October 30, 2024

Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations and seven bay stations on October 30th. All bay stations were sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, there was no precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. 

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Woonasquatucket River @ Valley St. (TN = 1,300 ppb, TDN = 1,300 ppb, DIN = 1,197). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 446 ppb, TDN = 296 ppb, DIN = 96 ppb).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface total nitrogen (TN) was observed at Phillipsdale Landing (883 ppb). The highest total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Pomham Rocks (TDN = 373  ppb, DIN = 249 ppb). The lowest surface TN was observed at Bullock Reach Buoy (397 ppb). The lowest surface TDN and DIN concentrations were observed at Conimicut Point (TDN = 221 ppb, DIN = 39 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is November 13th, 2024.​

October 16 and 17, 2024

Nutrient samples were collected from twelve river stations and seven bay stations on October 16th and 17th. All bay stations were sampled at the surface and one station (Edgewood Shoal) was sampled at the bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, there were 0.14 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. 

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed Ten Mile River @ Central Ave. (TN = 2,400 ppb, TDN = 2,390 ppb, DIN = 2,217). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (TN = 369 ppb, TDN = 275 ppb, DIN = 55 ppb).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Phillipsdale Landing (TN = 671 ppb, TDN = 436  ppb, DIN = 249 ppb). The lowest surface TN, TDN and  DIN concentrations were observed at Bullock Reach Buoy (TN = 390 ppb, TDN = 169 ppb, DIN = 52 ppb).

The next scheduled sampling date is October 30, 2024.​

October 2 and 3, 2024

Nutrient samples were collected from seven river stations and seven bay stations on October 2nd and 3rd. All bay stations were sampled at the surface and bottom. In the five days prior to sampling, there were 0.03 inches of precipitation recorded at T.F. Green. 

Among the river stations sampled, the highest total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed Woonasquatucket River @ Valley St. (TN = 1,530 ppb, TDN = 1,560 ppb, DIN = 1,390). The lowest TN, TDN, and DIN were observed at Pawtuxet River @ Broad St. (TN = 672 ppb, TDN = 491 ppb, DIN = 259 ppb).

Among the bay stations sampled, the highest surface total nitrogen (TN), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) were observed at Phillipsdale Landing (TN = 1,270 ppb, TDN = 905  ppb, DIN = 630 ppb). The lowest surface TN was observed at Conimicut Point (449 ppb), while the lowest surface TDN and  DIN concentrations were observed at Bullock Reach Buoy (TDN = 215 ppb, DIN = 13 ppb, reflecting minimum detection limits).

The next scheduled sampling date is October 16, 2024.​

September 18, 2024

Nutrient samples were collected from fourteen river stations on September 18th. No samples were collected from bay stations due to fog. In the five days prior to sampling, no precipitation was recorded at T.F. Green. 

The highest total nitrogen (TN) was observed at Ten Mile River @ Central Ave. (2,420 ppb). The highest total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) was observed at Ten Mile River @ Roger Williams Ave. However, this is significantly higher than the TN observed at that site (709 ppb), which indicates that this result may be in error. The highest dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentration was observed at Blackstone River @ Stateline (1,331 ppb). The lowest TN and TDN were observed at Palmer River @ Rt. 6 (TN = 527 ppb, TDN = 325 ppb), while the lowest DIN was observed at Runnins River @ River Rd. (19 ppb, average of duplicates.).

The next scheduled sampling date is October 2, 2024.

Apply for a NBC 2024 Environmental Merit Award Today!

The Narragansett Bay Commission is proud to announce its thirtieth annual Environmental Merit Awards.

Each year, the Narragansett Bay Commission honors companies that have gone beyond compliance using pollution prevention techniques and approaches, have implemented stormwater mitigation technologies, and those companies that have achieved perfect compliance records. The future economic and environmental well- being of Rhode Island is dependent upon industry working together with environmental agencies like the Narragansett Bay Commission to reduce or eliminate waste. The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Awards program provides an opportunity for companies to receive public recognition for operational advances behind the scenes that have helped protect the environment.

The Narragansett Bay Commission’s Environmental Merit Award winners set the standards for all regulated businesses. Other businesses are encouraged to achieve this level of success with the help of the Narragansett Bay Commission’s Pollution Prevention Program. The non-regulatory Pollution Prevention Program helps the industrial community find environmentally and economically sound ways of eliminating or reducing the generation of industrial wastes and pollutants.

We welcome your nomination for this year’s Environmental Merit Awards. Nominations are due March 5, 2025. Download the nomination form here.

