News – Page 3 – Narrabay

July 23, 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 July 23, 2026. In the five days leading up to this, there were 2.28 inches of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). The water column was strongly stratified at Phillipsdale Landing, moderately stratified at Bullock’s Reach, India Point Park, and Pomham Rocks, and weakly stratified at Conimicut Point, Edgewood Yacht Club, and Pawtuxet Cove.

Dissolved oxygen conditions were slightly below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) throughout the water column at Phillipsdale Landing and in the lower part of the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club, Pomham Rocks, Conimicut Point, and India Point Park. The highest fluorescence reading was observed about 1.75 meters below the surface at Phillipsdale Landing.

July 23, 2026

Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuaries on July 23, 2026. In the five days prior to the survey, 2.28 inches of precipitation were recorded at TF Green. Secchi depth averaged 1.2 meters. The lowest clarity this week (0.6 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing, while the greatest clarity (1.9 meters) was observed at Pomham Rocks. There was no clear north-to-south gradient in water clarity among the sites this week. Overall, water clarity decreased from the previous measurements (data collected July 15, 2026).

June 24, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations and seven bay stations on June 24^th. All bay stations were sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, 2.01 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN) was observed at Blackstone River @ Slater Mill (1,545 ppb, average of duplicates). The highest total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TDN = 1,480 ppb, DIN = 1,208 ppb). Higher TDN were observed at Woonasquatucket River @ Valley St. and Woonasquatucket River @ Manton Ave. Bridge; however, inconsistency between the TN and TDN results may indicate some reliability issues in those results. The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Footbridge at Mill St. (TN = 806 ppb, TDN = 864 ppb, DIN = 700.9). The lowest TDN and DIN were observed at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (, average of duplicates).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface TN was observed at Pawtuxet Cove and Phillipsdale Landing (1,150 ppb). The highest surface TDN and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TDN = 1,020 ppb, DIN = 729.4). The lowest surface TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Conimicut Point (TN = 554 ppb, TDN = 134 ppb, DIN = 72.9).

The next scheduled sampling date is July 8^th, 2026.

June 10, 2026

Nutrient samples were collected from twelve river stations and eight bay stations on June 10^th. All bay stations were sampled at the surface, and Pawtuxet Cove was sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, 0.22 inches 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 = 1,690 ppb, TDN = 1,810 ppb, DIN = 1,502.6 ppb). The lowest TN was observed at Runnins River @Rt. 6 (516 ppb). The lowest TDN and DIN were observed at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (TDN = 286.5 ppb, DIN = 51.3, average of duplicates).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TN = 1,200 ppb, TDN = 674 ppb, DIN = 761.9, average of duplicates). The lowest surface TN was observed at Conimicut Point (466 ppb). The lowest TDN was observed at Edgewood Shoal (<100 ppb). The lowest surface DIN was observed at seven of eight sites (13 ppb, reflecting minimum detection limits for DIN).

The next scheduled sampling date is June 24^th, 2026.

July 15, 2026

On July 15^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 were recorded at TF Green.

Fecal coliform counts were higher in the Seekonk River, compared to the previous sampling on June 17^th (geometric mean of 204 MPN/100 mL compared to 46 MPN/100 mL on 6/17). Fecal coliform counts were similar in the Providence River, compared to the previous sampling (geometric mean of 8 MPN/100 mL on July 15^th compared to 9 on June 17^th).

Enterococci results had an overall geometric mean of 49 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci counts ranged from <10 MPN/100 mL at three sites to 717 MPN/100 mL at Phillipsdale Landing.

The next scheduled sampling date is July 29^th.

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.

July 13 – July 19, 2026

Walkers Point

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of July 14^th (surface sonde) and 15^th (bottom sonde). Overall, the water quality at Walkers Point was good to fair this week. Weather conditions included light rain events this week, with 0.69 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Surface salinity averaged 21.6 ppt and ranged from 10.3 ppt to 28.3 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 25.6 ppt and ranged from 20.5 ppt to 28.7 ppt. Temperatures averaged 24.2°C at the surface and 23.8°C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 22.9°C to 26.5°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 22.6°C to 24.7°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Walkers Point remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO>2.9mg/L) at the surface, but dropped below the hypoxia threshold at the bottom depth. The longest periods of hypoxic conditions spanned 7 hours and 45 minutes, occurring at the bottom depth on the morning of July 16^th. During this period, the DO averaged around 2.05 mg/L. Surface DO averaged 6.9 mg/L and ranged from 3.2 mg/L to 14.5 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 3.6 mg/L and ranged from 0.1 mg/L to 7.1 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings averaged 13.6 µg/L at the surface and 12.7 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 94.8 µg/L on the afternoon of July 14^th.

