Water column profiles were conducted at eight locations in the Providence and Seekonk River estuaries on May 3, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There were 2.68 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey, almost all from a large rain event on April 30th. Evidence of moderate density stratification was observed at Edgewood Yacht Club; all other sites had strong density stratification.
Surface salinities ranged from 0.55 psu at Phillipsdale Landing to 16.9 psu at Edgewood Yacht Club; bottom salinities ranged from 21.1 psu at Phillipsdale Landing to 29.9 psu at Conimicut Point West. Surface temperatures ranged from 12.4°C at Pawtuxet Cove to 13.7°C at Bullock Reach Buoy, while bottom temperatures ranged from 10.5°C at Conimicut Point West to 12.9°C at Pawtuxet Cove.
Dissolved oxygen (DO) conditions remained above the hypoxia threshold (2.9 mg/L) at all sites this week; the lowest DO observed was approximately 5.05 mg/L near the surface (1.5 m deep) at Pomham Rocks. Fluorescence was low this week, with the highest value (5.38 mg/m3) observed 1.75 m deep at Bullock Reach Buoy.