Historical News
Surface Mapping
Data
were collected on January 6, 2020 while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting
nutrient samples in the Seekonk and Providence River estuaries. Due to
technical difficulties, results were deemed unusable and no map will be posted
from this sampling event.
R/V Monitor's Blog
On Wednesday, January 6th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting bacteria samples, taking Secchi Disk water clarity measurements, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH, all in an effort to document water quality improvements associated with NBC construction projects. Sara captained the boat while monitoring professionals Mike, Steve and Daryll collected the samples and data. It was a mostly sunny but brisk day with a strong wind out of the north. There was a slight chop on the water. The featured photo was taken near India Point Park.
Bacteria Sampling
On December 23, eleven stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers. Three of these stations were also sampled for enterococci bacteria. Weather preceding this sampling day was mostly dry, with 0.02 inches of precipitation recorded in the five days prior to sampling. The decrease in rainfall from the previous sampling event lead to a decrease in bacteria counts at most sites.
The geometric mean of fecal coliform results for all sites was 35 MPN/100 mL, with Seekonk River sites having higher counts than Providence River sites (geometric means of 82 and 21 MPN/100 mL, respectively). The maximum count (230 MPN/100 mL) was measured at two sites – Phillipsdale Landing in the Seekonk River and Point St. Bridge in the Providence River. Overall, fecal coliform results from the Seekonk River exceeded both state primary contact and shellfishing standards. Fecal coliform results from the Providence River also exceeded state shellfishing standards but results were within state primary contact standards.
Enterococci results decreased from the previous sampling event, from an overall geometric mean of 149 MPN/100 mL to 17 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci results at all sites ranged from <10 MPN/100 mL at Conimicut Pt. to 75 MPN/100 mL at Point St. Bridge. Overall, enterococci results were within state standards for primary contact.
Please note: the results of NBC's fecal coliform and enterococci monitoring are for informational/research purposes only and are not intended to suggest official state compliance with bathing or shellfishing standards.
Bacteria Sampling
On December 9, twenty stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers. Five of these stations were also sampled for enterococci bacteria. Weather preceding this sampling was wet, with 2.66 inches of precipitation recorded over the five days prior of sampling leading to elevated bacteria counts at most sites.
The geometric mean of fecal coliform results for all sites was 183 MPN/100 mL, with Seekonk River sites having higher counts than Providence River sites (geometric means of 243 and 160 MPN/100 mL, respectively). The maximum count (930 MPN/100 mL) was measured at the Save the Bay site in the Providence River. Overall, fecal coliform results from both the Providence and Seekonk Rivers exceeded state primary contact and shellfishing standards.
Enterococci results decreased from the previous sampling event, from an overall geometric mean of 237 MPN/100 ML to 149 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci results at all sites ranged from 74 MPN/100 mL at Conimicut Point to 279 MPN/100 mL. As with fecal coliform, enterococci results exceeded the state standards for primary contact.
Please note: the results of NBC's fecal coliform and enterococci monitoring are for informational/research purposes only and are not intended to suggest official state compliance with bathing or shellfishing standards.
Surface Mapping
Data were collected on December 23, 2020 while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting bacteria samples in the Seekonk and Providence River estuaries. Due to freezing in the sampling lines, results were deemed unusable and no map will be posted from this sampling event.
