January 15-21, 2023

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions started dry, with Blackstone River flows declining compared to the week prior. Substantial rain on January 19th (1.05 inches as recorded at T.F. Green), led to increased Blackstone River flows, resulting in decreased salinity at Phillipsdale at the end of the week. Over the whole week, surface salinity averaged 5.4 ppt and ranged from 1.5 ppt to 10.2 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 18.7 ppt and ranged from 2.0 ppt to 30.0 ppt. Temperatures were similar this week to last, averaging 4.6°C at the surface and ranging 3.1°C – 6.8°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 5.6°C and ranged 4.1°C – 6.6°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 12.4 mg/L and ranged 11.3 – 13.9 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.4 mg/L and ranged from 8.7 mg/L to 13.8 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low, averaging 0.7 ug/L at the surface and 4.0 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached just 1.3 ug/L this week. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. 

January 8-14, 2023

​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.

January 8-14, 2023

​Water clarity was measured at six locations in the Providence River estuary on January 10. Rainfall totaling 0.18 inches was recorded at TF Green in the five days prior to the survey. Secchi depth averaged 3.3 meters, compared to 4.2 meters on the previous survey (November 29, 2022). The lowest clarity this week (2.6 meters) was measured at India Point Park, while the greatest clarity (4.2 meters) was measured at Conimicut Point. There was a general north-to-south gradient of increasing water clarity among the sites this week. ​

January 8-14, 2023

Phillipsdale Landing

Sondes were swapped for routine maintenance on the morning of January 10th. The batteries in the bottom sonde retrieved this week died the day prior to retrieval, resulting in a data gap of approximately 16 hours from January 9th 18:00 to January 10th 9:30. Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. Weather conditions started dry, with Blackstone River flows declining compared to the week prior. Substantial rain on January 12th (0.69 inches) and 13th (0.65 inches), as recorded at T.F. Green, led to increased Blackstone River flows, resulting in decreased salinity at Phillipsdale at the end of the week. Over the whole week, surface salinity averaged 4.4 ppt and ranged from 1.4 ppt to 9.2 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 17.3 ppt and ranged from 1.2 ppt to 30.0 ppt. Temperatures were similar this week to last, averaging 4.7°C at the surface and ranging 3.3°C – 6.4°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 5.7°C and ranged 3.9°C – 6.7°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 12.3 mg/L and ranged 11.6 – 13.0 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.3 mg/L and ranged from 8.5 mg/L to 13.0 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low, averaging 1.1 ug/L at the surface and 3.2 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached just 2.7 ug/L this week. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. ​

January 8-14, 2023

Nutrient samples were collected from seven bay stations on January 10th; seven local river stations and one bay station were sampled on January 11th. Sampling was split over two days due to boating safety concerns on the routine scheduled day due to weather. All of the bay stations were sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, 0.18 inches of precipitation were recorded at T.F. Green.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations were observed at Ten Mile River @ Roger Williams Ave. (TN = 1,910 ppb, TDN = 1,930 ppb, DIN = 1,550 ppb, average of duplicates). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Moshassuck River @ Higginson Ave. (TN = 704 ppb, TDN = 756 ppb, DIN = 547 ppb).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface nitrogen concentrations were observed at Pawtuxet Cove (TN = 1,320 ppb, TDN = 1,230 ppb, DIN = 1,030 ppb); the lowest surface nitrogen concentrations were observed at Bullock Reach (TN = 523 ppb, TDN = 439 ppb, DIN = 285 ppb). Chlorophyll a concentrations at the surface bay stations were relatively low, averaging 0.920 μg/L across all sites with a maximum of 1.663 μg/L at Bullock Reach Buoy. 

Data from additional sampling dates (typically every two weeks) are pending analysis and writeup.

January 8-14, 2023

​Surface chlorophyll data were collected on January 10, 2023 while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting nutrient samples in the Providence River estuary. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good in the areas surveyed. Overall, chlorophyll ranged between 0.28 and 2.47 µg/L with an average of 0.83 µg/L. The chlorophyll data from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.

January 1-7, 2003

Phillipsdale Landing

Overall, water quality at Phillipsdale Landing was good this week. ​Weather conditions were moderately wet, with 0.93 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green over the course of the week. The largest rain events occurred on January 3rd (0.35 inches) and 4th (0.32 inches). Blackstone River flow increased all week, remaining above historical 18-year median flow rates. Salinity at the surface at Phillipsdale was low all week, while bottom salinity varied with the tide. Surface salinity averaged 3.6 ppt and ranged from 1.9 ppt to 5.6 ppt. At the bottom, salinity averaged 16.9 ppt and ranged from 3.0 ppt to 29.5 ppt. Temperatures increased slightly over the week, averaging 5.3°C at the surface and ranging 3.6°C – 6.5°C. At the bottom, temperatures averaged 5.3°C and ranged 4.5°C – 6.1°C.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) at Phillipsdale Landing remained above the hypoxia threshold of 2.9 mg/L throughout the week. Surface DO averaged 11.9 mg/L and ranged 11.4 – 12.5 mg/L. Bottom DO concentrations averaged 10.6 mg/L and ranged from 8.7 mg/L to 12.8 mg/L. Chlorophyll readings remained low, averaging 2.0 ug/L at the surface and 2.2 ug/L at the bottom. Maximum chlorophyll at the surface reached just 3.2 ug/L this week. Please note that tidal fluctuations and Blackstone River flows greatly influence water column salinity, temperature, and DO at this location. 

