Environmental Monitoring and Assessment of Trout Pond and Associated Surface and Ground Waters Down-gradient of the Golf at the Bridge Development, Town of Southampton, NY

The students and faculty of the Environmental Science program are engaged in a multi-year investigation of the water quality and ecosystem health of Trout Pond and nearby surface and groundwaters for the Town of Southampton. Below are some photographs taken during various phases of the research conducted by students enrolled in the Environmental Chemistry and Hydrology courses. A full report of the study will be posted here in the future.

Rachel Kopec collecting water samples from Trout Pond. These samples are taken to our Marine Station laboratory, where they are analyzed for nutrient levels like NO2, NO3, NH3, and PO4. Dissolved Oxygen, temperature, pH, turbidity, and other parameters are measured in the field.

Tanya Bean, Josh McGhee and Jessica Lutz deploying a seine net to conduct a qualitative survey of the fish species in Trout Pond.

Pulling in the net. What did we get? Largemouth bass, rainbow trout, mosquito fish, and pumpkin seed sunfish, amongst others.

Josh McGhee about to set a trap with horseshoe crab for bait. We caught a few American eels this way.

Collecting fish at the other end of the pond near one of the two streams which replenish the pond.

A groundwater seep that feeds the stream in the previous photograph. The concentrations of NO2-NO3 in this groundwater indicate a source of contamination uphill.

John Woitovich using a current meter at the outlet for Trout Pond. These measurements are used to calculate the residence time of water in the pond and the rate of groundwater seepage into the pond.

Photos by R. Turner