Bullock Reach

Overall, water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 28.2 ppt, 29.9 ppt, and 31.0 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 26.1 – 29.9 ppt, middle salinity range 27.6 – 30.9 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 17.7 – 31.9 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 24.1°C and ranged from 23.1°C to 25.5°C. Middle temperature averaged 23.6°C and ranged from 22.7°C to 24.6°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 22.9°C and ranged from 20.5°C to 24.0°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO>2.9mg/L) at the at all depths this week. Surface DO averaged 7.8 mg/L and ranged 5.1 – 11.4 mg/L. Middle DO averaged 6.2 mg/L and ranged 4.4 – 10.2 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 5.2 mg/L and ranged 3.2 – 7.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated throughout the week. Readings averaged 13.8 µg/L at the surface, 15.4 µg/L at the middle, and 12.5 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 30.2 µg/L on the afternoon of July 17^th.

July 15, 2026

Water clarity was measured at eight locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuaries on July 15, 2026. In the five days prior to the survey, there was no rain recorded at TF Green. Secchi depth averaged 2.7 meters. The lowest clarity this week (2.1 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing and Edgewood Yacht Club, while the greatest clarity (3.9 meters) was observed at Conimicut Point. There was no clear north-to-south gradient in water clarity among the sites this week. Overall, water clarity increased from the previous measurements (data collected July 8, 2026).

July 15, 2026

Water column profiles were conducted using a Seabird Electronics profiler at seven locations in the Providence River and one location in the Seekonk River on July 15, 2026. In the five days leading up to this, there were trace amounts of rain recorded at T.F. Green International Airport (Warwick, RI). The water column was moderately stratified at Phillipsdale Landing, Pomham Rocks, and India Point Park, and weakly stratified at Edgewood Yacht Club, Pawtuxet Cove, Bullock’s Reach, Conimicut Point, and Point Street Bridge.

Dissolved oxygen conditions were slightly below the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) throughout the water column at Point Street Bridge and in the lower part of the water column at Edgewood Yacht Club, Pomham Rocks, Phillipsdale Landing, and India Point Park. The highest fluorescence reading was observed about 0.75 meters below the surface at India Point Park.

July 6 – July 12, 2026

Walkers Point

Overall, the water quality at Walkers Point was good to fair this week. Weather conditions were wet this week, with 2.63 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. Surface salinity averaged 16.9 ppt and ranged from 4.5 ppt to 27.4 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 27.4 ppt and ranged from 23.5 ppt to 30.3 ppt. Temperatures averaged 24.0°C at the surface and 22.2°C at the bottom. Surface temperatures ranged from 21.5°C to 27.6°C, while bottom temperatures ranged from 20.7°C to 24.2°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Walkers Point remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO>2.9mg/L) at the surface but dropped below at the bottom depth. The longest periods of hypoxic conditions spanned 21 hours and 46 minutes, occurring at the bottom depth on the night of July 8^th to the morning of July 9^th. During this period, the DO averaged around 1.91 mg/L. Surface DO averaged 8.6 mg/L and ranged from 3.3 mg/L to 19.1 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 2.3 mg/L and ranged from 0.1 mg/L to 4.5 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings averaged 14.5 µg/L at the surface and 4.6 µg/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached 142.4 µg/L on the afternoon of July 7^th.

Bullock Reach

Sondes were swapped this week on the morning of July 7^th. Overall, water quality was good to fair at Bullock Reach this week. Salinity averaged 27.8 ppt, 29.9 ppt, and 31.8 ppt at the surface, middle, and bottom sondes, respectively. Surface salinity ranged 24.0 – 30.2 ppt, middle salinity range 27.0 – 31.7 ppt, and bottom salinity ranged 30.5 – 32.8 ppt. Surface temperature averaged 23.7°C and ranged from 21.5°C to 25.8°C. Middle temperature averaged 22.7°C and ranged from 19.8°C to 24.4°C. Bottom temperatures averaged 20.7°C and ranged from 18.7°C to 23.1°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Bullock Reach remained above the hypoxia threshold (i.e., DO>2.9mg/L) at the surface and middle depths, but dropped below the hypoxia threshold at the bottom depth. The longest period of hypoxic conditions at the bottom depth spanned 5 hours and 15 minutes, occurring on the night of July 6^th to the morning of July 7^th. During this period, the bottom DO averaged around 2.64 mg/L. Surface DO averaged 7.7 mg/L and ranged 4.7 – 13.3 mg/L. Middle DO averaged 6.0 mg/L and ranged 3.7 – 8.5 mg/L. At the bottom, DO averaged 4.2 mg/L and ranged 2.1 – 6.6 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings ranged from low to elevated throughout the week. Readings averaged 11.5 µg/L at the surface, 14.4 µg/L at the middle, and 10.1 µg/L at the bottom. The maximum surface chlorophyll was 24.6 µg/L on the night of July 10^th.

July 15, 2026

Surface chlorophyll data were collected on July 15, 2026, while the R/V Data Stream was underway collecting bacteria samples in the Providence and Seekonk River Estuaries. The chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as fair overall with all areas sampled having average chlorophyll concentrations between 5 µg/L and 20 µg/L. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 0.92 µg/L to 145.69 µg/L with an average of 12.05 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.