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The University of Maine

Water quality

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

High Resolution Remote Sensing As A Tool To Improve Coastal Habitat Mapping In The Gulf Of Maine, Gabriel Hesketh Dec 2021

High Resolution Remote Sensing As A Tool To Improve Coastal Habitat Mapping In The Gulf Of Maine, Gabriel Hesketh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The derivation of oceanographic and biological parameters from remote sensing is well documented across decades of research. Careful evaluation of satellite products provides insight into the optimal algorithms for image processing, research, and various biogeographical applications. Archived multi-satellite data from the United States Geological Survey offers users decades of continuously updated global data, and the agency has recently updated the Landsat portion of its catalog with Collection 2 files, which offers both Level 1 and Level 2 processed data products. Here, we evaluate the Collection 2 improvements using several published algorithms currently used to derive sea surface temperature, chlorophyll, and …

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Participatory Modeling Of Tidal Circulation On Maine Mudflats To Improve Water Quality Management Of Shellfish Areas, Gabrielle V. Hillyer Dec 2019

Participatory Modeling Of Tidal Circulation On Maine Mudflats To Improve Water Quality Management Of Shellfish Areas, Gabrielle V. Hillyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past decade, researchers have become increasingly aware of the vital role stakeholder knowledge plays in understanding complex social and environmental problems. Incorporating stakeholder knowledge into understanding complex problems allows for greater awareness and identification of community needs and can help build partnerships to support the development of applied research. In this thesis, I demonstrate the value of stakeholder knowledge and research partnerships by focusing on the soft-shell clamming industry in Maine and how a complex collaboration between clammers, municipal officials, representatives from state agencies, researchers, and other partners relied on and build adaptive capacity to address complex water …

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Improved Estimates Of Tributary Nitrogen Load To Casco Bay, Maine, Whitley J. Gray Aug 2019

Improved Estimates Of Tributary Nitrogen Load To Casco Bay, Maine, Whitley J. Gray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the past two decades, total nitrogen (TN) concentrations have increased in Casco Bay (CBEP 2015). The sources of the increased nitrogen are poorly understood but occur with simultaneous population growth and land use changes. The total riverine nitrogen load to Casco Bay was previously estimated by Liebman and Milstead (2012) using the United States Geologic Survey’s (USGS) SPAtially Referenced Regression On Watershed attributes (SPARROW) model. The SPARROW model uses watershed characteristics, regional monitoring data and nitrogen source data to estimate nitrogen loading but was not validated using measurements of nitrogen in the Casco Bay watershed. This study attempts to …

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Ecological And Economic Implications Of Increased Storm Frequency And Severity For Boreal Lakes, Kathryn Warner May 2019

Ecological And Economic Implications Of Increased Storm Frequency And Severity For Boreal Lakes, Kathryn Warner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In boreal regions, increased precipitation events have been linked to increased concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), however less is known about the extent and implications of these events on lakes. We assessed the effects of precipitation events on six drinking water lakes in Maine, USA to better understand how DOC concentration and quality change in response to precipitation events. Our results revealed three types of responses: (1) an initial spike in DOC concentrations and quality metrics; (2) a sustained increase in DOC concentrations and quality metrics and; (3) no change during all sampling periods. Lake residence time was a …

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Summary Report Of Enhanced Monitoring And Pollution Source Tracking Efforts In The Willard Beach Watershed, Maine, 2012-2016, M. Sims, K. Kaczor Jul 2017

Summary Report Of Enhanced Monitoring And Pollution Source Tracking Efforts In The Willard Beach Watershed, Maine, 2012-2016, M. Sims, K. Kaczor

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Willard Beach is a popular recreation area located in South Portland used primarily by families with young children. Routine monitoring at the beach revealed elevated bacteria levels, prompting the need for enhanced monitoring within the watershed to determine the nature and extent of potential bacteria inputs. Although the waste of domestic and wild animals can contribute to impaired water quality and pose a public health risk, efforts have focused primarily on identifying and removing human sources (e.g. malfunctioning septic systems, faulty sewer lines) of fecal pollution.

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Maine Healthy Beaches Program 2016 Annual Report To U.S. Epa, K. Kaczor, M. Sims Jul 2017

Maine Healthy Beaches Program 2016 Annual Report To U.S. Epa, K. Kaczor, M. Sims

Maine Sea Grant Publications

Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) is managed by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP) and coordinated by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension (UMaine Extension). In 2016, this team worked with 28 local management entities to conduct routine monitoring, assessment, and public notification of water quality conditions for 60 beach management areas spanning Kittery to Mount Desert Island. MHB staff continued to build local capacity for well-informed beach management and to address pollution issues when they arose during the beach season.

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Summary Report Of Enhanced Monitoring And Pollution Source Tracking Efforts In Goosefare Brook, Maine, 2012-2016, M. Sims, K. Kaczor Jul 2017

Summary Report Of Enhanced Monitoring And Pollution Source Tracking Efforts In Goosefare Brook, Maine, 2012-2016, M. Sims, K. Kaczor

Maine Sea Grant Publications

The Goosefare Brook (GFB) forms the border between the City of Saco to the south and Town of Old Orchard Beach (OOB) to the north. In response to concerns over water quality in the mouth and adjacent beach water, the Maine Healthy Beaches (MHB) program has supported multi-year enhanced monitoring and pollution source tracking efforts, held Stakeholder Workshops, and more to address impaired water quality throughout the watershed. Over the past five years, the MHB program has focused primarily on paired enterococci and optical brightener samples in OOB’s New Salt Rd. Tributary (NSRT). This work identified widespread bacterial contamination throughout …

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2016 Goosefare Brook Mst Summary And Next Steps, M. Sims, K. Kaczor Jan 2017

2016 Goosefare Brook Mst Summary And Next Steps, M. Sims, K. Kaczor

Maine Sea Grant Publications

No abstract provided.

