Phillipsdale Landing
Overall, the water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions included sporadic rain events, with 1.71 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow fluctuated through the week in response to rain, rising above the 21-year daily median at the end of the week. Surface salinity averaged 20.1 ppt and ranged from 7.1 ppt to 27.3 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 25.2 ppt and ranged from 8.9 ppt to 28.7 ppt. Temperatures decreased this week, averaging 10.3°C at the surface and ranging 7.2°C – 11.8°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 10.8°C and ranged 8.1°C – 11.7°C.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 10.3 mg/L and ranged from 7.2 mg/L to 11.8 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.8 mg/L and ranged from 8.1 mg/L to 11.7 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained stabilized from last week, averaging 1.39 µg/L at the surface and 1.1 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 7.7 µg/L at midday of November 23rd. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location.
Bullock Reach
Sondes were removed this week on the morning of November 18th. Due to the Bullock Reach sondes being removed, we only have data from the morning of November 18th. Overall, the water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 28.9 ppt, 29.9 ppt, and 30.5 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 28.2 – 29.4 ppt, mid salinity ranged 29.3 – 30.5 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 29.9 – 31.1 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 10.7°C and ranged from 10.5°C to 10.9°C. Mid temperatures averaged 10.8°C and ranged from 10.7°C to 10.9°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 10.8°C and ranged from 10.7°C to 11.0°C.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 9.0 mg/L and ranged 8.9 – 9.2 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 8.9 mg/L and ranged 8.8 – 9.0 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 8.7 mg/L and ranged 8.6 – 8.8 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings were low throughout the week. Readings averaged 1.9 µg/L at the surface, 1.9 µg/L at mid-depth, and 2.6 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 2.7 µg/L on the morning of November 18th.