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GC ~57.2 - * R4 4 no.66 Cover photograph courtesy of Hubbard Phelps of Westerly, R.I. The preparation of this publication was financed in part by a planning grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the provisions of the Coastal ZZo eManageme nt Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-583), through the Integrated Grant Administration program &a'~riihistered as part of Federal Regional Council grant FRC-JF-01 -11. Additional copies of this publication are available from URI, Marine Advisory Service, Publications Unit, Bay Campus, Narragansett, R.I. 02882. 6/78-200 COASTAL ZONE INFORMATION CENTER P' THE PAWCATUCK RIVER ESTUARY AND LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY: A Compilation of Available Information U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE NOAA COASTAL SERVICES CENTER 2234 SOUTH HOBSON AVENUE CHARLESTON , SC 29405-2413 Ruth Ehinger Ruth E. Folit Lynne Zeitlin-Hale Coastal Resources Center University of Rhode Island Marine Technical Report 66 June, 1978 Pf Tt-~ ~ Property of CSC Librar 4Yn TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 List of Figures 5 List of Tables 6 Acknowledgments 7 Preface 9 Introduction 10 Physical Description 10 Geomorphology 11 Bedrock 11 Topography 14 Sediments 19 Hydrography 22 Storms 22 Water Chemistry 24 Pollution 25 Plankton 25 Biota 25 Macroflora 25 Macroalgae 25 Salt Marsh 27 Barrier Beach 32 Periphyton 32 Benthos 35 Artificial Reef Biota 35 Metals and Pesticides in Shellfish 35 Birds 35 Mammals 43 Fish 43 Work in Progress 45 References by Topics 50 Appendix 4 LIST OF FIGURES 8 Figure 1 - Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay Orientation Map 13 Figure 2 - Migration of Napatree Landform Over 125 Years 16 Figure 3 - Army Corps of Engineers Sediment Sampling Stations in Little Narragansett Bay 17 Figure 4 - Sampling Stations for Selected Studies 26 Figure 5 - Upland-to-Bay Vegetation Sequence of Wequetequock-Pawcatuck Tidal Marsh 28 Figure 6 - Vegetation of Juncus Upper Slope 29 Figure 7 - Vegetation of Spartina patens Lower Slope 29 Figure 8 - Vegetation of Spartina alterniflora Lower Border 30 Figure 9 - Vegetation of the Stunted Spartina alterniflora Community 30 Figure 10 - Vegetation of the Forb Panne LIST OF TABLES 15 Table 1 - Chemical Analysis of Bottom Sediments of Little Narragansett Bay 18 Table 2 - Heavy Metal and Pesticide Concentrations in Sediments at Pawcatuck River Mouth 20 Table 3 - Mean Water Discharge of Pawcatuck River - October 1975 to September 1976 23 Table 4 - Water Chemistry Data Base 31 Table 5 - Vegetation on Napatree 33 Table 6 - Seasonal Periodicity Among the More Preva- lent Periphyton Species in the Pawcatuck River at Kenyon and in the Saugatucket River at Peace Dale, R.I, 34 Table 7 - Benthic Fauna of the Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay 36 Table 8 - List of Species Found on or Around the Artificial Reef West of Napatree Point in Little Narragansett Bay 37 Table 9 - Amounts of Heavy Metals in Oysters and Quahaugs 37 Table 10 - Pesticide Concentration in Oysters and Quahaugs 37 Table 11 - Amounts of Heavy Metals in Oysters 38 Table 12 - Birds of Napatree Point 42 Table 13 - Mammals of Napatree Point 44 Table 14 - Fish of the Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay 50 Table Al - Dissolved Oxygen of Pawcatuck River at White Rock, RI 51 Table A2 - Temperature of Water of Pawcatuck River at White Rock, RI 52 Table A3 - Rhode Island Department of Health Water Quality Survey Data of Pawcatuck River Basin 54 Table A4 - Chemical-Physical, Hydrologic, and Coliform Data in the Pawcatuck River at Route 2, Kenyon, RI 55 Table A5 - Temperature, Salinity, and Dissolved Oxygen of the Pawcatuck River Estuary 6 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to specially thank Dr. Clement A. Griscom of the Coastal Resources Center and Mr. Richard T. Sisson of the Wickford Laboratory, Department of Environmental Management,for their con- structive review of numerous drafts. Their corrections and suggestions were extremely helpful. Deborah Zinser and Penny Geuss are greatly appreciated for typing this report. The preparation of this publication was financed in part by a planning grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, under the provisions of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (Public law 92-583), through the Integrated Grant Administration program administered as part of Federal Regional Council grant FRC-JF-O1-11. 