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Jordan River Monitoring Report, Ashley Taylor, Anna Farrell Jan 2017

Jordan River Monitoring Report, Ashley Taylor, Anna Farrell

Maine Sea Grant Publications

In congruence with the Maine Department of Marine Resources’ (DMR) efforts to monitor declining water quality in the Jordan River, Frenchman Bay, Maine, the Community Lab at MDI Biological Laboratory implemented regular water quality monitoring at additional sites in the watershed to supplement the work of the DMR. Water samples were collected weekly between June and August of 2017 by staff and students from the Community Lab. Samples were collected via boat and foot to reach additional intermittent streams and smaller tributaries that feed into the Jordan River. Samples were analyzed for Enterococcus bacteria, optical brighteners, and salinity. A goal …

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Clamming In Maine, Brunswick High School Jan 2017

Clamming In Maine, Brunswick High School

Maine Sea Grant Publications

To become good environmental stewards and gain knowledge of viable economic opportunities, students need opportunities to learn about their local ecosystem and natural resources. The project leader will provide Brunswick High School students with the hands-on experience and curriculum to directly learn about an important local marine habitat and resource. Drawing on curricula from organizations such as the Friends of Casco Bay, Downeast Institute, and the Island Institute, McCullough has designed a monitoring program in which students will take environmental measurements (oxygen, nutrients, temperature, salinity, predation, invasive species, and growth rate); monitor green crab populations; and collect wild oyster spawn …

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Crowdsourcing Water Quality Data Using The Iphone Camera, Thomas Leeuw May 2014

Crowdsourcing Water Quality Data Using The Iphone Camera, Thomas Leeuw

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The ubiquity and advanced computing power of smartphones make them a potential tool for environmental monitoring on a global scale. In an attempt to tap this resource, a water quality application (HydroColor) was developed. Hydro- Color uses the iPhone’s digital color camera as a primitive three-band radiometer. Using three images taken by the user, HydroColor calculates the remote sensing reflectance in the red, green, and blue color channels of the camera. The absolute or relative reflectance between channels can be used to obtain estimates of chlorophyll, turbidity, suspended particle material, and the backscattering coefficient. In the future, HydroColor will be …

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Federal Water Pollution Control Act Section "404" Evaluation For Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes, New England Division, United States Army Engineer Division, United States Army Corps Of Engineers Jan 1980

Federal Water Pollution Control Act Section "404" Evaluation For Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes, New England Division, United States Army Engineer Division, United States Army Corps Of Engineers

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project

The purpose of this report is to relate various aspects of the proposed Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Hydroelectric Project to appropriate considerations defined by Section 404 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972.

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Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project Environmental Impact Statement: Appendix E: Aquatic Ecosystem And Fisheries Studies (Supplement), Christoipher J. Schmitt, Dennis R. Sasseville, Normandeau Associates, Inc., New England Division, United States Army Engineer Division Jan 1978

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project Environmental Impact Statement: Appendix E: Aquatic Ecosystem And Fisheries Studies (Supplement), Christoipher J. Schmitt, Dennis R. Sasseville, Normandeau Associates, Inc., New England Division, United States Army Engineer Division

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project

Sediment mercury concentrations higher than levels normall y considered trace or background were encountered up to 80 cm belo w the sediment-water interface in samples obtained from four oligotrophi c lakes in northern Maine . These lakes are in three different watershed s and are as far as 65 km apart . The values reported are far lower than levels reported elsewhere from contaminated sites . The distributio n and magnitude of the sediment concentrations encountered suggest long-ter m diffuse mercury inputs to the lakes from the watersheds . In addition , concentrations up to twice as high in near-surface …

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Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Hydroelectric Project : Summary Of Water Quality Factors, New England Division, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Jan 1977

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Hydroelectric Project : Summary Of Water Quality Factors, New England Division, U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project

The prediction of future water quality conditions in and downstream from a proposed impoundment is dependent upon a myriad of physical, chemical and biological phenomena. It is known from limnology (science of lakes) that all physicochemical and biological functions are greatly controlled or influenced by lake hydro-dynamics, lake thermodynamics, and the quality of inflowing water.

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Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes, Maine, U.S.A. And Quebec, Canada: Design Memorandum No. 5: Water Quality, New England Division, United States Army Corps Of Engineers Jan 1977

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes, Maine, U.S.A. And Quebec, Canada: Design Memorandum No. 5: Water Quality, New England Division, United States Army Corps Of Engineers

Dickey-Lincoln School Lakes Project

This design memorandum presents the results of several studies undertaken to provide an understanding of present and potential future water quality conditions within and downstream from Dickey and Lincoln School Lakes in accordance with the requirements of ETL 1110-2-1402, dated 12 November 1976. Included are an examination of baseline water quality conditions and the findings of qualitative and quantitative predictive analyses performed to evaluate water quality conditions during all phases of the project's lifetime. This document will also serve as a reference for the water quality portions of the project Environmental Impact Statement.

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