October 9, 2024
The crew of the Data Stream were performing routine bacteria sampling when they observed two bald eagles flying high in the sky above the Seekonk River near Phillipsdale Landing in East Providence.
October 3, 2024
Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on October 3, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, no precipitation was recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification varied between the sites this week, from well-mixed to weakly stratified.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were not observed to be below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at any site profiled this week. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at Edgewood Yacht Club.
September 25, 2024
Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on September 25, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 0.78 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed to weakly stratified.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club and Pomham Rocks. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at Pawtuxet Cove.
October 17, 2024
Phytoplankton samples were collected on October 17, 2024 at Bullock’s Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection. It was windy and brisk on Narragansett Bay. Sonde data revealed the surface water temperature was 14.63°C, salinity was 30.01 psu, and chlorophyll a was 2.58 ug/L. The qualitative tow net sample had a quick filtration time and the filtrate was clear. The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 156,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 48,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Prorocentrum spp. at 38,000 cells/L, Leptocylindrus spp. at 16,000 cells/L, and Cylindrotheca spp. at 12,000 cells/L. Corethron hystrix, shown here in a 200x phase contrast micrograph, is a solitary species of centric diatom found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific, typically in the spring and fall. They have a unique pill shape and two rings of long spines directed towards one end, and a crown of shorter, hooked spines pointed in the opposite direction. Although they do not bloom in large numbers, it has been observed that they may cause physical obstructions in the gills of farmed salmon.
September 11, 2024
Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on September 11, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 0.02 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed at Edgewood Yacht Club and Point Street Bridge, to moderately stratified at Phillipsdale Landing.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club, and in the middle and lower portions of the water column at Phillipsdale Landing. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.
October 3, 2024
Phytoplankton samples were collected on October 3, 2024 at Bullock’s Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection. Weather conditions and Sonde data were not recorded on this day. The qualitative tow net sample had a quick filtration time. The filtrate was slightly cloudy and reddish brown with some particulates. The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 1,712,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 112,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Heterocapsa spp. at 1,232,000 cells/L, Prorocentrum spp. at 108,000 cells/L, and Leptocylindrus spp. at 100,000 cells/L. Chaetoceros socialis, shown here in a 100x phase contrast micrograph, is a species of diatom belonging to one of the most diverse genera of marine planktonic organisms. Due to their high growth rates, research on the use of Chaetoceros species in biotechnology is ongoing. They are currently used in commercial aquacultures and studies suggest that they have enormous potential for producing biofuel.
September 4, 2024
Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on September 4, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, no precipitation was recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed at Pomham Rocks, to weakly stratified at all other profiled sites.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Phillipsdale Landing, Edgewood Yacht Club, and India Point Park. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at Pomham Rocks.
September 4, 2024
Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations and seven bay stations on September 4th. All bay stations were sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, there was trace precipitation recorded at T.F. Green.
Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN) and total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) were observed at Blackstone River @ Stateline (TN = 1,340 ppb, TDN = 1,560 ppb). The highest dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration was observed at Moshassuck River @ Footbridge at Mill St. (1,158 ppb). The lowest TN and TDN were observed at Blackstone River @ Slater Mill (TN = 951 ppb, TDN = 958 ppb), while the lowest DIN was observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (665 ppb).
Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TN = 963 ppb, TDN = 610 ppb, DIN = 368 ppb). The lowest surface TN and TDN were at Conimicut Point (TN = 456 ppb, TDN = 167 ppb, average of duplicates), while the lowest surface DIN concentrations were observed at Conimicut Point, Edgewood Yacht Club and Pomham Rocks (13 ppb, reflecting minimum detection limits).
The next scheduled sampling date is September 18, 2024.
September 4, 2024
Phytoplankton samples were collected on September 4, 2024 at Bullock Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection. It was a sunny, calm and cloudless day on Narragansett Bay. Sonde data was not analyzed on this day. The qualitative tow net sample had a quick filtration time, the filtrate was slightly cloudy and golden brown with some black particulates. The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 874,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 94,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Skeletonema spp. at 240,000 cells/L, Leptocylindrus spp. at 224,000 cells/L, and Cylindrotheca spp. at 188,000 cells/L. Pleurosigma, shown here in a 200x phase contrast micrograph, is a widely distributed genus of elongate, biraphid diatoms which glide and rotate in brackish to marine waters. They are pelagic and either float on the tides, sink to lower levels on top of the salt layer or attach to marine organisms. These diatoms contribute to essential oxygen levels in the ocean and also serve as a food source for animal larvae and dinoflagellates.
August 28, 2024
Water column profiles were conducted at seven locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on August 28, 2024 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. In the five days leading up to the survey, 1.38 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green. Water column stratification at the sites varied from well-mixed at Point Street Bridge, to moderately stratified at Phillipsdale Landing, Pomham Rocks, and India Point Park
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions were below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) in the lower portion of the water column at Pomham Rocks and India Point Park, and in all portions of the water column (upper, middle and lower) at Phillipsdale Landing. The highest fluorescence readings for the week were measured around 1 meter below the surface at India Point Park.