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BAY ASSESSMENT & RESPONSE TEAM - BART
Bay Line: 222-8888
(June - October)
Bay Water Quality Report
BART Weekly Report: 10/1/11-10/7/11
Water temperatures have cooled throughout this week (63-68° F). The chlorophyll bloom from last week has ended. Conditions are normal for this time of year (5-20 µg/l). Oxygen levels throughout the Bay have rebounded with the cold front that occurred earlier this week (>3 mg/L). The Seekonk River station is the only station showing signs of intermittent hypoxia at the present time (1-3mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 9/24/11-9/30/11
Water temperatures have warmed throughout this week (69-73° F). As of 9/23/11, a large algae bloom has developed throughout Upper Narragansett Bay including Greenwich Bay (10-100 µg/L). The water color in these areas has a green tint, as a result of the bloom. Oxygen levels have declined in most of the Upper Bay areas. The Providence River and Greenwich Bay are reporting severe hypoxic conditions (0-3 mg/L). This event will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 9/17/11-9/23/11
With the cold front earlier this week, water temperatures have cooled (68-72° F). As of 9/17/11, oxygen levels have improved in the Upper Bay and Providence River (> 3 mg/L). Low oxygen still persists in areas of Greenwich Bay. Oxygen levels are between 1-3 mg/L for Greenwich Bay. Chlorophyll levels are no longer elevated at any of the station locations throughout the Bay.
BART Weekly Report: 9/10/11-9/16/11
Water temperatures stayed about the same this week (70-75° F). As of 9/12/11, oxygen levels have improved in the Upper Bay (>3 mg/L). Low oxygen persists in the Providence River and in areas of Greenwich Bay. Oxygen levels in the Providence River are between 2-3 mg/L and 1-3 mg/L for Greenwich Bay. Chlorophyll levels are slightly evelated at most locations (5-25 µg/L); this is a decrease from last week.
BART Weekly Report: 9/3/11-9/9/11
Water temperatures cooled this week (70-75° F). Following the chlorophyll bloom of last week, oxygen conditions have deteriorated throughout the Upper Bay and Greenwich Bay. As of 9/4/11, oxygen levels in the Providence River are between 2-3 mg/L and 1-3 mg/L for Greenwich Bay. Chlorophyll levels remain elevated at most locations (5-30 µg/L), although not as high as last week. This event will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 8/27/11-9/2/11
Water temperatures stayed about the same this week (71-76° F). After Hurricane Irene, the bay stations are now observing the freshwater inflow from this event. Stratification is present at all stations throughout the Bay. The sunny weather has also made it optimal for a chlorophyll bloom (10-40 µg/L). This event is being documented at all stations. No low oxygen is present at this time.
Small Banded Rudder fish have been reported at the Mt.View and Quonset Point buoy stations. This is typical for this time of year. Large numbers of larvae Porcelain crabs have been noted in Mt. Hope Bay this week. These larval crabs have been observed for most of this summer throughout much of Narragansett Bay.
As a result of Hurricane Irene, lots of debris is present in the water throughout the Bay.
BART Weekly Report: 8/20/11-8/26/11
Water temperatures cooled this week (71-76° F). The spatial survey this week documented some low oxygen in Greenwich Cove. Narragansett Bay, including the fixed network stations, showed no signs of low oxygen. Presently, chlorophyll levels remain slightly elevated at most locations following the rain events that occurred earlier this week (5-35 µg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 8/13/11-8/19/11
Water temperatures are about the same this week (72-77° F). There is no low oxygen at any of the fixed network stations throughout the Bay as of 8/15/11. Presently, chlorophyll levels are slightly elevated at most locations following the rain events that occurred earlier this week (5-25 µg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 8/6/11-8/12/11
Water temperatures are slightly cooler this week (72-77° F). There is no low oxygen in the Upper Bay and only intermittent hypoxia in the Providence River and Greenwich Bay. Spatial surveys revealed low oxygen conditions in the surrounding cove areas and in the Seekonk River (<2 mg/L). These conditions will continue to be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/30/11-8/5/11
Water temperatures stayed about the same this week (73-78° F). Dissolved oxygen conditions have improved since last week. As of 7/31/11, there is no low oxygen in the Upper Bay and intermittent hypoxia in the Providence River and Greenwich Bay. Dissolved oxygen levels remained above 2 mg/L for all stations this week. These conditions will continue to monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/23/11-7/29/11
Water temperatures continued to warm this week (73-78° F). The results from the spatial surveys reported hypoxic conditions extending from the Seekonk River and throughout the Providence River, to Upper West Passage, including Greenwich Bay (<3mg/L). These areas have generally been reporting oxygen between 1-3mg/L since 7/26/11. These conditions will be monitored closely.
