A long-term ecosystem study was started at Hunting Creek in 2013. Dr. de Mutsert and members of her lab help carry out the study by conducting the fish surveys for this system. Hunting Creek is a Potomac River tributary and is located just downriver of Alexandria and Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The study of Hunting Creek’s ecosystem was requested by the Chief Executive Officer of Alexandria Renew Enterprises, in order to create an ongoing trend analysis of the ecosystem that receives treated wastewater. The long-term goal of this study is to aid Fairfax County and the city of Alexandria with the creation of well-grounded management strategies for the maintenance and improvement of the water quality and biological resources in the area. Annual reports are found on the PEREC website.

Publication: Arya, G.*, Tadayon, S., Sadighian, J., Jones, J., De Mutsert, K., Huff, T.B., and G.D. Foster. Pharmaceutical chemicals, steroids and xenoestrogens in water, sediment and fish from the tidal freshwater Potomac River (Virginia, USA). Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 52:7, 686-696, DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2017.1312975.