Historical News
R/V Monitor's Blog
On Wednesday, September 27th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting nutrients and plankton samples, taking Secchi Disk and Par sensor water clarity measurements, conducting water column profiles using the Seabird instrument, 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. Jeff captained the boat while monitoring professionals Bekki and Amanda collected the samples and data. The day started off foggy and turned hazy and hot. There was no wind and the water was extremely calm. Below is a photo of a cargo ship about to dock at the Port of Providence, being assisted by a tug boat.
Surface Mapping
Data was collected on September 27, 2017 while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting nutrient samples and performing vertical profiles in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries. The chlorophyll concentrations were variable but fair in areas surveyed. There was evidence of a north-south gradient in the Providence River. From north to south, average chlorophyll concentrations were as follows: Seekonk River (8.20 µg/l), Upper Providence River (11.12 µg/l), Edgewood Shoals area (11.71 µg/l), Pawtuxet River area (7.79 µg/l), and the Lower Providence River (7.09 µg/l). Overall, chlorophyll ranged between non-detectable and 25.00 µg/l with an overall average of 8.78 µg/l. The chlorophyll data from this date is presented in the map below:
R/V Monitor's Blog
![9-13-17[1].jpg](/Services/MossImage.ashx?src=/s/emda/snapshot/blog/Lists/Photos/9-13-17[1].jpg)
R/V Monitor's Blog
On Thursday, September 7th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting bacteria samples, taking Secchi Disk and Par sensor water clarity measurements, conducting water column profiles using the Seabird instrument, 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 professional Mike collected the samples and data. NBC scientist Christine was also on board evaluating sample collection standard operating procedures. In the afternoon Jeff captained the boat while the Bullock's Reach buoy sondes were serviced. It was a partially cloudy day with a light breeze out of the west, and relatively calm waters. The below photo shows a very large cargo vessel about to dock at the Port of Providence.
![9-7-17[1].jpg](/Services/MossImage.ashx?src=/s/emda/snapshot/blog/Lists/Photos/9-7-17[1].jpg)
Bacteria Sampling
Twenty stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers on September 7, 2017. Five of these stations were additionally sampled for Enterococci bacteria. A total of 1.21 inches of rain fell during the 5 days prior to sampling.
Overall, the fecal coliform geometric mean for both rivers was 790 MPN/100 mL, a large increase compared to the previous sampling date. Fecal coliform concentrations were higher in the Seekonk River, where a geometric mean of 7,474 MPN/100 mL was observed, compared to the Providence River, which had a fecal coliform geometric mean of 277 MPN/100 mL. The maximum fecal coliform concentration of 46,000 MPN/100mL was observed at the Division Street Dock on the Seekonk River. Fecal coliform concentrations for the Providence River were not within state criteria for primary contact or shellfishing.
Enterococci concentrations in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers ranged from 10 MPN/100mL at two sites in the Providence River to 24,196 MPN/100 mL at Point Street Bridge, also in the Providence River. The overall geometric mean for Enterococci was 330 MPN/100 mL. These results do not fall within state criteria for primary contact and shellfishing.
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.
