Waterford — Waterford High School senior Andrew Zanghetti and his teacher Mike O'Connor were collecting soil and water samples Thursday in Alewife Cove.

Zanghetti is working on a senior project for a marine biology class with classmates to map the cove with sonar and test water and soil samples. The students hope their research will supplement the studies done by the town and Alewife Cove Conservancy to look at water quality and potential dredging.

Thursday was the first time they were in the water collecting data and samples; once weather gets warmer this spring, they will kayak the entire cove for mapping and sample collection.

O'Connor has been teaching the marine biology class in partnership with the University of Connecticut for almost 15 years. "It's a really great resource we have in this area, that not many schools have access to," he said.