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BAY ASSESSMENT & RESPONSE TEAM - BART
Bay Line: 222-8888
(June - October)
Bay Water Quality Report
BART Weekly Report: 9/19/09-9/25/09
Surface temperatures have cooled slightly this week (67-69°F). Bottom waters tend to be slightly warmer than the surface waters. Chlorophyll levels have also continued to decrease slightly this week (5-15 µg/L). No stations are reporting low oxygen this week.
BART Weekly Report: 9/12/09-9/18/09
Surface temperatures have continued to cool this week (68-70°F). All stations are showing signs of mixing. Chlorophyll levels have also decreased this week (5-20 µg/L). The stations are not reporting low oxygen this week.
BART Weekly Report: 9/5/09-9/11/09
Surface temperatures have cooled slightly this week (68-75°F). The Providence River remains slightly stratified, while the other stations are showing signs of mixing. Chlorophyll levels remain about the same as last week (5-30 µg/L).
As a result of the stratification, the Providence River (from the Seekonk River to the Bullock area) continues to experience some hypoxia. Oxygen conditions are between 1 and 2 mg/L on average. Conimicut Point and the Upper Bay are showing signs of recovery as of 9/9/09.
In the western portion of Greenwich Bay, hypoxic conditions are also intermittent. Low oxygen (<2.9 mg/L) is documented in the western edge of Greenwich Bay for 8-10 hrs per day. These oxygen conditions will be monitored throughout the week.
BART Weekly Report: 8/29/09-9/4/09
Surface temperatures have cooled about five degrees this week (70-77°F). The Providence River remains stratified by salinity differences between the surface and bottom waters while the other stations are showing signs of mixing. Chlorophyll levels remain about the same as last week (5-30 µg/L).
As a result of the stratification, the Providence River (from Seekonk River to the Conimicut Point area) continues to experience some hypoxia. Oxygen conditions are between 1 and 2 mg/L on average.
In the western portion of Greenwich Bay, hypoxic conditions are intermittent. Low oxygen (<2.9 mg/L) is documented in the western edge of Greenwich Bay for 8-20 hrs per day. The coves of Greenwich Bay are also experiencing low oxygen as observed by NBNEP Day Tripper surveys. These oxygen conditions will be monitored throughout the week.
BART Weekly Report: 8/22/09-8/28/09
Surface temperatures remained about the same this week (76-84°F). The Providence River remains stratified while the other stations are showing signs of mixing. Chlorophyll levels have continued to decrease slightly (5-30 µg/L).
As a result of the stratification, the Providence River (from Seekonk River to the Bullock Reach area) continues to experience some hypoxic conditions. Hypoxia is more intermittent this week.
In Greenwich Bay, hypoxic conditions are also intermittent. Low oxygen (<2.9 mg/L) is documented in the western edge of Greenwich Bay for 8-10 hrs per day, generally in the early morning. Conditions have improved eastward to the Sally Rock station in Greenwich Bay.
Conditions this week have continued to improve compared to last week even though some hypoxia still persists throughout the Upper Bay, especially in the Providence River and western portion of Greenwich Bay areas. These oxygen conditions will be monitored closely throughout the week.
BART Weekly Report: 8/15/09-8/21/09
Surface temperatures continued to increase this week (76-84°F). The Upper Bay from the Seekonk River to Mt. View in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage remains stratified. Chlorophyll levels have decreased slightly (5-35 µg/L).
As a result of the stratification, the Upper Bay (from Seekonk River to the western edge of the Mt. View area in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage) continues to experience some hypoxia. Hypoxia is becoming more intermittent this week. Oxygen levels in the bottom waters have remained below 2.9 mg/L for several days, but as beginning to show signs of recovery as of 8/19/09. This week oxygen levels in the bottom waters have improved slightly by experiencing periods (5-24 hrs) of conditions >2.9 mg/L, depending on location.
In Greenwich Bay, hypoxic conditions are also intermittent. Low oxygen (<2.9 mg/L) is documented in the western edge of Greenwich Bay for 10-14 hrs per day, generally in the early morning. Conditions have improved eastward to the Sally Rock station in Greenwich Bay.
Conditions this week have continued to improve compared to last week even though some hypoxia still persists throughout the Upper Bay, especially in the Providence River and western portion of Greenwich Bay areas. Persistent low oxygen conditions places greater stress on marine life inhabiting the affected waters and increases the vulnerability for potential fish kill events. Additional surveys will be continued this week to monitor these events closely.
BART Weekly Report: 8/9/09-8/14/09
Surface temperatures remain about the same as last week (74-82°F). The Upper Bay from the Seekonk River to Quonset Point in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage remains stratified. Increased temperatures and recent rain events have contributed to the extent of the stratification between the surface (0-3m) and bottom waters (4m-12m) throughout the Upper Bay. In addition, all stations continue to report elevated chlorophyll levels (levels are 10-65 µg/L) this week.
