Nutrient samples were collected from 11 river stations and 8 bay stations on December 13th. Edgewood Shoal was sampled at the surface and bottom; all other bay stations were sampled at the surface only. In the five days prior to sampling, there were 0.64 inches of precipitation on December 10th and 1.65 inches on December 11th recorded at T.F. Green.
Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) concentrations were observed at Warren Reservoir/Kickemuit River (TN = 849 ppb, TDN = 825 ppb); the highest dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) was at Moshassuck River @ Footbridge at Mill St. (439 ppb). The lowest TN was at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (551 ppb), the lowest TDN was at Coles River @ Milford Rd (505 ppb), and the lowest DIN was at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (115 ppb).
Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface TN and TDN were observed at India Point Park (TN = 920 ppb, TDN = 742 ppb); the highest surface DIN was observed at Pomham Rocks (596 ppb). The lowest surface TN and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TN = 614 ppb, DIN = 380 ppb), while the lowest surface TDN was at Conimicut Point (524 ppb). Chlorophyll a concentrations at the surface bay stations were low this week; concentrations averaged 0.311 μg/L overall with a maximum of 0.589 μg/L at Phillipsdale Landing.
The next scheduled sampling date is December 27, 2023.