7 PREFACE As part of the Coastal Resources Center's inventory of the coastal and marine resources of Rhode Island, this publica- tion compiles all of the scientific information available to us on the Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay. This document is a first attempt at putting the infor- mation together, and undoubtedly some relevant work has been overlooked. We hope that people using this summary will inform us both of work we have omitted and of new work. Ste n Olsen, Coordinator Coas al Resources Center MASSACHUSETTS I RHODE ' X /ISLAND.~ . i' 9NCCU WESTERLY PAWCATUCK dt~~ ~RHODE ISLAND CONNECTICUT WEQUETEQUOCK BARN DALE SANDY I. BSLARN( s. ..pONDALE- POINT / - PAWCAT , -/ LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY WATCH HILL NAPATREEo- / BLOCK ISLAND SOUND POINT WATCH HILL POINT FIGURE 1 Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay Orientation Map 9 INTRODUCTION The Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay compose a valuable, but little studied, estuarine system that forms Rhode Island's southwest border (Figure 1). The purpose of this report is to summarize available scientific data on the area and to give the sources of this information. The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council has designated the Pawcatuck River and Little Narragan- sett Bay a high-intensity recreation estuary (Type 3). Recreational boating, public access, maintenance and improvement of marinas and boatyards, hunting, sportsfish- ing, and wildlife management are listed as the highest priority uses for these waters. 10 PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION The physical characteristics of the Pawcatuck River Basin, the estuarine reaches of the Pawcatuck River, and Little Narragansett Bay are summarized below. The River Basin The Pawcatuck River Basin is the largest in Rhode Island, draining 25 percent of the state. Most of the basin is forest, open, and agricultural lands. The 29-mile-long river is fed by 159 miles of tributaries running through eight communities in Rhode Island and four in Connecticut. All the freshwater streams in the basin are Class C or better (RISPP & RIDOH, 1976), The Pawcatuck's main tributaries are the Wood, Beaver, Queens, and Chipuxet rivers. The Estuary The Pawcatuck River Estuary forms where the freshwater of the Pawcatuck River mixes with the saltwater of Long Island Sound. Bordered by the town of Stonington, Connecticut, on the west and Westerly, Rhode Island, on the east, the estuary includes Little Narragansett Bay and extends five miles upstream from the mouth of the river to the Route 1 bridge at Westerly, The estuarine shoreline is composed of glacial till in the uplands, two to three miles of beaches and dunes (mostly in Rhode Island), and approximately 500 acres of salt marsh (mostly in Connecticut), The Bay Little Narragansett Bay is a two-square-mile estuary at the mouth of the Pawcatuck River. The bay averages six feet in depth and is protected on the seaward side by Napatree barrier beach and Sandy Point. The barrier is breached at two locations. One breachway, cut between Napatree and Sandy points by the 1938 hurricane, is about 1,000 yards wide and two to three feet deep. The other, bordered by Stonington, Connecticut, is the chan- nel maintained for boating. The seven-mile-long channel is dredged to 10 feet from Stonington Point, Connecticut, upriver to Westerly, Rhode Island. There is also a ten- foot-deep dredged channel from the river mouth to Watch Hill Cove. GEOMORPHOLOGY The Pawcatuck River Estuary and