News – Narrabay

Clean Water Open House: Follow the Flush!

In celebration of Rhode Island Clean Water Week, the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) will offer free public tours of its award-winning Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility in Providence on Saturday, April 18 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

The tours will include a look at the region’s most sophisticated water quality lab, “touch-a-truck” and “touch-a-boat” with the NBC’s maintenance and research vehicles, photo ops inside a sewer pipe, and other fun activities.

In addition, the NBC will issue certificates of completion to all students who take the tour that may be redeemed for extra credit at school (but students are advised check with their teacher first).

Members of the public can book a tour at 10:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM or 12:00 noon by emailing nbcpr@narrabay.com. Spaces are limited. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes.

Enter NBC’s 2027 Student Poster Contest Today!

Contest deadline is Friday, May 1!

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is proud to sponsor its 33rd annual student poster contest. The theme of this year’s contest is Water’s Journey Through Time. The NBC would like students to artistically showcase how water has changed or will change over time. Students may want to research what the Narragansett Bay looked like many years ago and depict that view in their poster. Some may want to use their imaginations and create a poster of what Narragansett Bay will look like 20, 30, 40, or even 50 years from now. Others may want to create snapshots of Narragansett Bay starting in the past and traveling into the future. We encourage students to use their creativity and come up with their own idea of what the theme means to them.

The theme of the poster contest this year correlates with an event where NBC will open a time capsule that was buried 25 years ago. The time capsule was buried on April 24, 2001, in honor of NBC Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility’s 100^th birthday! The ceremony will take place during Clean Water Week. There are other events happening around the state honoring water that week. Please visit https://ricwa.org/event/clean-water-week-open-house/ to learn more.

The contest rules are as follows:

Students must be in grades K-6 and reside in Providence, North Providence, Johnston, Central Falls, Lincoln, Pawtucket, Cumberland, Cranston, Smithfield, or East Providence.
Posters cannot be larger than 11×17 or smaller than 8 1/2×11.
Posters must include the student’s name, grade, school, home address, and phone number on the back.
Posters become the property of the Narragansett Bay Commission.
Winners receive a $100 cash prize, winning posters are printed in NBC’s 2027 poster calendar, and winners are invited to a recognition ceremony on Wednesday, June 3^rd, 2026 at 5:00 at the NBC Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility at 2 Ernest Street, Providence.
Mail posters to the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Public Affairs Office at One Service Road, Providence, RI 02905.
THE CONTEST DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026!

We hope that your school will be able to participate in the contest! For more information, please call the NBC’s Environmental Education Coordinator at 401-443-4947.

Win a $250 Gift Card!

Want to win a $250 gift card? You can with the Narragansett Bay Commission AutoPay and paperless e-billing sweepstakes! To enter, visit www.narrabay.com/customer-care/pay-bill/ and log into your account. Enroll in either AutoPay or paperless e-billing and you’re in. Current users will automatically be entered.

The sweepstakes runs from November 1, 2025 – January 31,2026, making it the perfect way to get your new year started right. Enroll and enter today.

NBC Welcomes New CFO

Kevin McDonald has joined the Narragansett Bay Commission as Chief Financial Officer, where he will oversee the agency’s $302 M annual budget, which includes significant infrastructure investments such as the final phase of the agency’s Combined Sewer Overflow project. Mc Donald previously served as Director of Loan Operations for the US Army Corps of Engineers Water Infrastructure Financing Program and as a Senior Underwriter for the USEPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program.

“We are so pleased to welcome Kevin to the NBC,” said Executive Director Laurie Horridge. “His knowledge of public finance—and the water sector specifically—will benefit both the NBC’s ratepayers and the health of Narragansett Bay. We look forward to his collaboration and innovation as we continue to deliver on our clean water mission.”

McDonald has an undergraduate degree from Brown University in American History and a graduate degree from Harvard University in City and Regional Planning.

“Follow the Flush” with a Free Tour!

Narragansett Bay Commission Offers Free Clean Water Tours: Follow the Flush!

The tours will include a look at the region’s most sophisticated water quality lab, “touch-a-truck” and “touch-a-boat” with the NBC’s maintenance and research vehicles, a clean water scavenger hunt, and other fun activities.