Bullock Reach 

Bullock Reach sondes will be deployed later this spring for the 2023 monitoring season. 

Docket NO: 22-47-WW: General Rate Filing

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

IN RE: NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION DOCKET NO: 22-47-WW

APPLICATION TO CHANGE RATE SCHEDULES

NOTICE OF FILING AND CHANGE IN RATE SCHEDULES On November 4, 2022, pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 39-3-11 and Part 5 of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, the Narragansett Bay Commission (“NBC”) hereby gives notice that it has filed an application to increase its rates with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (“Commission”). In its filing, NBC seeks to implement a multi-year rate plan that would increase rates in five phases. In the first phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on December 5, 2022, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $11,257,959 to support a total revenue requirement of $115,574,327. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 11.11% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $57.69 in their annual bill from $519.17 to $576.86. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the second phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2024, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $8,735,691 to support a total revenue requirement of $124,310,018. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 7.76% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $44.77 in their annual bill from $576.86 to $621.63. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the third phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2025, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $3,103,269 to support a total revenue requirement of $127,413,287. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 2.56% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $15.90 in their annual bill from $621.63 to $637.53. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the fourth phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2026, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $2,112,378 to support a total revenue requirement of $129,525,665. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 1.70% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $10.83 in their annual bill from $637.53 to $648.36. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. In the fifth phase of the increase, proposed to take effect on July 1 2027, NBC’s proposed rates are designed to collect additional operating revenue in the amount of $5,776,999 to support a total revenue requirement of $135,302,663. The impact of the proposal will be an across-the-board increase of 4.57% on all residential and non-residential rates. For an average residential customer, using 150 gallons of water per day, the request will result in an increase of $29.60 in their annual bill from $648.36 to $677.96. The impact of the rate increase on all other customers will vary depending upon the customer’s classification and consumption. Please note that while NBC is requesting this revenue increase, the Commission, after full investigation and hearings, may order a different revenue increase and rates.

While the new rates in the first phase of the increase are proposed to become effective December 5, 2022, the Commission can suspend the rates for up to eight months from the proposed effective date. No rate change will take effect until the Commission has conducted a full investigation and hearing on the proposal. The Commission will publish a notice of the hearing dates when they are scheduled. Ratepayers may comment on the proposed rate increases at that time.

A copy of the application is on file for examination at the NBC’s office One Service Road, Providence, Rhode Island and at the offices of the Public Utilities Commission, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, Rhode Island, and can be accessed at https://ripuc.ri.gov/Docket-22-47-WW. A copy of the filing was also provided to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Department, Consumer Division.

Narragansett Bay Commission

One Service Road

Providence, Rhode Island 02905

APPLICATIONS FOR EARTH DAY CLEAN UP GRANTS ARE DUE FEBRUARY 15!

NBC has announced the 2023 round of grants for Earth Day Community Clean-Ups.

In 2003, NBC Chairman Vincent Mesolella established the Chairman’s River Restoration Initiative for the Woonasquatucket River. In 2013, the Chairman’s River Restoration Initiative expanded to include support to other community organizations who would like to pursue their own Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects. Annually, the NBC offers grants ranging from $250 up to $1000 to community groups in the NBC service area. From 2013-2022, grantees galvanized over 10,000 volunteers to make a difference for clean water in their communities.

The goal of the NBC 2023 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to continue on the previous years’ successes and emphasize the importance of Earth Day 2023, the value of the environment, and provide assistance to organizations improving the quality of life in their communities. We encourage all applicants to abide by current guidelines regarding PPE and social distancing. The grant application is available here. The deadline is February 15, 2023.

December 25-31, 2022

Nutrient samples were collected from seven local river stations and one bay station on December 28th; additional bay sampling was cancelled due to freezing temperatures. The lone bay station (Phillipsdale Landing) was sampled at the surface and bottom. Leading up to sampling, there were 1.17 inches total precipitation recorded at T.F. Green on the 23rd and no precipitation on the 24th – 27th.

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 1,580 ppb, TDN = 1,710 ppb, DIN = 1,350 ppb). The lowest TN was observed at Woonasquatucket River @ Valley St. (TN = 651 ppb); the lowest TDN and DIN were observed Woonasquatucket River @ Manton Ave. Bridge (TDN = 680 ppb, DIN = 463 ppb).

At the one bay station sampled, Phillipsdale Landing, surface TN was 1,130 ppb, surface TDN was 1,160 ppb, and surface DIN was 899 ppb.

Data from additional sampling dates (typically every two weeks) are pending analysis and writeup.

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