Little Narragansett Bay are parts of a moraine system, glaciated during the Wisconsin era. This region marks the farthest extension of the Laurentide ice sheet some 20,000 years ago (Napatree Point Conservation Committee, 1972). The glacier modified the preglacial surface by scraping it and leaving deposits. All unconsolidated deposits, except those most recently laid (beach and swamp deposits), were deposited by this ice sheet and its accompanying waters. Scattered ice blocks created kettle holes, and wave action formed terraces on the shore (Martin, 1925). Napatree Point was once an island; sand deposited by lit- toral currents have created the beach, which now connects it to the mainland. The point and beach make up one arm of the double tombolo formation, a geologic term to describe two sand bars connecting an island with the mainland. The other arm is Sandy Point. Coastal geomorphological processes are continuously occur- ring on Napatree barrier, but often at imperceptible rates. By overlaying navigation charts, the earliest of which date from 1847, Griscom (1976) monitored large-scale changes, indicating present trends of landform migration (Figure 2). BEDROCK A bedrock map of the Watch Hill quadrangle is available from the U.S. Geological Survey (Moore, 1967). Narragansett Pier granite of magmatic origin underlies Watch Hill, much of Westerly, and the eastern side of the Pawcatuck River south from Colonel Willie Cove. Metavolcanic rocks and pink and gray layered gneisses border most of the rest of the river. Interbedded rustyweathering, medium-grained, vitreous quartzite and quartz mica schist are found in a bed up to 12 feet thick on the river's west bank across from Ram Point, Bedrock outcrops are found in this small area. The U.S. Geological Survey bedrock map does not indi- cate the submarine bedrock of the Pawcatuck River or Little Narragansett Bay. TOPOGRAPHY Elevation of most of the Pawcatuck River Basin is less than 200 feet (SENE, 1975). Napatree Point has an elevation of approximately 22 feet. The region contains two contrasting topographical types (Martin, 1925). Rough land, which marks the terminal moraine, extends east from Watch Hill and west from Fishers Island in small hills, irregular ridges, 12 FIGURE 2 Migration of Napatree Landform Over 125 Years For the first 30 years very little change can be identi- fied on the Napatree landforrn. However, between 1877 and 1885, the beach formation is beginning to move and thin out, showing the tendency to move westward toward Connecticut, to complete a double tombolo. By 1911, the migratory process is quite active, as it is still stretching and moving. By 1937, just before the hurri- cane, the process had progressed to a point that even a fresh water pond existed. However, the 1938 hurricane caused the newly formed deposits to be breached, and a new balance of forces came into being. By 1950, the sand spit had started to recurve at both ends of the beach - a well-known phenomenon in tidal inlets. By focusing on the more permanent part of the landform, the Point itself, one is able to identify how much movement has occurred to the spit, the more dynamic part of the system. Since the 1938 storm, the beach has become more concave, and has moved over 100 yards into the bay. The western end of the spit, Sandy Point, has moved some 1,200 yards (since 1877) toward Stonington. From Griscom, 1976. 13 1b547 S 19~57 61942 V AWLly 11Oimr LO19J 72- MIGRATION OF IN.APATrY LANL7FOJIL1 O~; IZ6 YrAMS !50L)RjP- TL4CAINC1 ImoM SAILINJa CHArZrs 14 and undrained depressions. North of this narrow belt is a region of terraced bedrock hills covered with till. Five terrace elevations are identified, each seemingly produced by wave action when sea level was higher than it is today. Along the eastern side of the Pawcatuck River, one to three miles south of Westerly, are small, discontinuous sand and gravel terraces, rising 15-25 feet above the river. These were probably deposited as deltas in lakes (Martin, 1925). Westerly is built on one such terrace. SEDIMENTS