“This facility is simultaneously one of the oldest and most advanced clean water facilities in the nation,” said NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella. “We’re so excited to give the public the opportunity to ‘follow the flush’ and view the process that has made Narragansett Bay cleaner than it has been in 150 years.”

In addition, the NBC will issue certificates of completion to all students who take the tour that may be redeemed for extra credit at school (but students are advised check with their teacher first).

“I am confident that anyone who experiences this tour will be amazed and appreciative by the clean water efforts in our community,” Mesolella added.

Members of the public can book a tour on the half hours between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM by emailing nbcpr@narrabay.com. Spaces are limited. The tour will take approximately 90 minutes.

The NBC joins four other clean water agencies in Rhode Island offering free public tours during Rhode Island Clean Water Week. Information on other tours is available at ricwa.org

September 16, 2026

Phytoplankton samples were collected on September 16, 2026 at Bullock’s Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection.

It was sunny and pleasant on this day. The water temperature was 21.405 °C, the salinity was 26.33 psu, and the chlorophyll a was 6.76 ug/L.

The qualitative tow net sample had a moderate filtration time. The filtrate was light golden brown with some suspended particulates

The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 547,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 437,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Skeletonema spp. at 53,000 cells/L and Eutreptiella spp. at 30,000 cells/L.

200x phase contrast image of Thalassiosira spp.

Thalassiosira are a genus of centric diatoms found in a wide variety of marine environments around the world. Cells can exist individually or in chains connected by organic threads. Thalassiosira can be identified by their characteristic shapes which include: box-shaped, cylindrical, drum-shaped, discoid, and coin-shaped.

October 12 – October 18, 2026

Walker Point

Overall, water quality at Walker Point was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were moderately rainy this week, with a total of 0.41 inches recorded at T.F. Green, with the majority of the rainfall occurring on October 16^th. Blackstone River flow was highest on the 13^th and 14^th, above the 20-year daily median flow, before decreasing to close to the 20-year daily median flow later in the week. Salinity at Walker Point surface averaged 12.2 ppt and ranged from 5.3 ppt to 23.3 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 26.3 ppt and ranged from 20.4 ppt to 29.2 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 15.8 °C at the surface and 17.3 °C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 12.6 °C to 17.2 °C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 16.5 °C to 17.9 °C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Walker Point remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at the surface and bottom for the entire week. Surface DO averaged 8.0 mg/L and ranged from 5.9 to 9.6 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 4.8 mg/L and ranged from 3.4 mg/L to 6.0 mg/L. Chlorophyll ranged from low to mildly elevated levels throughout the week, averaging 2.0 ug/L at the surface and 2.9 ug/L at the bottom, with little evidence of any phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 9.4 ug/L on the afternoon of October 17^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 October 15^th. Overall, water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 25.6 ppt, 28.4 ppt, and 30.7 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged from 22.4 to 28.0 ppt, mid salinity ranged from 25.5 to 30.4 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged from 28.1 to 32.0 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 16.6 °C and ranged from 14.2 °C to 18.2 °C. Mid temperatures averaged 16.7 °C and ranged from 14.6 °C to 17.3 °C. Bottom temperatures averaged 16.9 °C and ranged from 16.5 °C to 17.1 °C.

DO at Bullock Reach did not experience hypoxic conditions (i.e., DO < 2.9 mg/L) during the week. Surface DO averaged 7.3 mg/L and ranged from 6.5 to 8.6 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 7.0 mg/L and ranged from 5.8 to 7.6 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 6.4 mg/L and ranged from 5.8 to 7.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low to moderately elevated this week, with evidence of a moderate phytoplankton bloom occurring towards the end of the week. Readings averaged 1.9 µg/L at the surface, 4.3 µg/L at mid-depth, and 2.7 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum chlorophyll was observed in mid waters at 79.1µg/L on the morning of October 18^th.

October 14, 2026

Water column profiles were conducted using a Seabird Electronics profiler at six locations in the Providence River and one location in the Seekonk River on October 14, 2026. In the five days leading up to this, there were 2.37 inches of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). Point Street Bridge had a well-mixed water column. The water column was moderately stratified at Edgewood Yacht Club, Bullock Reach, and Conimicut Point. Strong stratification was observed at Pawtuxet Cove, India Point Park, Pomham Rocks and Phillipsdale Landing.

