Phillipsdale Landing
Sondes remained deployed this week as there were safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of the dock. Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions were mostly dry , with only 0.31 inches recorded at T.F. Green. Blackstone River flow decreased all week, and salinity at Phillipsdale increased . Surface salinity this week averaged 6.2 ppt and ranged from 1.8 ppt to 16.1 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 15.7 ppt and ranged from 3.8 ppt to 28.0 ppt. Temperatures increased this week, averaging 8.1°C at the surface and ranging 4.8°C – 10.1°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 7.2°C and ranged 5.7°C – 9.6°C.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 11.4 mg/L and ranged 9.8-13.0 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.6 mg/L and ranged from 9.2 mg/L to 12.7 mg/L. Chlorophyll concentrations slightly decreased from the previous week, averaging 3.6 ug/L at the surface and 12.2 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached just 38.5 ug/L on the morning of March 23rd. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. Also, please note that isolated spikes of suspect chlorophyll data, between March 19th-25th, were excluded from the summary this week.
Bullock Reach
Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season.