           Home > News > News Item |
||||||
 |
News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM BRIEFS WARWICK MAYOR ON GREENWICH BAY FISH KILL PROVIDENCE - DEM Director Jan Reitsma this afternoon met with Warwick Mayor Scott Avedesian at Greenwich Bay Marina to provide updated information on yesterday's fish kill in Greenwich Bay. About one million fish, primarily juvenile menhaden, or bait fish, washed ashore Wednesday along Greenwich Bay in Warwick, primarily in Apponaug Cove and Greenwich Cove. Late yesterday afternoon, DEM staff also observed a slick of dead fish extending from Cedar Tree Point, at the mouth of Apponaug Cove, to the end of Promenade Ave. in Buttonwoods.Staff from DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife and Office of Water Resources are on-scene and are continuing to assess the Bay. The fish kill is due to anoxic (no oxygen) conditions in Greenwich Bay. DEM has maintained two dissolved oxygen meters in the western Bay through the summer. A review of the data from the meters over the past week shows a sharp drop-off in oxygen levels, down to essentially zero during the past few days. While larger fish tend to be able to swim away from anoxic waters, small fish and bottom-dwelling animals like shrimp and crabs cannot escape easily and are thus more likely to die. Quahogs are usually hardy enough to endure brief periods with little or no oxygen, so that important resource may not be affected. According to DEM scientists, the anoxic event was likely caused by a recent bloom of microscopic algae (plankton) in Greenwich Bay, whose growth was spurred by excess nutrients in the Bay resulting from this summer's high rainfall, along with the relatively sunny and warm recent weather. As the algae bloom ended, the dying algae decayed. The decay process consumes the dissolved oxygen in the water column that animals breathe, causing localized fish kills. The decaying algae produce the noxious odors and discolored water currently present in the western portion of Greenwich Bay. The impact of the crashed bloom and the subsequent recovery of this area will be further hampered by the relatively slow flushing characteristics of western Greenwich Bay. While algae blooms and their associated effects are not uncommon at this time of year, under these conditions, and in this water body, yesterday's event appears to be particularly bad. Under typical conditions, excess nutrients enter the water from a variety of sources that include the East Greenwich wastewater treatment facility, tributary streams, and groundwater. Heavy rains worsen the situation by washing large quantities of nutrient-laden runoff from malfunctioning septic systems, lawn fertilizers, pet wastes, etc. onto roadways, into storm drain collection systems, and then into the Bay and its tributaries. Upgrades to the East Greenwich wastewater treatment facility are on schedule; the plant will be upgraded to provide additional nutrient removal. Final design has been received by DEM and is pending Department review and approval. Construction can be expected to begin by next year, with an anticipated two-year completion date. The fish kill calls attention to the need to better control water pollution - namely excessive nutrient inputs associated with sewage treatment plants, stormwater runoff, and other nonpoint sources of pollution. DEM is striving to reduce nutrient pollution throughout Narragansett Bay by facilitating the upgrade of wastewater treatment plants, and via a watershed approach that entails working with municipalities and the Department of Transportation to address stormwater runoff and nonpoint source pollution. DEM looks forward to working with the City of Warwick in the development of its stormwater management plan and completion of the city's water quality restoration plan. In addition, DEM will continue to support the City of Warwick in its efforts to extend sewers and push for additional septic system tie-ins. -30- |
|||||
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer