The lower Passaic River, near the confluence of the Second River, has shown some of the highest geometric mean pathogen levels in the New York-New Jersey Harbor in recent years, based on sample results from the New Jersey Harbor Dischargers Group (NJHDG). Since 2016, IEC has partnered with EPA in Phase II of a pathogen trackdown survey along the Second River and lower Passaic River. The objective of the project, is to identify—and ultimately eliminate—sources of pathogens along the Second River.

Long Island Sound embayments are more prone to hypoxia and other impairments than open waters. However, monitoring has historically been less consistent in embayments than in the open waters of the Sound. With this in mind, the Unified Water Study (UWS), coordinated by Connecticut Fund for the Environment-Save the Sound®, aims to fill in many of the data gaps that exist in LIS embayments.