to be particularly 

 well-established and shallow-deposit-feeding errant polychaetes 

 and/or shallow-dwelling tellinid bivalves served as evidence of 

 developing a well-established deposit-feeding assemblage (Figure 

 3-15) . Only Stage I organisms were observed at four disposal site 

 stations (-1-Y, -1-G, -1-1 and 3-C) and in the single photos 

 obtained at some reference site stations (Figure 3-14) . 



Based on the results of past REMOTS® surveys, 

 Organism-Sediment Index (OSI) values of +6 or less are considered 

 indicative of chronically-stressed benthic habitats and/or those 

 which have experienced recent disturbance (e.g., erosion, dredged 

 material disposal, hypoxia, demersal predator foraging, etc.). Only 

 five disposal site stations (-1-Z, -3-C, -1-1, 3-C and 5-E) had 

 mean OSI values +6 (Figure 3-16) . The low values at and near the 

 "B" mound reflected physical disturbance due to recent disposal. 

 Elsewhere, the low values were caused by either a lack or patchy 

 distribution of Stage III infauna. Generally, mean OSI values 

 exceeded +6 at the majority of on-site stations and at all three 

 reference sites. 



