Fixed-Site Network

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to good. Weather conditions were dry this week, with only a very light rain of 0.02 inches recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow continued its declined over the course of the week from the increase in flow last week on May 20th. Surface salinity averaged 9.2 ppt and ranged from 3.3 ppt to 21.8 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 21.0 ppt and ranged from 4.4 ppt to 27.6 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 20.2°C at the surface and ranging 16.5°C – 23.6°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 17.6°C and ranged 15.1°C –21.0°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L at the surface. DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold at the bottom intermittently through May 28th to May 31st. Surface DO increased from the previous week, averaging 10.3 mg/L and ranging 6.0-17.5 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 4.9 mg/L and ranged from 1.9 mg/L to 11.3 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings increased from last week, averaging 18.9 ug/L at the surface and 18.4 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 58.2 ug/L in the afternoon of May 31st. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that an isolated portion of suspect chlorophyll data from May 29th was excluded from the summary.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes was deployed on June 1st for the season. Please note that due to the technical difficulties which occurred on June 1st during set up and the week ending on June 3rd, this post is based on a very limited Bullock Reach data set. Overall, water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 24.1 ppt, 25.8 ppt, and 30.0 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 21.3-26.2 ppt, mid salinity ranged 22.0-29.0 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 28.2-31.1 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 20.1°C and ranged from 16.9°C to 21.9°C. Mid temperatures averaged 19.2°C and ranged from 16.7°C to 21.3°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 15.1°C and ranged from 13.6°C to 17.1°C.

DO concentrations at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold all week. Surface DO averaged 8.6 mg/L and ranged 7.2 – 10.4 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 7.7 mg/L and ranged 5.9 – 9.1 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 5.3 mg/L and ranged 4.6– 6.5 mg/L.  Chlorophyll concentrations were low, averaged 7.4 ug/L, 8.6 ug/L, and 2.3 ug/L at the surface, mid, and bottom waters, respectively. The maximum surface chlorophyll of 11.6 ug/L was during the morning of June 3rd.

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were dry this week, with only a very light rain of 0.02 inches recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow started the week off with a high flow rate due to the May 20th storm, but then decreased over the course of the week. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Surface salinity this week averaged 13.2 ppt and ranged from 6.5 ppt to 24.5 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 22.5 ppt and ranged from 9.6 ppt to 28.6 ppt. Salinity at the surface averaged 5.2 ppt and ranged from 1.9 ppt to 8.9 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 15.8 ppt and ranged from 3.2 ppt to 27.8 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 18.3°C at the surface and 16.3 °C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 15.3°C to 22.0°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 14.0°C to 19.5°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L at the surface. DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold at the bottom only briefly on the morning of May 26th. Surface DO remained similar to the previous week, averaging 8.3 mg/L and ranging 6.9-10.0 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 5.6 mg/L and ranged from 2.0 mg/L to 8.6 mg/L. Chlorophyll concentrations decreased from the previous week, averaging 2.8 ug/L at the surface and 13.1 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 34.5 ug/L, recorded in the morning of March 23rd. 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 chlorophyll data from the surface sonde on May 23rd and from the bottom sonde on May 27th were excluded from the summary this week due to suspected interference.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. 

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were wet this week, with a total of 3.02 inches on March 20th, recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow declined over the course of the week only to increase at the end with the March 20th storm. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Surface salinity this week averaged 13.2 ppt and ranged from 6.5 ppt to 24.5 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 22.5 ppt and ranged from 9.6 ppt to 28.6 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 16.6°C at the surface and 15.0 at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 13.8°C to 20.0°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 12.6°C to 17.8°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L at the surface. DO dropped below the hypoxia threshold at the bottom for a few hours on the night of May 17th. Surface DO averaged 9.1 mg/L and ranged 6.7 – 11.4 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 6.2 mg/L and ranged from 0.5 mg/L to 10.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings rose from the previous week, averaging 12.9 ug/L at the surface and 26.2 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 107.5 ug/L on May 15th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that portions of chlorophyll data from the surface and bottom sondes from May 14th – 20th are not included in the summary above due potential fouling interference which is common at this site.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.

​Phillipsdale Landing

The sondes were deployed on May 9th as a new setup was devised to circumvent the dock. Also, please note that the depth sensor was malfunctioning for the first day of deployment. Due to the sondes being deployed on May 9th, we only have data from a portion of the month. Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions this week included light rain, with a total of 0.27 inches as recorded at T.F. Green. The Blackstone River flow declined over the course of the week from its increased flow due to the May 2nd storm. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Salinity at the surface averaged 6.3 ppt and ranged from 3.4 ppt to 10.4 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 19.5 ppt and ranged from 6.9 ppt to 27.9 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 17.6°C at the surface and 14.7°C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 14.2°C to 21.3°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 12.7°C to 17.9°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO did drop slightly compared to the last reading in April, averaging 9.4 mg/L and ranging 7.9 – 10.9 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 6.9 mg/L and ranged from 5.1 mg/L to 9.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll remained low, averaging 3.4 ug/L at the surface and 5.1 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 30.3 ug/L, recorded on the morning of May 13th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.

Phillipsdale Landing

The sondes were removed this week on April 3rd after remaining deployed from March 7th due to safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of the dock. The site will be suspended until further noticed due to these safety concerns.

