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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM UPDATE ON BAY CONDITIONS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's latest Narragansett Bay monitoring results show that, overall, dissolved oxygen data appears to be normal for the Bay for this time of the year. The exception is in Greenwich Bay where the dissolved oxygen level at the bottom dropped to levels below one milligram per liter for about 12 hours twice over the last week and a half. This seems to correspond with a rise in chlorophyll levels at the bottom. DEM will be monitoring this closely over the next week, especially in light of Thursday's rainfall of between one and two inches depending on location.DEM also says that odors have recurred in Conimicut, primarily as a function of changing winds to the North over the past two days. The Department's Bay Assessment and Response Team (BART), is evaluating the situation, monitoring on a daily basis, and will continue to take air samples over the weekend. Although air monitoring on Friday morning showed no measurable levels of hydrogen sulfide, some odors were present at the time. The extended weather forecast calls for a shift in winds to the West on Saturday, which should help alleviate the odors. DEM has been in contact with the city regarding the latest conditions. The Department, working in conjunction with cleanup crews from the City of Warwick and the Department of Corrections, last week collected about 30 tons of decaying organic material from the Conimicut shoreline. DEM believes that the odors are primarily the result of the configuration and shallowness of Conimicut Cove, combined with a period of north or northeasterly winds, which essentially trap decaying organic materials, i.e. large mats of sea lettuce, within the Cove and prevent it from being pushed down the channel and out to sea. Under normal conditions, tidal action, wind and waves would allow natural decomposition to occur. Decaying matter often releases hydrogen sulfide, a noxious gas that causes a strong odor. This is the second year that Conimicut has experienced such problems. Similar episodes have been occurring on a regular basis for several years in Delaware's Inland Bays, and in other locations such as Tampa, FL and Seattle, WA. DEM's Bay Assessment and Response Team has initiated a comprehensive information center on the DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, where educational information about Narragansett Bay, the BART protocol, links to other Bay-related sites, such as the Delaware's Inland Bays, and contact information can be found in one convenient place, accessed from DEM's home page. Residents can also find information on hydrogen sulfide and its health risks at the Department of Health's website, www.health.ri.gov, by clicking on hydrogen sulfide on the topics page. Rhode Islanders can listen to updates on the overall health of the Bay on "Bay Line", DEM's 24-hour telephone recorded information service. The "Bay Line" number, 222-8888, is located in Providence and is, therefore, not a toll call from other areas of the state. In addition to updates on the health of the Bay, "Bay Line" provides Rhode Islanders with a central telephone number to leave a recorded message about any sign of Bay-related environmental problems for appropriate follow-up. Callers may also pose questions about the Bay. "Bay Line" also provides referral numbers for information about current restrictions on beaches and fishing, such as HEALTH's beach hotline, 222-2571 and the DEM shellfish line, 222-2900. -30- |
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