As a result of the stratification and elevated chlorophyll levels, the Upper Bay (from Seekonk River to the western edge of the Quonset Point area in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage) continues to experience a significant hypoxic event from 7/30/09-present. Oxygen levels in the bottom waters have remained below 2.9 mg/L for several days. This week oxygen levels in the bottom waters have improved slightly by experiencing brief periods (1-10 hrs) of conditions >2.9 mg/L, depending on location. Overall, low oxygen levels (0.5-2.9 mg/L) extend from the bottom to about 4m throughout the water column.
In Greenwich Bay, anoxic conditions (<1 mg/L) were also documented in the bottom waters of some of the coves. Conditions have improved slightly west to the Sally Rock station in Greenwich Bay.
Conditions this week have slightly improved compared to last week even though this hypoxic event is still persistent throughout the Upper Bay. Persistent low oxygen conditions places greater stress on marine life in habiting the affected waters and increases the vulnerability for potential fish kill events. These events have been documented by NBNEP and BROWN spatial surveys along with the NBFSMN. Additional surveys this week will be continued this week to monitor these events closely.
BART Weekly Report: 8/1/09-8/8/09
Surface temperatures continued to increase this week (75-80°F). The Upper Bay from the Seekonk River to Quonset Point in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage is presently highly stratified. Increased temperatures and recent rain events have contributed to the extent of the stratification between the surface (0-2.5m) and bottom waters (3m-12m) throughout the Upper Bay. In addition, all stations are reporting a chlorophyll bloom event (levels are 10-65 µg/L).
As a result of the extensive stratification and elevated chlorophyll levels, the Upper Bay (from Seekonk River to Mt. View in the West Passage, including Greenwich Bay, and to Poppasquash Point in the East Passage) are experiencing a significant hypoxic event from 7/30/09-present. Oxygen levels in the bottom waters have remained below 2.9 mg/L for several days, with the exception of Greenwich Bay which experiences some intermittent hypoxia. Low oxygen levels (1-2.9 mg/L) extend from the bottom to about 3m throughout the water column. The phytoplankton bloom causes surface waters (0-2.5m) are supersaturated (>120%).
In Greenwich Bay, stations are documenting a hypoxic event (<2.9 mg/L for greater than 24 hrs) that started on 07/29/09. Conditions were anoxic in the bottom waters this area (DO<1 mg/L) from 8/03/09-present. Anoxic conditions (<1 mg/L) were also documented in the bottom waters of Greenwich Cove and west to the Sally Rock station in Greenwich Bay. The elevated chlorophyll levels in the western bay area are causing super-saturation (>120%) during the day and hypoxia in the evening and early morning in the surface waters.
Persistent low oxygen conditions places greater stress on marine life in habiting the affected waters and increases the vulnerability for potential fish kill events. These events have been confirmed by NBNEP and BROWN spatial surveys along with the NBFSMN. Additional surveys this week will be conducted to monitor these events closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/25/09-8/1/09
Surface temperatures have increased only slightly this week (71-75.5°F). Chlorophyll levels remain elevated at the Upper Bay and Greenwich Bay stations (8-40µg/L). The Providence River recorded the highest chlorophyll readings (daily average concentrations of 40 µg/L). Presently, dissolved oxygen concentrations are beginning to decline in the Providence River, but daily average concentrations remain above 2.9 mg/L. The Greenwich Bay station, located on the western edge of Greenwich Bay, is documenting intermittent low dissolved oxygen (DO <2.9 mg/L for 4-14 hrs per day) throughout the water column. The Greenwich Bay area will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/12/09-7/18/09
Surface temperatures have increased this week (68-73°F). This is slightly below average (74°F) for this time of the year. Chlorophyll levels remain slightly elevated at the Upper Bay and Greenwich Bay stations (8-25µg/L). Low dissolved oxygen (<2.9 mg/L) event has been reported in the Providence River and Greenwich Bay as of 7/10/09. The Providence River has recorded low dissolved oxygen levels for several days (7/13/09-present) with daily average concentrations of 1.4-2.5 mg/L. Greenwich Bay, from the western edge of Greenwich Bay to Sally Rock, is showing intermittent low dissolved oxygen (DO <2.9 mg/L for 4-10 hrs per day). This will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/5/09-7/11/09:
Surface temperatures have remained about the same this week (62-69°F). The Narragansett Bay area received over 4 inches (4.59 in.) of rain so far this month resulting in continued stratification of the surface and bottom waters in the Upper Bay. Chlorophyll levels remain slightly elevated at the Upper Bay and Greenwich Bay stations (5-20 µg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 6/28/09-7/4/09:
Surface temperatures have increased slightly this week (62-69°F). The Narragansett Bay area received over 2 inches (2.35 in.) of rain this week resulting in stratification of the surface and bottom waters in the Upper Bay. Chlorophyll levels are presently slightly elevated at the Upper Bay and Greenwich Bay stations (10-25 µg/L). There are no reports of low dissolved oxygen concentrations (<2.9 mg/L) this week.