The New England Division of the Army Corps of Engineers sampled sediments from Little Narragansett Bay in August, 1975 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division, 1977). Samples were analyzed for volatile solids, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen, hexane-soluble oil and grease, nine heavy metals, PCB's and DDT. This information is presented in Table 1; Figure 3 shows the Corps' sampling stations. The Environmental Protection Agency (Wong, 1973-1974) examined sediments at the mouth of the Pawcatuck River (Figure 4). Samples collected on June 20, 1973 and March 13, 1974 were analyzed for seven heavy metals; those collected on May 26, 1974 were analyzed for pesticides. Table 2 gives the reported values, The remainder of available information concerns intertidal and terrestrial areas. A surficial geologic map of the Watch Hill Quadrangle, RI - CT (Schafer, 1965) provides general information on surface sediments. Napatree Beach is covered by beach deposits. Moving north along the eastern shore of the Pawcatuck, one finds glacial till that is more sandy or gravelly than deposits on the western shore, along with generally well-sorted stream deposits. Glacial stream deposits and poorly sorted till (dominated by silt and sand) characterize the river's western shore. Further north, river terrace deposits border the Pawcatuck. For information on soils, see the recently completed soil sur- vey for the town of Westerly (Spangler, 1975). Most other sediment data is from the Napatree area, where sand is deposited by littoral currents (Sculco, 1972). Deposition and erosion periods alternate at Napatree; some geological features changing almost daily (Realini, 1972). The Army Corps of Engineers declared Napatree an area of critical coastal erosion (three feet/year) in 1971 (SENE, 1975), and the CRMC designated it an erosion-prone 15 TABLE 1 CHEMICAL ANALYSIS-BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY PARAMETER GE-1 GE-2 PE-3 PE-4 PE-7 % Vol Solids-EPA 0.22 0.71 11.76 1.65 9.73 % Vol Solids-NED 0.13 0.55 10.27 1.47 8.43 % Tot Vol Sol-EPA 1.52 2.10 16.5 3.49 14.3 % Chem Oxygen Dem 0.20 0.80 15.5 2.21 13.2 % Tot Kjdl Nit 0.005 0.017 0.434 0.057 0.407 % Hex Sol-Oil & GWease 0.000 0.051 0.355 0.048 0.249 % Mercury X10 0.33 0.00 0.36 0.80 8.3 % Lead X10-3 0.65 0.78 6.9 2.0 7.6 % Zinc X1-3 0.87 2.60 15.1 2.8 15.8 % Arsenic X10-3 0.04 0.07 0.69 0.14 0.41 % Cadmium X10 0.09 0.10 0.48 0.11 0.04 % Chromium X103 0.50 1.1 7.8 1.7 8.7 % Copper X10- 1.1 2.6 13.8 2.5 14.0 % Nickel X103 0.44 0.88 3.8 0.97 2.9 % Vanadium x1 3 1.3 1.6 0.0 1.7 7.0 " PCB -3 - - - PCB X10- 0.0 % DDT X103 0.02 From U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1977 Stonington GE-2 Sandy Pt. PE-3 PE-4 LITTLE NARRAGANSETT PE- BAY FIGURE 3 Army Corps of Engineers Sediment Sampling Stations in Little Narragansett Bay From U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1977. * 17 Carolina PAWCATUCK RIVER Pawcatua Westrly SAMPLI NG STATIONS 0 DOI,I1971 A RIDOH, 1977 * R I DO0H, 1973 a Stebbins,et aI, 1970-7 7 O Wood, i964 *EPA, 1973,1974,1976 A~argraves and ESisson, 1970-73 Wood, 1971-72 Isl~~~ ~ ~~and ~ vnate LITTLE~~~ FIGURE 4 Sampling Stations for Selected Studies TABLE 2 HEAVY METAL & PESTICIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN SEDIMENTS AT PAWCATUCK RIVER MOUTH Amounts of Heavy Metals in mg/gm (oven dry weight) Date Mercury Zinc Copper Lead Cadmium Nickel Chromium (Hg) (Zn) (Cu) (Pb) (Cd) (Ni) (Cr) 6/20/73 -- 34 20 25 -- 5 21 3/13/74 0.11 15 9.08 8.9 0.2 -- Amounts of Pesticides in ppb 1254 Date | P,P/DDE O,P/DDE P,P/DDT Dieldrin PCB (arachlor) 5/26/74 28 ND ND ND 167 ND = not detectable (The sensitivity of the test no detectable levels is 10 ppb) From EPA, unpublished data area of environmental concern (CRMC, 1977). Erosion is caused both by wind and water. Snow fences have been effec- tive in building sand dunes by capturing blowing sand (Quist and Benoit, 1972). In January and February of 1973, however, dune faces were receding (Realini, 1973). Mills and Sisson (1972) conducted soil analyses on Napatree and found three zones: a sandy beach, a transition zone, and an upland region. Results of their analyses are as follows: Zone Texture pH Phosphorus Potassium Nitrate sandy beach sand 6.2 VL VL VL transitional fine 7.0 VL VL VL sandy loam upland loamy sand 5.9 L VL VL VL = Very Low L = Low HYDROGRAPHIY Little Narragansett Bay is generally well flushed; the flushing factor has been calculated at 33 percent. The tidal prism is estimated at 250 x 106 ft.3, mean tidal range of about 2.5 feet, and average depth of less than six feet at mean low water (Hale et al., 1975). In contrast, the "kitchen' area of the bay, a small cove (three to four acreS) near Napatree Point, is poorly flushed, being shallow and well sheltered (Phelps and Griscom, 1973). Additional research is needed to determine circulation patterns in the bay. Preliminary data indicate that most water transport is in the channel and, furthermore, that the direction of water movement is significantly affected by wind stress (Hale et al., 1975). Bathymetric data collected by the Corps of Engineers and on file at the National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center (NGSDC) are available for 1961, 1962, and 1966 for Little Narragansett Bay and the Pawcatuck River up to Westerly. The data are not mapped, but listed by the depth meters at locations described by longitude and latitude. Average water flow in the Pawcatuck River is 550 to 600 cubic feet per second; the recorded maximum and minimum are 4,000 ft.3/sec. and 70 ft.3/sec., respectively (Phelps and Griscom, 1973). The same report states that, in 1969, maximum flows of 1,100 ft.3/sec. were observed in the spring (April) and minimum flows (95 ft.3/sec.) in the fall (October). Seasonal river discharge at Westerly has been measured by the U.S. Geological Survey since 1940. An example of their annual records is shown in Table 3. Table 3 MEAN WATER DISCHARGE (IN CUBIC FEET PER SECOND) OF PAWCATUCK RIVER-OCTOBER 1975 TO SEPTEMBER 1976 Day OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP 1 244 354 985 1460 2040 768 730 501 320 152 171 134 2 225 336 918 1340 2130 738 888 655 342 155 174 130 3 212 315 842 1250 2160 738 932 842 354 155 163 130 4 204 304 768 1250 2050 752 880 842 342 148 148 134 5 186 304 700 1140 1860 775 805 738 320 144 137 130 6 178 289 655 918 1680 790 745 648 299 141 130 127 7 182 289 627 910 1460 775 662 592 283 141 127 124 8 199 294 599 1270 1370 730 662 557 273 134 199 124 9 204 325 599 1430 1230 692 641 529 273 134 550 120 10 195 348 775 1290 1160 708 613 501 259 127 842 113 11 186 388 860 1170 1090 678 599 473 244 120 738 127 12 199 414 820 1080 1060 700 571 494 239 124 529 124 13 225 880 760 970 1020 865 564 550 225 124 359 124 14 254 1490 720 1360 970 1160 550 543 221 117 278 120 o 15 254 1450 685 1600 932 1180 536 515 216 113 225 117 16 244 1310 648 1520 925 1120 529 473 212 113 204 120 17 230 1130 620 1460 94Q 1230 522 522 208 113 182 120 18 263 932 606 1290 970 1210 513 550 208 120 174 127 19 426 805 599 1080 985 1100 508 557 199 120 163 130 20 494 715 557 1030 985 1030 494 564 199 113 152 134 21 459 662 536 948 962 992 487 529 205 110 144 130 22 401 888 536 880 970 940 480 529 199 107 141 124 23 365 1000 543 730 1130 880 473 473 195 104 137 120 24 336 985 550 798 1140 828 466 432 178 117 134 120 25 342 940 550 798 1070 782 480 401 174 120 134 117 26 550 872 700 798 992 745 557 388 167 110 137 120 27 564 865 1660 1060 925 722 592 376 163 98 137 124 28 515 1110 1740 2130 865 730 578 365 167 95 152 127 29 445 1160 1610 2630 812 760 543 348 152 95 155 124 30 395 1080 1450 2520 --- 752 515 336 155 98 152 124 31 376 --- 1460 2310 --- 715 --- 325 -~ 120 144 --- TOTAL 9552 22234 25678 40420 35883 26585 18117 16148 6991 3782 7212 3739 MEAN 308 741 828 1304 1237 858 604 521 233 122 233 125 MAX 564 1490 1740 2630 2160 1230 932 842 354 155 842 134 MIN 178 289 536 730 812 678 466 325 152 95 127 113 CFSM 1.04 2.51 2.81 4.42 4.19 2.91 2.05 1.77 .79 .41 .79 .42 IN. 1.20 2.80 3.24 5.10 4.52 3.35 2.28 2.04 .88 .48 .91 .47 CAL YR 