Clean Ocean Access has released the following press release for their upcoming Ocean Science Speaker Series on April 9th featuring the federally funded grant project Research Needs for Marine Beaches in partnership with Clean Ocean Access and RI DOH.
The presentation will review water quality results from the Narragansett Bay Watershed study that aims to improve public health at high recreational use beaches, including Easton’s Beach in Newport.
Press Release
On Tuesday, April 9th, Clean Ocean Access (COA) and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) will present high-level results from the Research Needs for Marine Beaches grant project as part of COA’s Ocean Science Speaker Series hosted at the Newport Public Library at 6p.m.
The Marine Beaches project aims to advance the understanding of bacterial outbreak at high recreational use beaches in Rhode Island to improve public health and provide a model for future locations in the Narragansett Bay watershed. Two sequential case studies were used in this project: (1) Oakland Beach in Warwick, and (2) Easton’s Beach in Newport — two areas that show historical trends of increased bacteria levels.
The Marine Beaches grant project used the Virtual Beach statistical modeling software developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a predictive model for detecting high levels of bacteria, improving the understanding of marine beach water quality status, and enhancing the ability to manage water quality impairment and find remedies.
This project work was funded by an agreement (CE00A0004) awarded by the U.S. EPA to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC on behalf) of the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP).
WHAT: Ocean Science Speaker Series featuring the Research Needs for Marine Beaches project
WHO: Rhode Island Department of Health and Clean Ocean Access
GRANT PROJECT TEAM: Dave McLaughlin — Principal Investigator, Clean Ocean Access
Eva Touhey — Project Manager, Clean Ocean Access
Sabrina Pereira — Research Assistant, Clean Ocean Access
Sherry Poucher — Modeling Expert and QA Manager, Department of Health
Jillian Chopy — Research Assistant, Department of Health
WHEN: Tuesday, April 9th, 2019 6:00 – 7:00PM WHERE: Newport Public Library, 300 Spring Street, Newport, RI 02840