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BAY ASSESSMENT & RESPONSE TEAM - BART
Bay Line: 222-8888
(June - October)
Bay Water Quality Report
BART Weekly Report: 9/29/12-10/5/12
Surface water temperatures have continued to cool this week throughout the Bay (66-68° F). The Seekonk River station is reporting hypoxic conditions this week (<3 mg/L). Greenwich Bay is reporting elevated chlorophyll levels (20-50 µg/L). These events will continue to be monitored. All other stations in the Bay are reporting normal conditions for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 9/22/12-9/28/12
Surface water temperatures have continued to cool this week throughout the Bay (67-69° F). All stations are presently reporting normal conditions for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 9/15/12-9/21/12
Surface water temperatures have cooled this week throughout the Bay (68-74° F). Hypoxic conditions only persist in the Seekonk River, intermittently (<3 mg/L). Chlorophyll levels are elevated at the Seekonk River station (>30 µg/L). All other stations are presently reporting normal conditions for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 9/8/12-9/14/12
Surface water temperatures have cooled slightly this week throughout the Bay (72-76° F). Hypoxic conditions still persist in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers and the western portion of Greenwich Bay, intermittently (<3 mg/L). The Upper Bay and Mount Hope Bay are presently reporting normal oxygen levels over 3 mg/L.
BART Weekly Report: 9/1/12-9/7/12
Surface water temperatures have cooled this week throughout the Bay (73-76° F). With the rain and cloud cover this week, chlorophyll levels are no longer elevated at most stations (<20 µg/L). As of 9/7/12, hypoxic conditions are only present in the Seekonk and Providence Rivers and the western portion of Greenwich Bay, intermittently. The Upper Bay and Mount Hope Bay are presently reporting oxygen levels over 3 mg/L.
BART Weekly Report: 8/25/12-8/31/12
Surface water temperatures have stayed about the same this week throughout the Bay (75-79° F). Chlorophyll levels have declined slightly this week (5-30 µg/L). As of 8/28/12, hypoxic conditions are only present in the upper reaches of the Providence River and the western portion of Greenwich Bay, intermittently. The Upper Bay and Mount Hope Bay are presently reporting oxygen levels over 3 mg/L.
BART Weekly Report: 8/18/12-8/24/12
Surface water temperatures have cooled slightly this week throughout the Bay (75-79° F). Chlorophyll levels remain elevated at several stations, especially in Greenwich Bay and the Providence River (5-40 µg/L). Low oxygen conditions have become intermittent in these areas, as well. As of 8/18/12, hypoxic conditions persist from the Seekonk/Providence River areas to North Prudence with concentrations just below 3 mg/L, on average. Low oxygen concentrations have been intermittent for these areas throughout the week, ranging from 2-3 mg/L. Western Greenwich Bay is still experiencing low oxygen concentrations intermittently on a daily basis (<3 mg/L). Mount Hope Bay has also begun to observe hypoxic conditions, as of 8/24/12. These events will continue to be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 8/11/12-8/17/12
Surface water temperatures increased slightly this week throughout the Bay (75-81° F). Chlorophyll levels remain slightly elevated at several stations, especially in Greenwich Bay and the Providence River (5-50 µg/L). As of 8/11/12, several stations are reporting low oxygen conditions (<3 mg/L). Spatial surveys, conducted by BROWN and NBEP, have documented low oxygen throughout the Providence River to north of Prudence Island (1-2 mg/L). The cove areas and western portion of Greenwich Bay have been hypoxic for the majority of this week (<2 mg/L). These events will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 8/4/12-8/10/12
Surface water temperatures increased this week throughout the Bay (75-80° F). Presently, chlorophyll levels are slightly elevated at a few stations, especially in Greenwich Bay and the Providence River (5-50 µg/L). Oxygen concentrations have declined slightly this week, but still remain above hypoxic conditions for the greater portions of the Bay (>3 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 7/28/12-8/3/12
Surface water temperatures increased slightly this week throughout the Bay (73-79° F). Chlorophyll levels remain about the same as last week (5-25 µg/L). All stations are reporting normal oxygen conditions (>3 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 7/20/12-7/27/12
Surface water temperatures cooled slightly this week throughout the Bay (73-77° F). Chlorophyll levels have also declined since last week (5-25 µg/L). Oxygen conditions have improved this week. As of 7/23/12, all stations are reporting normal conditions (>3 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 7/14/12-7/20/12
Surface water temperatures increased slightly this week throughout the Bay (70-80° F). Presently, chlorophyll levels are slightly elevated at most stations, especially Greenwich Bay (5-50 µg/L). Oxygen levels have declined slightly this week. Beginning on 7/15/12, a wide spread low oxygen event persists from the Seekonk River throughout the Upper Bay. Bottom water conditions are hypoxic at these station locations (1-3 mg/L). These events will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/7/12-7/13/12
Surface water temperatures increased this week throughout the Bay (70-79° F). Presently, chlorophyll levels are within normal range (<30 µg/L). Oxygen levels have declined slightly this week, but remain above 3 mg/L for most stations. Beginning on 7/10/12, Mt. Hope Bay is experiencing a low oxygen event. Bottom water conditions are hypoxic at this station location (1-3 mg/L). The Seekonk River station also documented low oxygen earlier this week (2-3 mg/L). These events will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 6/30/12-7/6/12
Surface water temperatures increased this week throughout the Bay (68-77° F). Presently, chlorophyll levels are slightly elevated in the Providence River and Greenwich Bay areas (5-35 µg/L). Oxygen levels for all of Narragansett Bay have remained within the normal range for the week (3-5 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 6/23/12-6/29/12
Surface water temperatures stayed about the same this week throughout the Bay (67-74° F). Presently, chlorophyll levels are not elevated (5-20 µg/L). Oxygen levels for all of Narragansett Bay have remained within normal range the week (3-5 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 6/16/12-6/22/12
With the warm weather this week, surface water temperatures increased two degrees on average throughout the Bay (66-75° F). Chlorophyll levels are presently elevated in the Providence River (20-40 µg/L) and remain in normal range throughout the rest of the Bay (5-20 µg/L). Spatial surveys were conducted this week by NBEP, Save the Bay, and Brown University. Oxygen levels for all of Narragansett Bay remain within normal range (3-5 mg/L); the lower concentrations were documented in the Seekonk River and cove areas of Greenwich Bay.
BART Weekly Report: 6/9/12-6/15/12
Surface water temperatures stayed about the same this week throughout the Bay (64-70° F). All water quality conditions are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 6/2/12-6/8/12
Surface water temperatures stayed about the same this week throughout the Bay (63-70° F). Chlorophyll levels remained slightly elevated at most stations (10-25 µg/L). All water quality conditions are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 5/26/12-6/1/12
Surface water temperatures warmed this week throughout the Bay (63-70° F). Chlorophyll levels are slightly elevated at most stations, ranging from 10-25 µg/L. All water quality conditions are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 5/21/12-5/25/12
All of the critical monitoring buoys were operational as of 5/21/12. Sampling records show surface water temperatures throughout the Bay to range from 60-62° F, with temperatures in Greenwich Bay reaching 68° F. Temperatures are average for the last week of May. All other parameters (salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll) are presently within the normal range for this time of year.
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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