1975 TOTAL 213590 MEAN 585 MAX 1740 MIN 95 CFSM 1.98 IN. 26.93 WTR YR 1976 TOTAL 216341 MEAN 591 MAX 2630 MIN 95 CFSM 2.00 IN. 27.28 LOCATION -- Lat 41023'01", long 71050'01", Washington County, Hydrologic Unit 01090005, on left bank at Westerly, 2.1 mi (3.4 km) downstream from Shannock River. DRAINAGE AREA -- 295 mi2 (764 km2). PERIOD OF RECORD -- Discharge: November 1940 to current year. Chemical analyses: Water years 1953, 1963 (partial-record station). REVISED RECORDS -- WSP 1051: Drainage area. GAGE -- Water-stage recorder. Datum of gage is 1.76 ft (0.536 m) below mean sea level. REMARKS -- Records good. .Diurnal fluctuation at low flow prior to 1962 by mills upstream; regulation much greater prior to 1958. Diversion upstream for municipal supply of Westerly. Several observa- tions of water temperatures were made during the year. AVERAGE DISCHARGE -- 35 years (water years 1942-76), 566 ft3/s (16.03 m3/s), .26.06 in/yr (662 mm/yr). EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD -- Maximum discharge, 4,470 ft3/s (127 m3/s) Mar. 18, 1968, gage height, 10.49 ft (3.197 m); maximum gage height, 12.16 ft (3.706 m) Aug. 31, 1954, backwater from tide; minimum daily discharge, 25 ft /s (0.71 m3/s) Aug. 17, 1941. EXTREMES OUSIDE PERIOD OF RECORD -- Flood in March 1936 reached a discharge of 3,150 ft3/s (89.2 m3/s), by computation of flow over dam 1.5 mi (2.4 km) upstream. Maximum discharge since 1886 occurred in November 1927 and was possibly more than twice that in March 1936. Maximum stage since at least 1935, 15.0 ft (4.57 m) Sept. 21, 1938, due to hurricane tidal wave. EXTREMES FOR CURRENT YEAR -- Maximum discharge, 2,670 ft /s (75.6 m3/s) Jan. 29, gage height, 7.57 ft (2.307 m); maximum gage height, 7.62 ft (2.233 m) Feb. 2, backwater from tide; minimum daily discharge, 95 ft3/s (2.69 m3/s) July 28, 29. From USGS, 1976 22 STORMS Storms have resulted in dramatic changes to Napatree. The Hurricane of 1938 killed 18 people on Napatree, destroyed the 39 homes located on the point, the yacht club, the beach club, and the bathing pavilion. A number of inhabited houses were washed across the bay; 27 people survived the trip (Seaside Topics, 1968), Winds were estimated to reach 185 mph during that hurricane (Sculco, 1972). The 1938 hurricane also separated Sandy Point from Napatree Point, a separation that not only has been maintained but is increasing. The only land on Napatree which came through the hurricane unscathed was the point near the fort. The rest - the dunes and the beach - was eroded away by waves washing over the point and the beach. Public and private bath houses, cabanas, and a beach club were rebuilt on Napatree after 1938; all but the beach club were subse- quently washed away by the 1954 hurricane (Seaside Topics, 1954). The beach has been left in a natural state since 1954; however, approximately 30 washover or blow-out areas remain. WATER CHEMISTRY Several studies have been performed on the Pawcatuck River, including measurements of chemicals (Table 4, Figure 4). The Water Resources Report (U.S. Department of Interior, USGS, 1971) gives maximum and minimum dissolved oxygen and temperature values for May to October of 1971 at White Rock (Tables A-1 and A-2). Average maximum dissolved oxygen levels increased from May to a high in August (14.0 mg/l) followed by a gradual decrease to a low value in October of 10.7 mg/l, Minimum levels did not show the same trend, being lowest in July and August (4.0 mg/l) and highest in May (6.0 mg/l), Average maximum temperatures were highest in July, at 29.50C. (August value is missing). Two studies were conducted for the upstream area, well into the freshwater portion of the river. Richard Wood (1972) made measurements at Kenyon, RI (at Route 2), where a textile dyeing factory is located. Temperature, coliform, and phos- phate all peaked in summer, in inverse relation to discharge (Table A-4). Another study (Hargraves and Wood, 1967) included one station on a tributary of the Pawcatuck (at Usquepaug River). Both phosphate and nitrate were always