1985 and the severe hypoxia which occurred in western Long Island 

 Sound in the summer of 1986. The improved conditions at WLIS have 

 been attributed to the lack of severe hypoxic stress in this region 

 of the Sound during 1987 and 1988. Several investigations in recent 

 years conducted by the University of Connecticut and SUNY-Stony 

 Brook for EPA Region I have concluded that near-bottom hypoxia 

 observed in western and central Long Island Sound during the summer 

 months occurred in response to a combination of excessive 

 anthropogenic organic loading (primarily sewage discharge) and 

 seasonal water-column stratification. The response of the local 

 benthic environment to dredged material disposal at the WLIS site 

 is primarily influenced by these persistent and recurrent regional 

 phenomena . 



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