EPA New England Regional Laboratory (Office of Environmental Measurement and Evaluation)

Ecology Field Monitoring

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The Ecology Monitoring Team measures the water quality and ecological health of New England’s streams, lakes and estuaries, provides support to regional EPA water quality programs, assists New England states and tribes in implementing state water monitoring programs, and conducts special projects and research.

The Ecology Monitoring Team responsibilities include:

• Providing technical support, high quality environmental data, and expert advice in the areas of aquatic, wetland and terrestrial biology

• Working with states to assess the status and trends of the quality of New England’s waters

• Conducting water monitoring studies including water chemistry, microbiology, point and nonpoint source monitoring, time-of-travel and dispersion dye studies

• Conducting biomonitoring assessments including macroinvertebrates and fish communities assemblages, sediment oxygen demand (SOD) studies, boat and backpack electrofishing for fish collection

• Collecting biological tissue (fish, shellfish, macroinvertebrates) and sediments for chemical analysis to assess potential for bioaccumulation and other ecological effects

• Supporting regional initiatives including the Charles River Initiative, the New England Wadeable Streams Project and The New England Lakes and Ponds Project

• Conducting special projects and research on priority and emerging issues such as mercury, pharmaceuticals and personal care products, amphibian malformations, and others