Projects at MPSL range from focused laboratory experiments to large-scale field monitoring programs.  Large-scale programs have included the State Water Resources Control Board's SWAMP program, EPA EMAP,  NOAA Status and Trends, the San Francisco Bay Regional Monitoring Program, and the SWRCB Bay Protection and Toxic Cleanup Program. 
 
Over the past decade, a major laboratory focus has been the development and use of toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) techniques to determine the chemical constituents responsible for toxicity in field samples.  MPSL has conducted an intensive evaluation of sediment TIE methods through a collaboration with researchers at US EPA and the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF).
 
Aquatic Toxicity Testing Capabilities

• Freshwater, marine, and estuarine testing

• Ambient waters, receiving waters, agricultural runoff

• Acute and chronic toxicity

• Static, static-renewal and flow-through designs

• Petroleum impacts on anadromous fish

• ¹H-NMR metabolomics

• Laboratory and in-situ testing

Sediment Toxicity Testing Capabilities

• Freshwater, marine, and estuarine testing

• Static, static-renewal and flow-through designs

• Laboratory and in-situ testing

• Sediment-water interface core testing

• Sediment, sediment porewater, and sediment elutriate

Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE)

• Ambient waters and runoff

• Sediment, sediment porewater, and sediment elutriate

• Phase I, II, and III evaluations

Field Capabilities

• Surface water and sediment sampling

• Water quality monitoring

• Rapid Bioassessment Collection

• Biomarker surveys in estuarine fish

• In-situ testing

 
 
In the 1990s, the laboratory was renovated and expanded, and currently has approximately 7,500 sq ft of laboratory and office space at the 4.6-acre site.  The entire facility is secured to maintain custody control of samples and data, and has an established laboratory safety program overseen by the UC Davis Office of Environmental Health and Safety.  The laboratory has a number of back-up systems in place, including a biodiesel generator that activates in the event of a power failure, three independent seawater pumps, multiple industrial refrigerators for sample storage, and triplicate data storage in separate buildings and file systems. 
 
Main laboratory culture building
This 3800 sq ft building has a large open wetlab area for the culture of organisms, with overhead supply lines for seawater, freshwater and compressed air; offices; a conference room; a 650 sq ft shop area; and storage areas for field sampling gear, etc.  Attached to this building are out structures containing the biodiesel generator and fuel storage tank, a high volume air compressor, the telephone system control panels, and the main electrical panels for the seawater pump motors.
 
Upper level toxicity laboratory-constructed in 1994/95
This 1500 sq ft laboratory includes three 60 sq ft temperature-controlled labs, two 150 sq ft wet labs for organism culture, a glass still and Milli-Q filtration system for water purification, a 6 foot fume hood, sample prep areas, a microscope room, and a large loft for storage.
 
Sea level pump house
A 100 sq ft concrete bunker is situated at the bottom of the cliff about 10 ft above sea level.  This location fronts a 15 foot deep channel protected by a rock reef 50 feet offshore.  Intake pipes go from the pumphouse into the channel to draw water from approximately 10 feet below mean sea level.  Three 20 hp seawater pumps located within the bunker pump water to a hypalon-lined redwood storage tank located above the laboratory at an elevation of 120 feet, allowing seawater to be distributed throughout the lab by gravity.  The main pumps are used alternately to minimize fouling and maintain water quality.
 
Dishware cleaning facility and storage facility
This 650 sq ft building was renovated to include glassware and refrigerated/frozen sample storage, as well as a 300 sq ft glassware cleaning room with polyethylene tubs for acid soaking and a ventilation system for organic solvents.

Upper level office buildings
Constructed in 1993, two buildings house eight offices, all with windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean and a networked phone and computing system connected to the internet by satellite. 
 
Lower level toxicity laboratory
Completed in 1998, this 1900 sq ft building contains two 100 sq ft controlled temperature labs, a 150 sq ft analytical lab, a large washroom with ventilation and ducting, two 6 foot fume hoods, a 500 sq ft dry lab area, a 250 sq ft office, a 100 sq ft wet lab, and a large storage loft.
 
Lower level fish house and laboratory
This 1900 sq ft building is open on two sides and is used primarily for organism culture.  It holds large racks for approximately 30 four-foot diameter tanks, open space for tanks up to 14 feet in diameter, and a sub-floor drainage channel. Within the building is a fully enclosed 525 sq ft lab space with sink, counter tops, and water tables for flow-through exposure systems.
 
Lower level culture building
This 1600 sq ft building has a 200 sq ft dry lab, 800 sq ft of wet lab space with overhead seawater plumbing and in-slab drainage channels, two 120 sq ft controlled-temperature rooms with seawater plumbing and drains, and a handicapped-accessible bathroom, a walled-in weather-side porch.
 
Lower level sample sorting shed
A 150 sq ft out-building with plumbing and drainage for sieving sediment, etc.
               
Lower level garage
A two car garage housing the laboratory pickup truck (2004 Toyota Tundra) and Zodiac skiff.