1.0 INTRODUCTION 



Since 1984, the DAMOS (Disposal Area Monitoring System) Program has continued 

 to monitor nine offshore dredged material disposal sites from Long Island Sound to the Gulf 

 of Maine: Central Long Island Sound Disposal Site (CLIS), Western Long Island Sound 

 Disposal Site (WLIS), New London Disposal Site (NLDS), Cornfield Shoals Disposal Site 

 (CSDS), Portland Disposal Site (PDS), Rockland Disposal Site (RDS), Cape Arundel 

 Disposal Site (CADS), Massachusetts Bay Disposal Site (MBDS), Buzzards Bay Disposal 

 Site (BBDS), and also several special-use sites. The sites have been monitored to assess the 

 extent and stability of dredged material deposits and the effect of dredged material disposal 

 on the quality of the benthic environment. In 1990, field work was conducted at CLIS, 

 WLIS, NLDS, CSDS, CADS, MBDS, and BBDS. The 1990 field work at all sites consisted 

 of bathymetric and REMOTS® surveys. While most bathymetric surveys were conducted 

 over the most recent disposal area in the site, the bathymetric survey at WLIS was conducted 

 over the entire disposal site. In addition to bathymetric and REMOTS® surveys, sediment 

 and tissue chemistry was analyzed at CLIS, WLIS, MBDS and BBDS. Other tasks in 1990 

 consisted of the verification of the DAMOS Capping Model, the management of a DAMOS 

 database, steps to integrate a Geographic Information System (GIS) with dredging and 

 disposal site information, and the development of a tiered monitoring plan by the DAMOS 

 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The tiered monitoring plan is an evolving monitoring 

 program with interactive feedback that addresses specific program objectives and provides 

 information useful for making management decisions. This report describes 1990 work that 

 was not part of the field effort and summarizes the field program findings at each of the nine 

 disposal sites from 1985 to 1990. 



DAMOS Summary Report, 1985-1990 



