Fixed-Site Network

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of September 5^th.  Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good to fair this week. Weather conditions were dry, with only a trace amount of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow remained below the 20-year daily median. Surface salinity averaged 21.7 ppt and ranged from 14.8 ppt to 25.6 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 25.7 ppt and ranged from 20.4 ppt to 28.4 ppt. Temperatures continued to decrease this week, averaging 22.7°C at the surface and ranging 20.6°C – 24.6°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 22.4°C and ranged 21.6°C – 24.3°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing dropped below the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) briefly during the week. Surface DO average 8.2 mg/L and ranged from 3.73 mg/L to 15.08 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 4.9 mg/L and ranged from 2.4 mg/L to 10.5 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 hour, 30 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth on the morning of September 4^th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.53 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings decreased from last week, averaging 34.9 µg/L at the surface and 21.7 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 79.24 µg/L on the morning of September 2^nd. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

Overall, water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 27.6 ppt, 28.9 ppt, and 30.4 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 25.9 – 28.6 ppt, mid salinity ranged 26.8 – 30.2 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 28.4 – 31.2 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 21.9°C and ranged from 20.6°C to 23.5°C. Mid temperatures averaged 21.7°C and ranged from 20.6°C to 23.3°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 20.9°C and ranged from 19.7°C to 22.7°C.

DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 7.5 mg/L and ranged 5.6 – 10.5 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 6.3 mg/L and ranged 4.3 – 8.8 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 4.5 mg/L and ranged 2.9 – 8.0 mg/L.  Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 15.4 µg/L at the surface, 12.0 µg/L at mid-depth, and 2.9 µg/L at the bottom.  The maximum surface chlorophyll was 40.7 µg/L on the afternoon of September 3^rd.

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good to fair this week. Weather was rainy, with 1.38 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow fluctuated through the week in response to rain, but remained below the 20-year daily median for most of the week. Surface salinity averaged 20.2 ppt and ranged from 12.9 ppt to 24.4 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 24.5 ppt and ranged from 18.9 ppt to 28.2 ppt. Temperatures continued to increase this week, averaging 24.0°C at the surface and ranging 21.0°C – 26.6°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 23.4°C and ranged 22.2°C – 25.0°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) at the surface throughout the week, while DO at the bottom waters dropped below the hypoxic threshold throughout the week. Surface DO average 7.70 mg/L and ranged from 2.96 mg/L to 16.08 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 3.7 mg/L and ranged from 1.4 mg/L to 8.0 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (9 hours) occurred at the bottom depth during the evening of August 29^th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.00 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings increased from last week, averaging 49.5 µg/L at the surface and 18.8 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 108.3 µg/L on the afternoon of August 29^th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of August 27^th. Overall, water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 26.6 ppt, 28.3 ppt, and 30.1 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 24.8 – 28.1 ppt, mid salinity ranged 26.3 – 30.0 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 28.3 – 31.2 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 23.4°C and ranged from 21.7°C to 24.5°C. Mid temperatures averaged 22.8°C and ranged from 21.5°C to 24.2°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 21.5°C and ranged from 20.1°C to 23.0°C.

DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) at the surface and mid depths throughout the week.  Bottom DO sporadically dropped below the hypoxia threshold this week. Surface DO averaged 7.8 mg/L and ranged 5.5 – 9.5 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 5.7 mg/L and ranged 3.2 – 8.6 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 3.9 mg/L and ranged 2.7 – 6.1 mg/L.  The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 hour and 30 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth during August 31^st.  During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.83 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 16.2 µg/L at the surface, 11.6 µg/L at mid-depth, and 3.3 µg/L at the bottom.  The maximum surface chlorophyll was 30.4 µg/L on the morning of September 1^st.

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of August 20^th.  Overall, the water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good to fair this week. Weather conditions included sporadic rain events, with 0.49 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow declined over the week, dropping below the 20-year daily median at midweek. Surface salinity averaged 20.1 ppt and ranged from 12.4 ppt to 25.2 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 23.6 ppt and ranged from 17.4 ppt to 26.7 ppt. Temperatures continued to increase this week, averaging 23.3°C at the surface and ranging 21.7°C – 24.9°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 23.1°C and ranged 22.1°C – 24.8°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing dropped below the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO average 6.6 mg/L and ranged from 2.7 mg/L to 13.7 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 4.2 mg/L and ranged from 1.7 mg/L to 10.3 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (6 hours, 30 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth between the night of August 20^th to the morning of August 21^st. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.52 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings decreased from last week, averaging 20.76 µg/L at the surface and 15.9 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 126.5 µg/L on August 21^st around midday. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

Overall, the water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 26.9 ppt, 28.2 ppt, and 29.2 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 24.9 – 28.3 ppt, mid salinity ranged 25.8 – 29.6 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 28.0 – 30.4 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 22.9°C and ranged from 21.3°C to 24.2°C. Mid temperatures averaged 22.5°C and ranged from 21.5°C to 23.9°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 21.9°C and ranged from 20.6°C to 23.3°C.

DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week at the surface and middle depths. Bottom DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold infrequently throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 7.1 mg/L and ranged 4.5 – 11.3 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 5.5 mg/L and ranged 3.6 – 8.4 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 4.3 mg/L and ranged 2.3 – 7.3 mg/L.  The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 hour, 15 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth on the morning of August 19^th.  During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.58 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 17.4 µg/L at the surface, 13.0 µg/L at mid-depth, and 9.0 µg/L at the bottom.  The maximum surface chlorophyll was 42.1 µg/L on the afternoon of August 23^rd.

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to poor this week. Weather conditions included sporadic rain events, with 1.18 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow fluctuated through the week in response to rain. Surface salinity averaged 16.3 ppt and ranged from 7.0 ppt to 23.5 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 25.0 ppt and ranged from 14.9 ppt to 28.5 ppt. Temperatures continued to increase this week, averaging 24.4°C at the surface and ranging 22.5°C – 26.7°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 23.4°C and ranged 22.2°C – 24.8°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing dropped below the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) over the week. Surface DO average 8.3 mg/L and ranged from 2.0 mg/L to 21.8 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 1.7 mg/L and ranged from 0.5 mg/L to 6.2 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 day, 12 hours and 15 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth between the night of August 13^th to the morning of August 15^th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 0.86 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings increased from last week, averaging 51.1 µg/L at the surface and 25.6 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 219.8 µg/L on the afternoon of August 12^th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of August 15^th. Overall, the water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 26.3 ppt, 28.7 ppt, and 30.8 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 22.8 – 25.3 ppt, mid salinity ranged 21.8 – 24.8 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 20.3 – 23.1 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 24.1°C and ranged from 22.8°C to 25.3°C. Mid temperatures averaged 23.1°C and ranged from 21.8°C to 24.8°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 21.4°C and ranged from 20.3°C to 23.1°C.

DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) at the surface. Middle and Bottom DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold sporadically throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 8.7 mg/L and ranged 5.6 – 13.7 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 4.6 mg/L and ranged 2.1 – 9.0 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 3.0 mg/L and ranged 1.8 – 5.1 mg/L.  The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 day, 10 hours, and 45 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth during the night of August 16^th until the morning of August 18^th.  During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.29 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 20.1 µg/L at the surface, 13.4 µg/L at mid-depth, and 4.1 µg/L at the bottom.  The maximum surface chlorophyll was 54.5 µg/L on the afternoon of August 13^th.

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of August 6th. Overall, the water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good to fair this week. The weather was rainy, with 1.65 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow fluctuated through the week in response to rain. Surface salinity averaged 16.6 ppt and ranged from 5.6 ppt to 21.9 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 22.5 ppt and ranged from 15.2 ppt to 26.9 ppt. Temperatures continued to increase this week, averaging 24.9°C at the surface and ranging 22.8°C – 27.3°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 24.3°C and ranged 22.6°C – 27.3°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) at the surface throughout the week, while DO at the bottom waters remained below the hypoxic threshold for most of the week. Surface DO average 6.2 mg/L and ranged from 1.3 mg/L to 20.8 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 2.7 mg/L and ranged from 0.7 mg/L to 8.3 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (22 hours) occurred at the bottom depth between the night of August 7th to the afternoon of August 8th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 1.63 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings increased from last week, averaging 36.1 µg/L at the surface and 27.7 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 235.3 µg/L on the afternoon of August 11th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location.

Bullock Reach

Overall, water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 25.7 ppt, 28.4 ppt, and 30.8 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 23.0 – 28.4 ppt, mid salinity ranged 24.7 – 30.2 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 24.2 – 32.2 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 24.4°C and ranged from 22.5°C to 27.4°C. Mid temperatures averaged 24.0°C and ranged from 22.1°C to 26.0°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 22.4°C and ranged from 20.6°C to 25.4°C. DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week at the surface. Middle and Bottom DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold frequently throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 6.4 mg/L and ranged 3.6 – 12.1 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 4.5 mg/L and ranged 2.1 – 6.6 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 3.6 mg/L and ranged 2.4 – 5.4 mg/L.

The longest period of hypoxic conditions (6 hours and 15 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth on the morning of August 6th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.74 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 14.6 µg/L at the surface, 9.5 µg/L at mid-depth, and 3.0 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 61.8 µg/L on the night of August 11th.