Dissolved oxygen conditions below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) were not observed at any location. The highest fluorescence reading was observed 1.5-meters below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.

October 5 – October 11, 2026

Walker Point

Sondes were swapped this week on October 7^th. Overall, water quality at Walker Point was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were rainy this week, with a total of 2.33 inches recorded at T.F. Green, with all rainfall occurring on October 11^th. Blackstone River flow decreased throughout the week, staying relatively close to the 20-year daily median flow, before increasingly significantly during the rain event on October 11^th. Salinity at Walker Point surface averaged 21.1 ppt and ranged from 11.3 ppt to 28.0 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 27.2 ppt and ranged from 23.1 ppt to 29.4 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 17.5 °C at the surface and 18.0 °C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 15.5 °C to 19.0 °C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 17.6 °C to 18.5 °C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Walker Point remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at the surface and bottom for the entire week. Surface DO averaged 6.5 mg/L and ranged from 4.2 to 9.0 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 4.8 mg/L and ranged from 3.3 mg/L to 6.1 mg/L. Chlorophyll ranged from low to mildly elevated levels throughout the week, averaging 2.9 ug/L at the surface and 3.6 ug/L at the bottom, with little evidence of any phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 9.5 ug/L on the afternoon of October 8^th. 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 at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 27.9 ppt, 29.7 ppt, and 30.8 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged from 23.0 to 29.5 ppt, mid salinity ranged from 27.8 to 31.4 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged from 28.7 to 32.2 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 17.3 °C and ranged from 16.2 °C to 19.0 °C. Mid temperatures averaged 17.5 °C and ranged from 16.6 °C to 18.5 °C. Bottom temperatures averaged 17.5 °C and ranged from 16.6 °C to 18.3 °C.

DO at Bullock Reach did not experience hypoxic conditions (i.e., DO < 2.9 mg/L) during the week. Surface DO averaged 7.3 mg/L and ranged from 6.2 to 9.0 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 6.9 mg/L and ranged from 5.1 to 8.6 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 6.6 mg/L and ranged from 5.1 to 7.6 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low, with no evidence of phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 3.9 µg/L at the surface, 5.8 µg/L at mid-depth, and 5.2 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 9.5 µg/L on the evening of October 8^th.

September 2, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from eleven river stations and eight bay stations on September 2^nd. All bay stations were sampled at the surface; Edgewood Shoal was sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, 1.25” of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 1,520 ppb, TDN = 1,500 ppb, DIN = 1350.4 ppb). The lowest TN was observed at Moshassuck River @ Footbridge at Mill St. (506 ppb). The lowest TDN and DIN were observed at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (TDN = 518 ppb, DIN = 111.6 ppb).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TN = 967 ppb, TDN = 793 ppb, DIN = 533.7 ppb). The lowest surface TN was observed at Edgewood Yacht Club (546 ppb). The lowest surface TDN was observed at Pomham Rocks (228 ppb). The lowest DIN was observed at Conimicut Point (63.8 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is September 16^th, 2026.

September 28 – October 4, 2026

Walker Point

Overall, water quality at Walker Point was fair to good this week. Weather conditions were somewhat rainy this week, with a total of 0.51 inches recorded at T.F. Green, and the majority of rainfall occurring on the September 28^th. Blackstone River flow was highest at the beginning of the week, substantially above the 20-year daily median flow, before decreasing steadily throughout the week, though still remaining above the 20-year daily median flow. Salinity at Walker Point surface averaged 11.8 ppt and ranged from 5.3 ppt to 23.7 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 27.0 ppt and ranged from 18.8 ppt to 30.1 ppt. Temperatures this week averaged 17.7 °C at the surface and 17.9 °C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 16.1 °C to 20.3°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 17.2 °C to 18.8 °C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Walker Point remained above the hypoxia threshold at the surface and bottom for the entire week. Surface DO averaged 7.3 mg/L and ranged from 5.6 to 8.9 mg/L. Bottom water DO concentration averaged 5.1 mg/L and ranged from 3.5 mg/L to 6.0 mg/L. Chlorophyll ranged from low to mildly elevated levels throughout the week, averaging 1.5 ug/L at the surface and 0 ug/L at the bottom, with little evidence of any phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Maximum surface chlorophyll readings reached 15.8 ug/L on the afternoon of October 2^nd. 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 September 29^th. Overall, water quality was good at Bullock Reach this week. The sonde swap replaced malfunctioning sensors on the bottom sonde, making bottom data available starting on the morning of September 29^th. Salinity averaged 24.5 ppt, 29.6 ppt, and 31.4 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged from 19.8 to 28.1 ppt, mid salinity ranged from 23.4 to 31.6 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged from 30.1 to 32.1 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 18.1 °C and ranged from 16.7 °C to 19.9 °C. Mid temperatures averaged 17.9 °C and ranged from 17.5 °C to 19.2 °C. Bottom temperatures averaged 17.8 °C and ranged from 17.5 °C to 18.1 °C.

