PEARL and the Clean Water Act at MD Power Plant
( continued from page 12 ) Last year , PEARL began the development of web tools using the data visualization software Tableau ®. These tools allow watermen , state regulators and officials , and the public to access the results of the survey from anywhere with an internet connection . The visualizations are interactive , allowing users to ask and answer their own questions , as well as easily understandable for non-scientists . This year , PEARL is continuing to refine and promote the tools . They were recently showcased at the 43 rd East Coast Commercial Fishermen ’ s and Aquaculture Trade Exposition in Ocean City , MD where they generated significant interest from local fishermen . The fishermen also provided valuable feedback to guide the development of the data tools in order to better serve their information needs . See the latest crab survey data tools on the PEARL webpage www . morgan . edu / pearl .
The solid gray line indicates the percentage of the total catch that is 5 inches ( legal size ) or greater . The solid blue line indicates the percentage of the total catch that is made up of male crabs 5 inches or greater . Labeled percentages are from 2016 data . Dashed lines show overall trends . Note that there has been a general downward trend in both since the survey ’ s inception , however , variability is great . Recent years show a moderate upward trend . It remains to be seen if this will continue .
Meet PEARL Scientist Adam Copeland
Adam Copeland is a Senior Research Technician at PEARL . He is primarily responsible for conducting the Dominion George Abbe Blue Crab Survey , which involves fishing for and counting a ton of crabs !
The survey has been ongoing since 1968 and is the only independent crab population survey in the state . He uses specialized software to create data visualization web tools so that watermen , state agencies , and the public can all access and understand the 48 years of data . Adam also manages environmental impact assessments at several MD power plants , mentor summer interns , SCUBA dive for scientific collection , and other field-work-related duties for crab surveying or assisting other scientist at PEARL .
Adam graduated from Northeastern University in Boston , MA with a Bachelors of Science in Biology . My primary research interests are in population ecology and demographics , juvenile recruitment , fisheries management , and community engagement in science .
PEARL and the Clean Water Act at MD Power Plant
This past year , PEARL researchers spent many hours from March through November collecting samples both during the day and at night and in all kinds of weather conditions . The samples that they were collecting were microscopic fish eggs and larvae ( also called ichthyoplankton ). They were collecting the fish eggs and larvae for a study on the impact of power plant water intakes on the populations of fish eggs and larvae . The studies are required by the Clean Water Act .
The sampling occurred at the NRG Energy owned Dickerson Generating Station ( upper Potomac River ), the Morgantown Generating Station ( lower Potomac River ), and the Chalk Point Generating Station ( Patuxent River ).
PEARL researchers collected fish eggs and larvae samples from the power plant intake or discharge areas using nets deployed by boat . Then samples were sent to another contractor , Environmental Consulting ( continue on page 14 )
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