Thames River Water Quality: An Oyster Growers Dilemma
Congratulations! You are getting ready to start up your own oyster farm somewhere in the Thames River in Connecticut. So that your new business will be successful, it’s important that you carefully scout out possible locations in the Thames River and choose the one that will be healthiest for the oysters. The water conditions at your farm location will determine how well your oysters survive and grow, and even what they taste like!
Step 1: Learn about Oysters
Photo: Mystic Oysters
Oysters are a type of shellfish that thrive in shallow, temperate estuaries around the world. They feed by filtering algae and small particles out of the water. They are a very important part of the ecology of Long Island Sound: oyster reefs provide habitat for other animals, they protect shorelines from storms, and by filtering the water as they feed, oysters improve water quality.
Read how oysters are helping clean up polluted water around New York City here.
Read about the life cycle of oysters here.
Of course, oysters are also an important food source for millions of people. The oyster industry in Long Island Sound is an important part of the local economy for both Connecticut and New York. Oyster farming is a fast-growing business, particularly in eastern Long Island Sound where your farm will be, and you are excited to be part of it!
Read more about the growth of the oyster industry in Long Island Sound here.
Oysters are very sensitive to changes in water quality. If the water quality is not right for them, then they will not grow well and your farm will not succeed. If water is polluted, and the oysters eat those pollutants, then their bodies can become contaminated and it will not be safe for people to eat them. As you consider where to put your oyster farm, it is important to consider the water quality in the area.
Step 2: Take a Tour of the Thames River
The Thames is a short, tidal river that starts in Norwich, at the intersection of the Shetucket and Yantic Rivers, and stretches down 15 miles to Long Island sound. The watershed drained by the Thames River is relatively green and rural. However, the southern shoreline is highly industrialized. Downstream of the Shetucket and the Yantic, there are four drainage areas that might influence water quality, as well as the outfalls from five sewage treatment plants and several industrial sites. You will have to choose your location carefully!
Start your virtual trip by taking a Google Earth tour of the Thames, stopping at each potential location to learn more about it.
Step 3: Make a Prediction
Question 1: Based on what you have learned on the Google Earth Tour, what area of the Thames River do you think will be the healthiest for growing oysters? Write your answer on a piece of paper.
Question 2: Provide your reasoning. WHY do you think that area will be the healthiest?
Step 4: Choose a Research Question
Investigate the water conditions along the Thames at the six potential oyster farm sites! Select an aspect of water quality that interests you, or find the research question that was assigned to you by your teacher. You’ll learn more background on oysters and on the water quality parameter you chose as your investigation proceeds.
Basic research questions focus on how a single water quality parameter varies between the sites during the summer, when oysters are growing the most. Intermediate research questions are more complex and consider both location and seasonality (time of year). Advanced research questions are similar, but link to spreadsheets with larger datasets and are designed for analysis on a computer.
Research Questions:
1. Salinity: Where along the Thames River are salinity levels best for oyster growing?
2. Temperature: Where along the Thames River are temperature conditions best for oyster growing?
3. Oxygen: Where along the Thames River are dissolved oxygen levels best for oyster growing?
4. Water Color & Clarity: Where along the Thames River are water color and clarity conditions best for oyster growing?
5. pH: Where along the Thames River are pH levels best for oyster growing?
6. Phosphates: Where along the Thames River are phosphate levels best for oyster growing?
7. Nitrates: Where along the Thames River are nitrate levels best for oyster growing?