Water Column Profiles

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on July 5, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey, there were 1.25 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Strong density stratification was observed at all sites surveyed this week.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at Bullock Reach Buoy and Conimicut Point West; all other sites surveyed had hypoxic conditions in the lower half of the water column. Fluorescence was moderately elevated at the surface of Bullock Reach Buoy and Conimicut Point West this week and low at all other sites.​

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on June 28, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey and the morning of, there were 0.92 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Strong density stratification was observed at most sites surveyed this week, with Bullock Reach Buoy and Conimicut Point West exhibiting moderate density stratification.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at most sites this week but were below the hypoxia threshold in the bottom waters of Phillipsdale Landing (1.01 mg/L) and Edgewood Shoal (0.57 mg/L). Fluorescence was low to moderately elevated this week, with the highest value (32.52 mg/m³) observed at the surface of Phillipsdale Landing.

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on June 21, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey, there was no precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Density stratification was moderate to strong at the sites surveyed.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at most sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 3.76 mg/L near the surface of Phillipsdale Landing. Fluorescence was low to moderately elevated this week, with the highest value (21.44 mg/m³) observed at Pawtuxet Cove.​

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on June 14, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey, there were 0.21 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. India Point Park exhibited strong density stratification and all other sites were moderately stratified.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 4.05 mg/L in the middle waters of Phillipsdale Landing. Fluorescence was fairly low this week, ranging from 1.28 to 13.38 mg/m³.

Water column profiles were conducted at six locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on June 7, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey, there were 0.12 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Phillipsdale Landing exhibited moderate density stratification and all other sites were weakly stratified.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 4.65 mg/L in the bottom waters of Phillipsdale Landing. Fluorescence was low this week, ranging from 1.06 to 4.64 mg/m³.

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on May 31, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There was no precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey. All sites exhibited strong density stratification except for Pomham Rocks, which was moderately stratified.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 3.01 mg/L in the bottom waters of Edgewood Shoal. Fluorescence was fairly low this week, ranging from 1.80 to 11.9 mg/m³.

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on May 24, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the three days leading up to the survey, there were 0.02 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Despite the lack of recent rainfall, all sites exhibited strong density stratification except for Point St Bridge, which exhibited moderate density stratification.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 4.56 mg/L in the bottom waters of Phillipsdale landing. Fluorescence was low to moderately elevated this week, with the highest value (25.3 mg/m³) observed at Pomham Rocks.

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on May 18, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There was no precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey. Despite the lack of recent rainfall, Phillipsdale Landing still showed strong density stratification and Bullock Reach Buoy showed moderate density stratification; all other sites were well mixed to weakly stratified.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 6.62 mg/L near the middle of the water column at Pomham Rocks. Fluorescence was low to moderately elevated, with the highest value (10.09 mg/m3) observed 2.5 m deep at Conimicut Point West.

Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on May 3, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There were 2.68 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey, almost all from a large rain event on April 30th. ​ Evidence of moderate density stratification was observed at Edgewood Yacht Club; all other sites had strong density stratification.

Surface salinities ranged from 0.55 psu at Phillipsdale Landing to 16.9 psu at Edgewood Yacht Club; bottom salinities ranged from 21.1 psu at Phillipsdale Landing to 29.9 psu at Conimicut Point West. Surface temperatures ranged from 12.4°C at Pawtuxet Cove to 13.7°C at Bullock Reach Buoy, while bottom temperatures ranged from 10.5°C at Conimicut Point West to 12.9°C at Pawtuxet Cove.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 5.05 mg/L near the surface (1.5 m deep) at Pomham Rocks. Fluorescence was low this week, with the highest value (5.38 mg/m3) observed 1.75 m deep at Bullock Reach Buoy.

Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on April 19, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There were 0.17 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey. Evidence of strong density stratification was observed at Phillipsdale Landing, Pomham Rocks, and Pawtuxet Cove. Evidence of moderate density stratification was observed at India Point Park, Conimicut Point West, and Bullock Reach Buoy, while Edgewood Yacht Club showed signs of being well mixed.

Surface salinities ranged from 12.5 psu at Phillipsdale Landing to 25.9 psu at Conimicut Point West; bottom salinities ranged from 24.4 psu at Edgewood Yacht Club to 30.2 psu at Conimicut Point West. Surface temperatures ranged 10.6°C at India Point Park to 12.5°C at Pawtuxet Cove, while bottom temperatures ranged from 8.4°C at Pomham Rocks to 11.3°C at Pawtuxet Cove.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) throughout the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club this week, averaging 2.6 mg/L. All other sites remained above the hypoxia threshold. Fluorescence was low to moderately elevated, with the highest value (8.42 mg/m3) observed near the middle of the water column at Pawtuxet Cove.