BART Weekly Report: 7/16/11-7/22/11
Water temperatures continued to warm with this week's heat wave (72-77° F). Mt. Hope Bay is recording higher than normal temperatures (80° F). All other stations throughout the Bay area are presently reporting normal conditions for this time of year. Through spatial surveys, some of the cove areas of Greenwich Bay are showing signs of hypoxia (< 3mg/L). An in-depth spatial survey of the Upper Bay will be conducted next week to further monitor these conditions.
Several larval crab species, including Lady Crab, were observed throughout Narragansett Bay earlier this week.
BART Weekly Report: 7/9/11-7/15/11
Water temperatures continued to warm this week (71-76° F). Following the low oxygen event of last week, this week oxygen levels in the western portion of Greenwich Bay, the Providence River and Upper Bay began to recover as of 7/11/11 (DO >3mg/L). All stations are presently reporting normal conditions for this time of year throughout the Bay.
BART Weekly Report: 7/2/11-7/8/11
Water temperatures continued to warm this week (70-75° F). Following the low oxygen event of last week, hypoxic and anoxic conditions are now intermittent in the western portion of Greenwich Bay (DO <2 mg/L for 8 hours per day). In the Providence River and Upper Bay, a hypoxic event is also being documented (DO <3 mg/L). The bottom waters of the Providence River have been recording intermittent low oxygen levels since 6/26/11 and extending into the Upper Bay since 7/5/11. These events will be monitored closely by the monitoring network.
BART Weekly Report: 6/25/11-7/1/11
Water temperatures continued to warm this week (68-74° F). Presently, dissolved oxygen levels are normal for this time of year throughout most of Upper Narragansett Bay (>3 mg/L). As of 6/26/11, hypoxic and anoxic conditions are present in the shallower cove areas and throughout the western portion of Greenwich Bay (DO <1 mg/L). In the Providence River, a hypoxic event is also being documented. Lower oxygen readings have been observed around the Edgewater Area (<2 mg/L). These lower oxygen readings are following warming waters and a small algae bloom documented earlier this week (chlorophyll levels reached a maximum range of 15-35 µg/L depending upon station). These events will be monitored closely by the monitoring network and spatial survey conducted by BROWN and NBNEP.
BART Weekly Report: 6/18/11-6/24/11
Water temperatures remain about the same this week (65-73° F). Presently, dissolved oxygen levels are normal for this time of year throughout Narragansett Bay (>4 mg/L). Lower oxygen conditions are present in the shallower cove areas throughout the Bay and in the Seekonk River (<3 mg/L). These lower oxygen readings are following a small algae bloom documented earlier this week (chlorophyll levels reached a maximum range of 15-30 µg/L depending upon station location during 6/18-6/20).
BART Weekly Report: 6/11/11-6/17/11
This week surface water temperatures throughout the Bay have stayed about the same as last week (65-72° F). Dissolved oxygen levels are normal for this time of year throughout the Bay area (>4.8 mg/L).
BART Weekly Report: 6/4/11-6/10/11
With the warm weather this week surface water temperatures throughout the Bay are continuing to increase (65-72° F). Dissolved oxygen levels are normal for this time of year throughout the Bay area (>4.8 mg/L). Some slightly low oxygen levels were observed in the shallower cove areas of Greenwich Bay (<3 mg/L). Drift algae were also observed along the shoreline and within Greenwich Bay.
BART Weekly Report: 5/28/11-6/3/11
Surface water temperatures throughout the Bay are warmer this week compared to last week (63-70° F). All water quality conditions are normal for this time of year.
BART Weekly Report: 5/20/11-5/27/11
Water quality stations throughout the Bay were established this week. Water temperatures are about 63-65 degrees F. All water quality conditions are normal 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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