The Data Stream deployed on a chilly but otherwise beautiful November day. The team retrieved the Bullock’s Reach Sondes for the final time in the 2024 season. The buoy is scheduled to be removed from the water for the winter in early December. The picture below was taken while on route. In the distant background, accentuated by a rainbow, you can see the wind turbines from Johnson & Wales University and Narragansett Bay Commission’s Field’s Point Wastewater Treatment Facility.
The crew of the Data Stream were performing routine bacteria sampling when they observed two bald eagles flying high in the sky above the Seekonk River near Phillipsdale Landing in East Providence.
The Data Stream had an eventful day while out in the upper bay conducting routine bay bacteria monitoring activities. A 12-foot Jon Boat appeared to be in distress, as the two youths onboard could not get their motor started. The wind and the current were pushing the boat towards a concrete hurricane barrier. The Data Stream crew quickly rendered assistance and towed the youths to safety, and brought them to where they launched at the Gano Park Boat Ramp.
The Data Stream had some visitors while doing routine sonde swaps at Bullocks Reach. Below is a picture taken by Tyler, an Environmental Monitoring Supervisor. Tyler identified the birds as Common Terns. These birds are seen often hanging around the Bullocks Reach buoy eating fish.
Today a new MET Sensor Assembly was installed on the recently deployed Bullocks Reach Buoy. The assembly includes a weather station that can monitor wind speed, humidity, air pressure, and temperature. The buoy was deployed on May 14th and staff have been diligently working to get the buoy up and running for the 2024 Fixed Site Monitoring Season.
Due to winter temperatures and weather conditions, boating activities were temporarily halted during the months of December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024. The safety of the crew as well as the boat are of the utmost concern at NBC. Whether it’s slipping on an icy dock or slipping on the boat decking, we don’t want injuries that can be avoided. Although staff wear appropriate gear during colder months, there is great risk to the life and health of crew if they were to slip and fall into the freezing waters during winter months. Staff have been evaluating conditions on a week-to-week basis and are pleased to announce that Nutrient Sampling was able to be conducted on March 6th. Staff are excited to resume boating activities and we are hopeful that favorable conditions continue throughout March. Below is a table showing the bay sites sampled.
The R/V Monitor has been retired since the last blog update for the week of February 19-25, 2023. However, the Narragansett Bay Commission is excited to announce its new monitoring vessel, Data Stream. The Data Stream is a brand new 2023 Parker 23290 SL: Sport cabin boat. The Data Stream is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics, including the latest Garmin GPS with Radar overlay capability, a remote-control spotlight, and salt and freshwater wash down. Data Stream’s Yamaha engine is a 300hp electronic shift engine which is an upgrade from the 250 HP Mercury on the Monitor.
The Data Stream picked up where the Monitor left off monitoring water quality in the upper Narragansett Bay. Throughout the Spring and Summer, the crew of the Data Stream was out on the upper Bay collecting bacteria, nutrients and plankton samples, taking Secchi Disk water clarity measurements, conducting water column profiles using the Seabird instrument, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH. In addition, the fixed site monitoring stations were deployed and continuously maintained. The featured photo shows the new monitoring vessel, Data Stream.
On Wednesday, February 22nd, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting nutrients and plankton samples, taking Secchi Disk water clarity measurements, conducting water column profiles using the Seabird instrument, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH, all in an effort to document water quality improvements associated with NBC construction projects. Jeff captained the boat while monitoring professionals Fern and Michael collected the samples and data. The day started sunny but turned cloudy by late morning with cool temperatures all day. The featured photo shows a cargo ship at ProvPort.
On Wednesday, January 18th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay collecting bacteria samples, taking Secchi Disk water clarity measurements, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH, all in an effort to document water quality improvements associated with NBC construction projects. Jeff captained the boat while monitoring professionals Amanda and Daryll collected the samples and data. It was mostly cloudy but relatively warm with calm waters. The featured photo taken was of the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
On Tuesday, January 10th, the crew of the R/V Monitor was out on the upper Bay for the first time this year collecting nutrients and plankton samples, taking Secchi Disk water clarity measurements, and conducting real-time surface mapping of water quality parameters, including dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature, salinity, and pH, all in an effort to document water quality improvements associated with NBC construction projects. Jeffrey captained the boat while monitoring professionals Jeff, and Tyler collected the samples and data. It was a cloudy and cool day with a calm wind out of the northwest. The water was calm all day. The featured photo shows the Conimicut Point lighthouse.