NBC Announces 2025 Chairman’s River Restoration Earth Day Clean Up Grants

The Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) is offering grants ranging from $250 up to $1,000 for local Earth Day River and Lake Cleanups, restoration or beautification projects for areas located within the NBC service area or along NBC receiving waters. The goal of the NBC 2025 Earth Day River Cleanup Grant Program is to clean up our important environmental resources by providing funding assistance to local organizations restoring and improving the green spaces in their communities. Deadline for applications is February 14, 2025.


The grants may be used for Earth Day volunteer cleanup projects of green spaces and river, lake and pond cleanup projects located within the NBC service district or along NBC receiving waters. Projects that include an educational component to educate volunteers about some aspect of the environment, environmental restoration, protection are preferred. All sections of the grant application, including the project description form must be completed. Applications must be accompanied with an invoice on organizational letterhead with the grant award total request listed. The invoice must have the letterhead of your organization. An invoice template is attached for your use. Please tailor the template to your organization’s needs. Any incomplete grant application forms received will not be considered. Only one application per project will be considered, and projects must be completed no later than September 8, 2025. The range of funding for any single project shall be between $250 and $1,000, depending upon the number of applicants and funding availability.

Download the grant application here.

November 20, 2024

On November 20th, 2024, twenty stations were sampled for fecal coliform bacteria in the Providence and Seekonk Rivers; five of these stations were also sampled for enterococci bacteria. In the five days prior to sampling, no precipitation was recorded at TF Green. Overall, bacteria counts in both the Providence and Seekonk Rivers were lower compared to previous sampling (November 7th, 2024).

Fecal coliform counts were higher in the Seekonk River sites than in the Providence River sites (geometric means of 14 MPN/100 mL and 9 MPN/100 mL, respectively). The maximum count (93 MPN/100 mL) was measured at Point St. Bridge. 

Enterococci results had an overall geometric mean of 15 MPN/100 mL. Enterococci counts ranged from <10 MPN/100 mL at most sites to 75 MPN/100 mL at Point St. Bridge.

The next scheduled sampling date is December 4th.

​​The table below lists the Rhode Island bacteria standards for primary contact and shellfishing established by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). RIDEM defines primary contact as any recreational activities in which there is prolonged and intimate contact with water, involving considerable risk of ingesting water (e.g., swimming, diving, water skiing and surfing). Please note that the RIDEM bacteria standards are provided here for informational purposes only and are not intended to indicate official state compliance with primary contact or shellfishing standards.

Summary of Rhode Island Bacteria Standards for Saltwater Primary Contact and Shellfishing

 ​​​Fec​al Co​li​fo​r​mEnterococci
Primary Con​​​t​a​c​t1​​​​​Geom​e​tric ​m​e​a​n​ ≤50​ MPN/1​​00​ mL​
<10% ​o​f​​ samples >4​00 MPN/100 ​mL		Geom​etric mean ≤35 colo​nies​/100 mL​
All sa​mples ≤104 colonies/100 ​​mL2
ShellfishingGeometr​ic mean ≤14 MPN/100​ mL
<10% of samples >49 MPN/100 mL3​		NO ENTEROCOCCI CR​ITERIA​

1Fecal coliform primary contact criteria app​lied only when adequate enterococci data are not available; 2Single sample maximum criterion for determining beach swimming advisories at designated beaches as evaluated by the Rhode Island Department of Health; 3For a three-tube decimal dilution

Table adapted from Rhode Island Water Quality Regulations (250-RICR-150-05-1)​; see regulations for complete details.​​​​​​​​​​

November 18, 2024

​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. 

November 7, 2024

​Surface chlorophyll data were collected on November 7, 2024, while the R/V Monitor was underway collecting nutrient samples in the Providence and Seekonk River estuary. The average chlorophyll concentrations were categorized as good in all areas surveyed. Overall, chlorophyll ranged from 0.53 µg/L to 17.57 µg/L with an average of 2.89 µg/L. The chlorophyll concentrations from this date are presented in the map below using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation.

October 30, 2024

Phytoplankton samples were collected on October 30, 2024 at Bullock’s Reach and analyzed in the laboratory shortly after collection. Weather conditions and Sonde data were not recorded on this day. The qualitative tow net sample had a moderate filtration time. The filtrate was slightly cloudy with some golden brown particulates. The analysis of the quantitative whole water sample revealed a total of 260,000 cells/L. The microflagellates were found at 100,000 cells/L. The most predominant phytoplankton genera were Chaetoceros spp. at 104,000 cells/L, Leptocylindrus spp. at 26,000 cells/L, and Skeletonema spp. at 18,000 cells/L. Proboscia alata, shown here in a 100x phase contrast micrograph, is a solitary or chain-forming diatom that can measure up to 1mm in length. They are identified by the presence of a proboscis with a truncated tip and offset claspers. These diatoms are an oceanic, temperate water species and are sometimes found near the coast.

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