Snapshot of the Bay

Historical News

August 7, 2024

Water Column Profiles

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on August 7, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 0.95 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from weakly stratified at Pawtuxet Cove and Edgewood Yacht Club, to strongly stratified at Conimicut Point.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club, in the middle and lower portions of the water column at Pomham Rocks, and in all portions of the water column (upper, middle and lower) at India Point Park and Phillipsdale Landing. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 2 meters below the surface at Edgewood Yacht Club.

August 1, 2024

Water Column Profiles

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on August 1, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 1.34 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed at Edgewood Yacht Club, to strongly stratified at Point Street Bridge.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Point Street Bridge and Pomham Rocks, and in the upper and middle portions of the water column at Phillipsdale Landing. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1.5 meters below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.

July 24, 2024

Water Column Profiles

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on July 24, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 0.06 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed at Pawtuxet Cove and Phillipsdale Landing, to moderately stratified at sites such as Bullock Reach Buoy and India Point Park.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at the Bullock Reach Buoy, and in the lower and middle portions of the water column at the Pomham Rocks, India Point Park, Edgewood Yacht Club, and Edgewood Shoals sites. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1.5 meters below the surface at Pawtuxet Cove.

July 17, 2024

Water Column Profiles

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on July 17, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 0.48 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from weakly stratified at Point Street Bridge, to strongly stratified at a majority of sites, including Bullock Reach Buoy and Phillipsdale Landing.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at the Bullock Reach Buoy and Edgewood Yacht Club sites, in the lower and middle portions of the water column at the Pomham Rocks and Phillipsdale Landing sites, and in all portions of the water column (upper, middle, and lower) at India Point Park. DO conditions were below the hypoxia threshold at Conimicut Point only in the middle portion of the water column. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.

November 20, 2024

Bacteria Sampling

On November 20^th, 2024, twenty stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers; five of these stations were also sampled for enterococci bacteria. In the five days prior to sampling, no precipitation was recorded at TF Green. Overall, bacteria counts in both the Providence and Seekonk Rivers were lower compared to previous sampling (November 7^th, 2024).

Fecal coliform counts were higher in the Seekonk River sites than in the Providence River sites (geometric means of 14 MPN/100 mL and 9 MPN/100 mL, respectively). The maximum count (93 MPN/100 mL) was measured at Point St. Bridge.

Enterococci results had an overall geometric mean of 15 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci counts ranged from <10 MPN/100 mL at most sites to 75 MPN/100 mL at Point St. Bridge.

The next scheduled sampling date is December 4th.

The table below lists the Rhode Island bacteria standards for primary contact and shellfishing established by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). RIDEM defines primary contact as any recreational activities in which there is prolonged and intimate contact with water, involving considerable risk of ingesting water (e.g., swimming, diving, water skiing and surfing). Please note that the RIDEM bacteria standards are provided here for informational purposes only and are not intended to indicate official state compliance with primary contact or shellfishing standards.

Summary of Rhode Island Bacteria Standards for Saltwater Primary Contact and Shellfishing

	Fecal Coliform	Enterococci
Primary Contact¹	Geometric mean ≤50 MPN/100 mL <10% of samples >400 MPN/100 mL	Geometric mean ≤35 colonies/100 mL All samples ≤104 colonies/100 mL²
Shellfishing	Geometric mean ≤14 MPN/100 mL <10% of samples >49 MPN/100 mL³	NO ENTEROCOCCI CRITERIA

¹Fecal coliform primary contact criteria applied only when adequate enterococci data are not available; ²Single sample maximum criterion for determining beach swimming advisories at designated beaches as evaluated by the Rhode Island Department of Health; ³For a three-tube decimal dilution

Table adapted from Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations (250-RICR-150-05-1); see regulations for complete details.