Teams of federal and state scientists have kicked off a series of tests to assess the health of the Presumpscot River.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Geological Survey are measuring flow rates, water quality and fish health. The data from the two-week-long study will be used to help determine flow rates through dams and discharge rates form industry, among other things.

The EPA, for example, put a red dye in the river at the Sappi Fine Paper mill in Westbrook this morning. It is taking samples of water downstream to measuring how fast the dye flows toward Casco Bay. The dye is only visible to special instruments and can't be seen with the naked eye.

Tests on fish, which will begin tomorrow, will help determine whether contaminants such as dioxin or pharmaceuticals are getting into the river.

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