Prepared: January 24, 2007
On November 13 and 14, the Bold held two public outreach events in coordination with the San Juan Bay National Estuary Program (NEP) and the Fall Meeting of the Association of National Estuary Programs (ANEP). Visitors included NEP Directors, local newspapers and schools, and international environmental NGOs.
Scientists on the Bold completed three scientific deployments and hosted four public outreach events between October and December 2007.
Gulf Stream Reef/ Boynton-Delray Beach Outfall/ Coral Rapid Bioassessment Protocol Studies
The Bold supported two separate surveys during one deployment: (1) an assessment of the potential effect of discharges from the Delray Outfall on Gulf Stream Reef health, and (2) the development of a robust, rapid bioassessment protocol for municipal monitoring of coral. The Delray Outfall survey will be used to determine the relationship, if any, between the outfall output and increased Lyngbya cyanobacterial blooms occurring offshore of Palm Beach County, FL. Data from the coral reef survey will be used to determine which corals and coral reefs benefit most from management intervention in response to global climate change.
Survey duration: September 24-28, 2007
Chief Scientists: Roland Ferry (EPA Region 4–Beach Outfall) and Jed Campbell (EPA ORD–Coral Bioassessment)
Miami, FL, Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site Survey
The purpose of this survey was to monitor the effects of the ocean dredged material disposal site in Miami. This project characterized the grain size, chemistry, and biology of the benthos and water column within and surrounding the Miami ocean dredged material disposal site.
Survey duration: October 1-13, 2007
Chief Scientists: Morris Flexner, Mel Parsons, and Chris McArthur (EPA Region 4)
Caribbean Initiative 2007
A variety of surveys were conducted to assess coral reef health, characterize marine environments, and monitor ocean dredged material disposal site and ocean discharge outfall conditions in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico and St. Croix, USVI, the survey teams:
- Characterized meteorological phenomena in waters between Puerto Rico and Hispaniola (Mona Passage), furthering initiatives supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), NOAA, and DoE;
- Characterized the spatial distribution and extent of offshore benthic communities in the San Juan Bay Estuary, supporting implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan;
- Determined the variability of baseline chemical and physical sediment characteristics at the Arecibo Harbor Ocean Dredged Material Disposal Site in Puerto Rico;
- Characterized the structure and extent of near-shore benthic habitats that support recreationally important fish species off Lang Bank, St. Croix, USVI;
- Assisted the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) in implementing assessment tools for monitoring coral reefs and developing biocriteria; and
- Monitored the conditions of the Virgin Island Rum Industries, Ltd. outfall, wastewater discharge, and surrounding areas to monitor potential impacts on the southern coast of St. Croix.
Survey duration: October 29- December 9, 2007
Chief Scientist: Doug Pabst and Charles LoBue (EPA Region 2)
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