Water column profiles were conducted at six locations in the Providence and Seekonk River Estuaries on April 5, 2023 using a Seabird Electronics profiler. There was no precipitation recorded at T.F. Green in the three days leading up to the survey. Evidence of strong density stratification was observed at Phillipsdale Landing, Edgewood Shoal, and Pawtuxet Cove; all other sites showed signs of moderate density stratification.
Surface salinities ranged from 4.3 psu at Pawtuxet Cove to 22.1 psu at Pomham Rocks; bottom salinities ranged from 23.9 psu at Pawtuxet Cove to 28.0 psu at Pomham Rocks. Surface temperatures ranged 9.0°C at India Point Park to 10.8°C at Pawtuxet Cove, while bottom temperatures ranged from 7.3°C at Pomham Rocks to 9.0°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 8.5 mg/L in the bottom waters at Pawtuxet Cove. Fluorescence was fairly low, with the highest value (5.05 mg/m3) observed near the middle of the water column (3.25 meters deep) at Pomham Rocks.