1. Dead End Canals an Ecological and Hydrological Study
Principal Investigators
Eric May
Maggie Sexton

2. At Issue Dead end canals can represent stagnant bodies of water
There is strong evidence that except for near the mouth of the canals water quality specifically dissolved oxygen is very low
Chemical analyses of sediments from these canals has shown the presence of lead, mercury, and chlorinated hydrocarbons
Many of the canals are silted in near the mouth which results in reduced exchange rates between the canal and the coastal bays

3. Southern Portion of the Northern Coastal Bays

4. Northern Portion of the Northern Coastal Bays

5. Sinepuxent Bay and Southern Assawoman Bay

6. Previous Work (Kaitlynn Young)
Ocean Pines
Total canal area : 492,002 sq. meters
West Ocean City
Total canal area : 52,730 sq. meters
Jolly Roger Amusement Park
Total canal area: 58,492 sq. meters

7. We have total area of the canals, once the study proposed is conducted we should be able to determinee if they are a risk for the coastal bays or any water body.
All sample sites will be Geo-Referenced for spatial analyses of data collected
Total canal coverage in both Isle of Wight and Assawowan Bays is about .58 sq. miles.

8. Full mapping of the Coastal Bays has been completed and will be used to analyze and compare the data collected from the canals.

9. Study Design (Site Selection)
Based on discussions with Roman Jesien we selected three canals below 94th street
We needed straight canals with no side canals (Red Box)
Straight canals will avoid other factors which will be evaluated at a later date
In addition a horseshoe crab kill was reported in an adjacent canal system (Blue Box)

10. Study Design: Strategy For Determining Flushing
Transects (Red Lines) will:
Be equidistant or
At 4 points that divide the canal up into equal sections
Flow rates will be determined using a General Oceanic flow meter designed for low flow readings at six points along the transect at three depths on incoming and outgoing tide
At each transect the bathymetry will be determined by measuring water depth at six points equidistant apart at high tide
A combination of flow rates and bathymetry will provide an idea of advective flow or flushing characteristics of the canal

11. Study Design: Strategy For Determining Flushing
Initial work for flow rates will be done under conditions of no wind or rain
We then will repeat the process under:
Heavy rainfall
Differing wind direction
Other conditions that might be significant such as high tidal fluxes

12. Study Design: Strategy For Determining Water Quality
Between the transects and at the mouth in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Water quality parameters:
Temperature
Dissolved Oxygen
Salinity
Redox pH
Chlorophyll A
Phycocyanin
Water and Sediment Samples for:
Metals
Organics

13. Study Design: Strategy For Ecosystem Study
Between the transects and at the mouth in the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter samples for:
Benthic Invertebrates
Epibenthic Invertebrates
Phytoplankton
Zooplankton
Hydrozoans on bulkhead walls and on PVC pipe or oyster shell

14. Questions?