BART Weekly Report: 6/20/09-6/27/09:
Surface temperatures have increased this week (61-68°F). The Seekonk River and the western Greenwich Bay stations documented intermittent hypoxic conditions (<2.9 mg/L) early this week. The western Greenwich Bay station reported a hypoxic event (<2.9 mg/L for 24 hrs) from 6/21/09-6/23/09 reaching minimum levels of <1 mg/L. As of 6/24/09, the area appears to be recovering with oxygen levels over 3 mg/L. This is something that will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 6/7/09-6/13/09:
This week the Bay has received a little over an inch of rain (1.15 inches), creating slight stratification at several station locations, primarily in the Providence River and Upper Bay. Temperature ranges from 13.5-15.3 C (56-63° F). All temperatures, chlorophyll levels, and dissolved oxygen levels at the buoy stations are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 5/30/09-6/6/09:
Water temperatures have warmed this week compared to last week. Temperature ranges from 13.5-15.3 C (56-63° F). All temperatures, chlorophyll levels, and dissolved oxygen levels at the buoy stations are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 5/23/09-5/30/09:
All buoys were operational as of 5/27/09. Water temperatures range from 12.5-15.3 C (54-59° F). All temperatures, chlorophyll levels, and dissolved oxygen levels at the buoy stations are normal for this time of year. There is a phytoplankton bloom in the Mt. Hope Bay area as reported by RIDEM-OWR shellfish group.
See also Fixed-Site Monitoring Stations and Data.
Live Chinese Mitten Crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) have been caught in crab pots in Chesapeake Bay (2005-2007) and Delaware Bay (May 2007) and most recently, the Hudson River in New York near the Tappan Zee bridge(June 2007). These are the first confirmed reports for the eastern United States.
The Chinese Mitten Crab (Mitten Crab Alert Brochure) is native to East Asia, and is a potential invasive that could have negative ecological impacts. The crab is listed as Injurious Wildlife under the Federal Lacey Act, which makes it illegal in the United States to import, export, or conduct interstate commerce of Mitten Crabs without a permit.
The Chinese Mitten Crab occurs in both freshwater and salt water. It is catadromous, migrating from freshwater rivers and tributaries to reproduce in salt water. Young crabs spend two to five years in freshwater tributaries and can extend miles upstream of bays and estuaries. Mature male and female crabs migrate downstream to mate and spawn in saltwater estuaries. Chinese Mitten Crabs burrow into banks and levees along estuaries and are able to leave the water to walk around obstacles while migrating.
Please Report any New Sightings.
To determine the status, abundance, and distribution of this species along the eastern U.S., a Mitten Crab Network has been established for the East Coast. Please help by reporting any mitten crabs directly to to your state resource contacts (see pdf link) and/or to the Network.
Identification characteristics:
- Only crab in fresh waters of North America
- Claws equal in size with white tips and hair
- If you find a crab without hair on the claws, it is NOT likely to be a Mitten Crab
- Carapace up to 4 inches wide; light brown to olive green in color
- No swimming legs. This crab has eight sharp-tipped walking legs
If you catch a mitten crab:
- Do not throw it back alive!
- Freeze the animal, keep it on ice, or preserve it in rubbing alcohol as a last resort
- Note the precise location and date where the animal was found
- Please take a close up photo of the animal. Photos can be emailed to SERCMittenCrab@si.edu for preliminary identification. Include your contact information with the photo.
- If you cannot take a photo contact the Mitten Crab Hotline (443-482-2222)
Rhode Island contacts for sightings of the crab:
Kevin R. Cute, Marine Resources Specialist
Coastal Resources Management Council
Stedman Government Center
4808 Tower Hill Road
Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879
Phone: 401-783-3370
Fax: 401-783-3767
Email: kcute@crmc.ri.gov
Chris Deacutis, Chief Scientist
Narragansett Bay Estuary Program
URI Bay Campus 02882
Phone: 401-874-6217
Fax: 401-874-6869
Email: deacutis@gso.uri.edu
David Gregg, Executive Director
RI Natural History Survey
PO Box 1858
Kingston, Rhode Island 02881
Phone: 401-874-5800
Fax: 401-874-5868
Email: dgregg@rinhs.org
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