Trash on Connecticut River bank in South Deerfield, MA. Credit: USFWS

Contaminants Assessment

Diminishing quantity of high quality aquatic habitat has had a devastating impact on aquatic species. Efforts to understand and address threats to quality habitat in the watershed enhance species conservation efforts.

Sampling fish for contaminants in the upper Connecticut River basin.

Accomplishments

In 2003, staff from the Sunderland Fishery Resources Office collected fish for contaminants assessment at the eastern Surplus Superfund Site on the Dennys River in Meddybemps, ME and at the NYANZA Superfund Site on the Sudbury River in Ashland, MA in cooperation with EPA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Maine Field Office, Central New England Anadromous Fishery Resources Office, and New England Field Office.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has completed and released its contaminants report: Connecticut River Fish Tissue Contaminants Study (2000): Ecological and Human Health Risk Screening.