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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, SAVE THE BAY TO HOST AUGUST 5TH INFORMATIONAL MEETING ON RESTORING WATER QUALITY IN THE PAWCATUCK RIVER AND LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management and Save the Bay will host a public meeting in Westerly on August 5 to discuss environmental activities and studies that are being conducted in the Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay.As part of its water quality restoration program, DEM is currently conducting two field studies in the Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay. In the first study, DEM is investigating elevated fecal coliform bacteria levels that have impacted safe swimming in the Pawcatuck River estuary and shellfish harvesting in Little Narragansett Bay. This study will characterize bacteria levels in the estuary immediately following wet weather and identify sources contributing to its degraded condition. In the second study, DEM is investigating the extent of low dissolved oxygen and other nutrient-related problems in the upper estuarine Pawcatuck River. Elevated levels of nutrients can cause excessive plant and algae growth, which in turn can cause dissolved oxygen levels to plummet. As with land animals, water column dissolved oxygen is critical to the health and survival of marine organisms; low dissolved oxygen levels can lead to reduced fish and larval survival. In this study, DEM is deploying buoys equipped with dissolved oxygen, temperature, and chlorophyll sensors at two locations to collect measurements over the course of the summer. DEM will use the information gathered from both studies, combined with previously collected data, to develop pollutant specific water quality restoration studies, known as Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) studies. TMDLs are mandated by the federal Clean Water Act for waters identified as not meeting applicable water quality standards and establish the maximum pollutant load that a waterbody can assimilate and still meet water quality standards. For the past year, Save the Bay has been collecting water samples from the lower Pawcatuck River and Little Narragansett Bay to confirm elevated bacteria levels during wet weather events. This sampling is a follow-up to the initial Pawcatuck River shoreline survey that conducted by DEM and a host of federal and Connecticut partners in 2006. The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Westerly Land Trust's office at the Industrial Trust Building, located at 14 High Street in downtown Westerly. In addition to the presentations by DEM and Save the Bay, the Westerly Land Trust and other local environmental organizations will offer brief updates on their current projects. For more information concerning the meeting or about the TMDL program, contact Heidi Travers in DEM's Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 ext. 7613, or via email at heidi.travers@dem.ri.gov. -30- |
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