July 24, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at eight locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on July 24th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 0.06 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 2.0 meters, compared to 1.6 meters on the previous survey (July 17th). The lowest clarity this week (1.7 meters) was measured at Edgewood Shoal, while the greatest clarity (2.3 meters) was measured at Bullock’s Reach. There was no clear north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week.

July 17, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on July 17th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 1.1 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 1.6 meters, compared to 1.8 meters on the previous survey (July 10th). The lowest clarity this week (1.1 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing, while the greatest clarity (2.2 meters) was measured at Conimicut Point. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. ​

July 10, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on July 10th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 0.51 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 1.8 meters, compared to 1.5 meters on the previous survey (July 3rd). The lowest clarity this week (1.2 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing and India Point Park, while the greatest clarity (2.5 meters) was measured at Bullock’s Reach. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. 

January 10, 2024

Nutrient samples were collected from 12 river stations on January 10th. In the five days prior to sampling and the morning of, there were 4.67 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. 

Among the stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations were observed at Ten Mile River @ Roger Williams Ave (TN = 1,840 ppb, TDN = 1,780 ppb, DIN = 1,620 ppb). The lowest TN was observed at Runnins River @ River Rd (556 ppb), while the lowest TDN and DIN were observed at Taunton River @ Berkley Bridge (TDN = 419 ppb, DIN = 155 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is January 24, 2024.

July 3, 2024

Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on July 3rd, 2024. Rainfall totaling 1.53 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 1.5 meters, compared to 2.22 meters on the previous survey (June 17th). The lowest clarity this week (0.8 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing, while the greatest clarity (1.8 meters) was measured at Conimicut Point and Point St. Bridge. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. 

June 17, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on June 17th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 0.06 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 2.2 meters, compared to 2.0 meters on the previous survey (June 12th). The lowest clarity this week (1.2 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing, while the greatest clarity (3.3 meters) was measured at Conimicut Point. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. ​

June 12, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on June 12th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 1.07 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 2.0 meters, same as the previous survey on  (June 5th). The lowest clarity this week (1.4 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing, while the greatest clarity (2.5 meters) was measured at Bullock’s Reach and Conimicut Point. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. ​

June 5, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at seven locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on June 5th, 2024. No rainfall was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 2.0 meters, compared to 1.8 meters on the previous survey (May 29th). The lowest clarity this week (1.4 meters) was measured at Phillipsdale Landing and Pomham Rocks, while the greatest clarity (3.0 meters) was measured at Bullock’s Reach. There was no clear north-to-south gradient in water clarity among the sites this week.​

May 29, 2024

​Water clarity was measured at eight locations in the Providence River and Seekonk River estuary on May 29th, 2024. Rainfall totaling 0.37 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 1.8 meters, compared to 2.1 meters on the previous survey (May 22nd). The lowest clarity this week (1.5 meters) was measured at Edgewood Shoal, while the greatest clarity (2.1 meters) was measured at Pomham Rocks. There was no clear north-to-south gradient in water clarity among the sites this week.​

March 6, 2024

Phytoplankton samples were collected on March 6, 2024 at Bullock Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection. It was cloudy and mild on Narragansett Bay with an outgoing tide. The qualitative tow net sample had a moderate filter time, and the filtrate was a golden brown color.

The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 24,820,000 cells per Liter. The micro flagellates were found at 40,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genus was Leptocylindrus spp. at 3,840,000 cells/L. Other representative genera include Skeletonema spp. and Chaetoceros spp. Thalassionema nitzschioides (today’s featured micrograph, 200x phase contrast) ​​is a type of phytoplankton belonging to the pennate diatom group. This photosynthetic species has small and numerous chloroplasts which give it a yellow brown color. The cells are usually found in star-shaped or in zigzagged chains. They occur in waters with salinity between 12-38 ppt and 15°C.

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