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Surface Water Quality Monitoring in Rhode Island

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By New England Water Science Center September 24, 2018

Since 1979, the USGS has monitored water quality in the major river basins of Rhode Island contributing to Narragansett Bay.

Presently, the USGS collects monthly samples at the following Rhode Island sites: Blackstone River at Pawtucket, Branch River at Forestdale, Blackstone River at Manville, Pawtuxet River at Pawtuxet, and the Pawcatuck River at Westerly.  Monthly samples are collected at these sites for nutrients, major ions, suspended sediment concentration, and field parameters. Every third month (that is, quarterly) samples are also collected for dissolved trace metals at the same sites.    

The following analytes are sampled, analyzed, and reported:

  • Field parameters (water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity)
  • Total and dissolved nutrients (8 analytes)
  • Major ions  (4 analytes)
  • Suspended sediment concentration
  • Dissolved trace metals (6 analytes)

Below are publications associated with this project.

Analysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015

Trends in long-term water-quality and streamflow data from six water-quality-monitoring stations within three major river basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that flow into Narragansett Bay and Little Narragansett Bay were evaluated for water years 1979–2015. In this study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie, John R. Mullaney, Gardner C. Bent
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed

Below are partners associated with this project.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Since 1979, the USGS has monitored water quality in the major river basins of Rhode Island contributing to Narragansett Bay.

Presently, the USGS collects monthly samples at the following Rhode Island sites: Blackstone River at Pawtucket, Branch River at Forestdale, Blackstone River at Manville, Pawtuxet River at Pawtuxet, and the Pawcatuck River at Westerly.  Monthly samples are collected at these sites for nutrients, major ions, suspended sediment concentration, and field parameters. Every third month (that is, quarterly) samples are also collected for dissolved trace metals at the same sites.    

The following analytes are sampled, analyzed, and reported:

  • Field parameters (water temperature, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity)
  • Total and dissolved nutrients (8 analytes)
  • Major ions  (4 analytes)
  • Suspended sediment concentration
  • Dissolved trace metals (6 analytes)

Below are publications associated with this project.

Analysis of trends of water quality and streamflow in the Blackstone, Branch, Pawtuxet, and Pawcatuck Rivers, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, 1979 to 2015

Trends in long-term water-quality and streamflow data from six water-quality-monitoring stations within three major river basins in Massachusetts and Rhode Island that flow into Narragansett Bay and Little Narragansett Bay were evaluated for water years 1979–2015. In this study, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the
Authors
Jennifer G. Savoie, John R. Mullaney, Gardner C. Bent
By
Water Resources Mission Area, New England Water Science Center, USGS Science in Long Island Sound and its Watershed

Below are partners associated with this project.

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

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