EPA/USGS Collaborative SNEP Projects

• Characterization of Water Quality in the Sakonnet River, Rhode Island
• Assessment of Hydrologic and Water-Quality Changes in Shallow Groundwater Beneath a Coastal Neighborhood Being Converted from Septic Systems to Municipal Sewers
• Hydrologic Site Assessment for Passive Treatment of Groundwater Nitrogen with Permeable Reactive Barriers, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Assessment of Hydrologic Conditions in the Three Bays Watershed in Support of Nutrient Management Activities, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Assessment of Nitrogen Discharge to Cape Cod Rivers to Identify High-Priority Nitrogen Reduction Areas
• Assessment of Nutrient Transport and Discharge to Coastal Embayments, Wickford, Rhode Island

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Characterization of Water Quality in the Sakonnet River, Rhode Island

Sections of Narragansett Bay and its eastern arm, the Sakonnet River, are considered impaired for shell fishing, aquatic habitat and recreational use by the State of Rhode Island Rhode Island. The degradation of aquatic habitat and water quality in the western portions of Narragansett Bay has been and continues to be closely studied. However, there is comparably limited information available in the Sakonnet River. Learn more about: Characterization of Water Quality in the Sakonnet River, Rhode Island.

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Assessment of Hydrologic and Water-Quality Changes in Shallow Groundwater Beneath a Coastal Neighborhood Being Converted from Septic Systems to Municipal Sewers

The U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on a study to better understand changes to groundwater quality beneath a densely developed coastal neighborhood as it undergoes conversion from onsite wastewater disposal to municipal sewering. Learn more about: Assessment of Hydrologic and Water-Quality Changes in Shallow Groundwater Beneath a Coastal Neighborhood Being Converted from Septic Systems to Municipal Sewers.

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Hydrologic Site Assessment for Passive Treatment of Groundwater Nitrogen with Permeable Reactive Barriers, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In 2019 USGS completed a study designed to develop and evaluate a phased site-assessment approach for determining the hydrologic suitability of sites being considered for permeable reactive barrier installation on Cape Cod. The approach provides a template for town officials and other stakeholders to follow when considering PRBs for passive treatment of nitrogen in groundwater on Cape Cod and elsewhere. Learn more about: Hydrologic Site Assessment for Passive Treatment of Groundwater Nitrogen with Permeable Reactive Barriers, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

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Assessment of Hydrologic Conditions in the Three Bays Watershed in Support of Nutrient Management Activities, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In 2019 the USGS began a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Research and Development (ORD), EPA Region 1 Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration (SNEP), Barnstable Clean Water Coalition (BCWC), and other stakeholders to conduct hydrologic monitoring and assessment in support of multifaceted nutrient-management activities in the Three Bays watershed on Cape Cod. Hydrologic monitoring will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of non-traditional technologies such as innovative and alternative (I/A) septic systems and permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) for reducing groundwater nitrogen concentrations and loads. Learn more about: Assessment of Hydrologic Conditions in the Three Bays Watershed in Support of Nutrient Management Activities, Cape Cod, Massachusett.

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Assessment of Nitrogen Discharge to Cape Cod Rivers to Identify High-Priority Nitrogen Reduction Areas

In 2019 USGS and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 initiated a study to measure spatial and temporal patterns of nitrogen loading in selected rivers on Cape Cod and then determine whether the measured patterns can be related to nitrogen source areas in the surrounding watersheds to prioritize nitrogen reduction efforts. Study results will improve understanding of nitrogen sources and discharge to Cape Cod rivers and provide quantitative estimates of surface-water nitrogen loads to coastal embayments. Learn more about: Assessment of Nitrogen Discharge to Cape Cod Rivers to Identify High-Priority Nitrogen Reduction Areas.

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Assessment of Nutrient Transport and Discharge to Coastal Embayments, Wickford, Rhode Island

In 2020 the USGS began a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1 Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration (SNEP) and EPA Office of Research and Development (ORD), Atlantic Coastal Sciences Division, Narragansett, RI in support of water-quality and ecological monitoring being conducted by ORD in the coastal waters around Wickford, RI. The USGS is conducting a study to characterize groundwater and surface water-quality to address the need for a better understanding of nutrient inputs to the coastal waters. The study will focus initially on local-scale hydrologic monitoring adjacent to Academy Cove. Learn more: Assessment of Nutrient Transport and Discharge to Coastal Embayments, Wickford, Rhode Island.

Will Sewering Make Wickford's Harbor and Coves Healthier? (pdf) (343.95 KB)