Due to the Phillipsdale Landing sondes being removed on April 3rd, we only have data from the first 3 days of April; all three days are discussed here rather than only discussing the two days of the focal week. The first of April saw 0.47 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green, but the next two were dry. Blackstone River flows responded to the precipitation but remained below the 18-year median statistic of USGS. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Salinity at the surface averaged 3.4 ppt and ranged from 1.8 ppt to 6.2 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 14.5 ppt and ranged from 2.3 ppt to 27.3 ppt. Temperatures averaged 9.4°C at the surface and 8.3°C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 7.0°C to 10.8°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 7.0°C to 10.2°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L for these days. Surface DO averaged 11.1 mg/L and ranged 10.2-13.0 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 9.9 mg/L and ranged from 8.6 mg/L to 12.4 mg/L. Chlorophyll concentrations were generally low (i.e., <20 µg/L), with no strong signs of phytoplankton bloom activity. Also, please note that portions of chlorophyll data from the bottom sonde from April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are not included in the summary due to potential sediment interference which is common at this site.

Bullock Reach

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. 

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes remained deployed this week as there were safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of the dock. Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good. Weather conditions included sporadic rain events, with 0.93 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow fluctuated as there were small but frequent rain events . Surface salinity averaged 4.6 ppt and ranged from 1.8 ppt to 12.5 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 15.6 ppt and ranged from 2.3 ppt to 28.7 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 9.3°C at the surface and ranging 6.1°C – 11.6°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 8.1°C and ranged 6.5°C – 10.4°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO average 11.3 mg/L and ranged from 9.6 mg/L to 13.1 mg/L.. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 9.9 mg/L and ranged from 8.1 mg/L to 12.8 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained comparable from last week, averaging 2.3 ug/L at the surface and 15.1 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 25.2 ug/L on the morning of March 27th. 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 March 26th to March 31st were excluded from the summary.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes remained deployed this week as there were safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of the dock. Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions were mostly dry , with only 0.31 inches recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow decreased all week, and salinity at Phillipsdale increased . Surface salinity this week averaged 6.2 ppt and ranged from 1.8 ppt to 16.1 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 15.7 ppt and ranged from 3.8 ppt to 28.0 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 8.1°C at the surface and ranging 4.8°C – 10.1°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 7.2°C and ranged 5.7°C – 9.6°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 11.4 mg/L and ranged 9.8-13.0 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.6 mg/L and ranged from 9.2 mg/L to 12.7 mg/L. Chlorophyll concentrations slightly decreased from the previous week, averaging 3.6 ug/L at the surface and 12.2 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached just 38.5 ug/L on the morning of March 23rd. 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 spikes of suspect chlorophyll data, between March 19th-25th, were excluded from the summary this week.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. 

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were  wet this week, with a total of 2.93 inches recorded at T.F. Green, and the majority of rainfall occurring on the 13th and 14th. Blackstone River flow increased during the 13th and 14th and remained above the 18-year daily median for the majority of the week. Surface and bottom salinity dropped dramatically after the 13th -14th storm and increased river flows. Salinity at the surface averaged 4.7 ppt and ranged from 0.3 ppt to 13.0 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 14.4 ppt and ranged from 0.4 ppt to 29.5 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 6.3°C at the surface and 5.9 °C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 4.3°C to 9.1°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 4.4°C to 7.3°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO >2.9 mg/L) throughout the week. Surface DO remained similar to the previous week, averaging 12.4 mg/L and ranging 10.4-14.1 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 11.0 mg/L and ranged from 8.1 mg/L to 13.7 mg/L. Chlorophyll concentrations rose from the previous week, averaging 4.5 ug/L at the surface and 12.4 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 56.0 ug/L, recorded in the morning of March 13th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that portions of chlorophyll data from the surface sonde on March 13th and from the bottom sonde on March 14th and 16th were excluded from the summary this week due to suspected sediment interference.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.

​Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes were swapped for routine maintenance on the morning of March 7th.   Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions were mostly dry, with only 0.29 inches on March 11th, recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow declined over the course of the week from its increased flow due to the March 4th storm (0.81 inches). It remained above the 18-year daily median for the majority of the week. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Surface salinity this week averaged 9.1 ppt and ranged from 3.8 ppt to 15.1 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 22.0 ppt and ranged from 5.6 ppt to 30.3 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 5.8°C at both the surface and bottom . Surface temperatures ranged from 3.7°C to 7.9°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 4.5°C to 7.1°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 11.8 mg/L and ranged 10.8 – 13.6 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.0 mg/L and ranged from 8.3 mg/L to 12.6 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings rose from the previous week, averaging 3.1 ug/L at the surface and 11.8 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 18.7 ug/L on March 10th. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that portions of chlorophyll data from the bottom sonde from March 7th and 8th are not included in the summary above due potential sediment interference which is common at this site.

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.

​Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions this week included moderate rain and snow, with a total of 1.6 inches as recorded at T.F. Green     The Blackstone River flow remained below the 18-year daily median for the week. Surface salinity remained well below bottom salinity. Salinity at the surface averaged 6.5 ppt and ranged from 2.5 ppt to 14.8 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 20.9 ppt and ranged from 5.7 ppt to 29.5 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 4.5°C at the surface and 5.3°C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 2.3°C to 6.9°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 4.0°C to 6.2°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO did rise slightly compared to the previous week, averaging 12.1 mg/L and ranging 11.0-12.9 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 9.7 mg/L and ranged from 7.4 mg/L to 12.3 mg/L. Chlorophyll remained low, averaging 2.2 ug/L at the surface and 3.9 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 8.6 ug/L, recorded on the morning of March 2nd. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.