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BAY ASSESSMENT & RESPONSE TEAM - BART
Bay Line: 222-8888
(June - October)
Bay Water Quality Report
BART Water Quality 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 Water Quality Report for week 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 Water Quality Report for week 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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto: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 <mailto:dgregg@rinhs.org>
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