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to poor this week. Weather conditions included sporadic rain events, with 1.16 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow fluctuate through the week in response to rain, rising above the 19-year daily median mid-way through the week. Surface salinity averaged 17.8 ppt and ranged from 7.7 ppt to 24.4 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 22.6 ppt and ranged from 14.3 ppt to 25.8 ppt. Temperatures continued to increase this week, averaging 25.5°C at the surface and ranging 23.4°C – 27.9°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 24.5°C and ranged 22.8°C – 26.8°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing dropped below the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) over the week. Surface DO average 6.5 mg/L and ranged from 0.8 mg/L to 17.3 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 2.6 mg/L and ranged from 0.2 mg/L to 9.2 mg/L. The longest period of hypoxic conditions (1 day, 9 hours and 31 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth between the morning of July 29th and the morning of July 30th. During this period, bottom DO averaged around 1.51 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings increased from last week, averaging 33.5 µg/L at the surface and 22.6 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 347.5 µg/L on the morning of August 4th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of July 30th. Overall, water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 26.5 ppt, 28.3 ppt, and 30.1 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 15.7 – 28.3 ppt, mid salinity ranged 26.6 – 29.7 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 28.4 – 31.3 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 24.7°C and ranged from 22.5°C to 27.7°C. Mid temperatures averaged 23.9°C and ranged from 21.8°C to 26.7°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 22.5°C and ranged from 20.8°C to 24.7°C.

DO at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) at the surface and mid depths throughout the week.  Bottom DO sporadically dropped below the hypoxia threshold this week. Surface DO averaged 8.2 mg/L and ranged 4.7 – 14.4 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 5.8 mg/L and ranged 3.0 – 7.8 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 3.7 mg/L and ranged 2.4 – 6.7 mg/L.  The longest period of hypoxic conditions (3 hours and 30 minutes) occurred at the bottom depth during July 30th.  During this period, bottom DO averaged around 2.76 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated, with evidence of moderate phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 21.8 µg/L at the surface, 17.5 µg/L at mid-depth, and 4.9 µg/L at the bottom.  The maximum surface chlorophyll was 49.7 µg/L on the morning of August 2nd. 

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions were dry, with only 0.05 inches on April 30th, recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow declined this week, remaining below the 19-year daily median for the majority of the week. Surface salinity averaged 4.1 ppt and ranged from 1.2 ppt to 9.1 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 13.5 ppt and ranged from 2.3 ppt to 27.1 ppt. Temperatures remained stabilized this week, averaging 12.7°C at the surface and ranging 10.0°C – 14.5°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 11.3°C and ranged 8.0°C – 14.4°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO average 10.5 mg/L and ranged from 9.5 mg/L to 11.7 mg/L.. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 9.3 mg/L and ranged from 8.1 mg/L to 11.3 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained comparable from last week, averaging 2.6 ug/L at the surface and 2.9 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 14.3 ug/L on the afternoon of April 24th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that isolated portions of suspect chlorophyll data from April 28th were excluded from the summary.

Bullock Reach 

The Bullock Reach Buoy remains out of the water for the winter.  EM will coordinate with RIDEM to redeploy the buoy in late spring.

On the morning of December 4th, the Phillipsdale Landing sondes were successfully removed for the 2023 season! For the one day of data available this week, water quality remained good, with similar conditions to last week.

The sondes at Bullock Reach were retrieved on November 14th for the 2023 season.

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality was good at Phillipsdale Landing this week. There were 0.74 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green this week, and Blackstone flows continued to be higher than normal for this time of year. Surface salinity averaged 8.0 ppt and ranged from 3.2 ppt to 20.4 ppt. Bottom salinity averaged 19.8 ppt and ranged from 6.2 ppt to 27.2 ppt. Temperatures continued to decline, averaging 6.4°C at the surface and ranging from 3.6°C to 8.8°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 8.5°C and ranged from 5.5°C to 10.1°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L at both the surface and bottom all week. Surface DO was similar to last week, averaging 10.9 mg/L and ranging from 8.8 to 12.4 mg/L. Bottom DO averaged 8.7 mg/L and ranged from 7.3 mg/L to 11.0 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained mostly low with a few slightly elevated readings at the bottom. Chlorophyll averaged 0.6 ug/L at the surface and 1.9 ug/L at the bottom. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach

The sondes at Bullock Reach have been retrieved for the 2023 season. 

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality was good at Phillipsdale Landing this week. There were 1.82 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green this week, 1.71 of which occurred on 11/22. Blackstone flows were higher than historical averages all week, but particularly following the 11/22 rain event. Surface salinity averaged 8.8 ppt and ranged from 2.9 ppt to 20.7 ppt. Bottom salinity averaged 21.4 ppt and ranged from 6.5 ppt to 27.7 ppt. Temperatures continued to decline, averaging 8.1°C at the surface and ranging from 5.1°C to 10.5°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 10.4°C and ranged from 7.2°C to 12.4°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L at both the surface and bottom all week. Surface DO was slightly higher than the previous week, averaging 10.2 mg/L and ranging from 8.3 to 11.8 mg/L. Bottom DO averaged 7.8 mg/L and ranged from 6.4 mg/L to 11.1 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low, averaging 0.6 ug/L at the surface and 2.6 ug/L at the bottom. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

The sondes at Bullock Reach have been retrieved for the 2023 season.