News From Member Institutions

Site Reports

EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

May 2007

Rep: Stephen Hale

Alternate: Walt Galloway

New Faculty/Researchers

Visiting scientist from China: Dr. Hongfang Lu working on systems ecology

Visiting environmental economist from EPA DC: Dr. Sabrina Lovell working on economics of the invasive species (green crab)

Post-doc Landscape Ecologist: Dr. Jeff Hollister

Events and Happenings

Acadian Province Benthic Index workshop held at Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Nov, 2006.

Estuarine Research Federation conference, Providence, RI, 4-8 Nov 2007

New Research Activities/Highlights

EPA Office of Water national coastal survey will be conducted again in 2010. National survey of wetlands scheduled for 2009.

June 2006

Rep: Stephen Hale

Stephen Hale discussed activities at the Environmental Protection Agency Narragansett lab. The EPA National Coastal Assessment survey for New England is part of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP), which involves measurement of ecological indicators that reflect the ecosystems' biological, chemical and physical attributes, including water quality, sediment quality and fish tissue analysis. The goal is to use biological measures to indicate the physical-chemical status of the nvironment. An EMAP wetlands survey has started up, with development of indicators that give the status and condition of the water resources. Candidate indices for a benthic index for the Gulf of Maine are being explored, with a Benthic Index Workshop planned for the summer/early fall.