DO at Bullock Reach did not experience hypoxic conditions (i.e., DO < 2.9 mg/L) during the week. Surface DO averaged 7.5 mg/L and ranged from 6.3 to 8.9 mg/L. In the mid waters, DO averaged 6.6 mg/L and ranged from 5.3 to 7.6 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 6.0 mg/L and ranged from 4.8 to 6.9 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to slightly elevated, with evidence of mild phytoplankton blooms occurring throughout the week. Readings averaged 4.9 µg/L at the surface, 4.1 µg/L at mid-depth, and 3.9 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 9.9 µg/L on the afternoon of October 1^st.

October 14, 2026

Surface chlorophyll data were collected on October 14, 2026, while the R/V Data Stream was underway collecting nutrients samples in the Providence and Seekonk River Estuaries. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good overall with all areas sampled having average chlorophyll concentrations <5 µg/L. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 1.00 µg/L to 5.09 µg/L with an average of 1.85 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.

October 7, 2026

Surface chlorophyll data were collected on October 7, 2026, while the R/V Data Stream was underway collecting nutrients samples in the Providence and Seekonk River Estuaries. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good overall with all areas sampled having average chlorophyll concentrations <5 µg/L. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 0.69 µg/L to 7.45 µg/L with an average of 2.62 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.

October 7, 2026

On October 7^th, 2026, twenty stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers; five of these stations were also sampled for enterococci bacteria. In the five days prior to sampling, 0.03 inches of precipitation was recorded at TF Green.

Fecal coliform counts were higher in the Seekonk River, compared to the Providence River (geometric mean of 87 MPN/100 mL for the Seekonk River compared to 19 MPN/100mL for the Providence River) for sampling conducted on October 7^th. The maximum count (430 MPN/100 mL) was measured at the Point St. Bridge sampling location.

Enterococci results had an overall geometric mean of 41 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci counts ranged from <10 MPN/100 mL at most sites to 435 MPN/100 mL at Phillipsdale Landing.

The next scheduled sampling date is October 21^st.

Summary of Rhode Island Bacteria Standards for Saltwater Primary Contact and Shellfishing

	Fecal Coliform	Enterococci
Primary Contact¹	Geometric mean ≤50 MPN/100 mL <10% of samples >400 MPN/100 mL	Geometric mean ≤35 colonies/100 mL All samples ≤104 colonies/100 mL²
Shellfishing	Geometric mean ≤14 MPN/100 mL <10% of samples >49 MPN/100 mL³	NO ENTEROCOCCI CRITERIA

¹Fecal coliform primary contact criteria applied only when adequate enterococci data are not available; ²Single sample maximum criterion for determining beach swimming advisories at designated beaches as evaluated by the Rhode Island Department of Health; ³For a three-tube decimal dilution.

Table adapted from Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations (250-RICR-150-05-1); see regulations for complete details.

October 14, 2026

Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuaries on October 14, 2026. In the five days prior to the survey, 2.37 inches of precipitation were recorded at TF Green. Secchi depth averaged 3.8 meters. The lowest clarity this week (1.9 meters) was measured at Pawtuxet Cove, while the greatest clarity (5.5 meters) was observed at Conimicut Point and Bullocks Reach. There was a general north-to-south trend of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. Overall, water clarity decreased from the previous measurements (data collected October 7, 2026).