detectable at the station when sampled (March to October of 1964), Maximum phosphate values were observed in early summer, and maximum nitrate in late summer. Silicate remained high throughout the study period. Dissolved oxygen levels varied with temperature, oxygen saturation values being more constant. Table 4 WATER CHEMISTRY DATA BASE Investigator Sampling Period River Location Parameters Sampled :* U.S. Dept. of Interior 5/77-10/77 Freshwater-White Rock, RI dissolved oxygen, * temperature Richard Wood 1971-1972 Freshwater-Kenyon, RI temperature, pH,alka- linity, dissolved oxygen, % oxygen saturation, conduc- tivity, phosphate, nitrate, color, tur- bidity, velocity, dis- charge, coliform Hargraves and Wood 1964 Freshwater-at Usquepaug phosphate, nitrate, River silicate, dissolved oxygen, temperature Rhode Island Department 8/22/73 Estuary & freshwater - co of Health* from river mouth upstream to Richmond, RI flow, temperature, dis- solved oxygen, bio- chemical oxygen demand, total coliform, fecal coliform, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, total copper, total zinc Rhode Island Department 1970-1973 Estuary temperature, salinity, of Environmental Mgmt.* dissolved oxygen Henry Stebbins & Wheeler 1970-1977 Estuary temperature, density, High School Students** salinity, acidity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform data in tables in Appendix **data on file in Coastal Resources Center data on file in Coastal Resources Center 24 The Rhode Island Department of Health conducted a Water Quality Survey on the Pawcatuck River Basin on August 22, 1973. Values for temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), bio- chemical oxygen demand (BOD), total coliform, fecal coli- form, ammonia nitrogen, total copper, and total zinc were collected at 12 stations, from the mouth of the river, upstream to the Shannock Dam in Richmond, RI (Table A-3, Figure 4). Nitrate and nitrite values are also listed at these 12 stations in the New England River Basins Modeling Project - Final Report. They found that water quality varies with adjacent land use. The Wickford Marine Fisheries Laboratory of the Department of Environmental Management collected temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen data at four stations in the Pawcatuck River Estuary (Table A-5 and Figure 4) from 1970 to 1973 (Sisson, unpublished data). All stations were in the saline portion of the river. Dissolved oxygen values were lowest in July, August, and September, and highest in March and April. Henry Stebbins and his biology students at Wheeler High School in North Stonington, Connecticut, are currently involved in a study of the estuarine portion of the Pawcatuck River. Temperature, density, salinity, acidity, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, and fecal coliform were measured from 1970 to 1977. Copies of the data are on file at the Coastal Resources Center. POLLUTION In the Pawcatuck River Basin Water Quality Management Plan (RISPP and RIDOH, 1976), the Pawcatuck River has been divided into segments for planning purposes. Each segment is a section of a water body with common water-quality characteristics and use classification. The first three segments of the Pawcatuck River Basin include Little Narra- gansett Bay and the Pawcatuck River Estuary. The first segment, Little Narragansett Bay from Napatree Point to Rhodes Point at the mouth of the river, is desig- nated Class SA by the Department of Health. It is not in compliance with its water-quality designation, however, and therefore is closed to shellfishing. Sources of pollution are upstream industrial, municipal, and individual discharges from Westerly and Pawcatuck, Connecticut. The 2.3-mile segment of the estuary from Rhodes Point to Pawcatuck Rock is classified SB. This segment is also not in compliance with its water-quality designation, because of upstream discharges. 25 The upper reach of the estuary, the third segment, extends from Pawcatuck Rock to the Stillmanville Dam in Westerly. It is in compliance with its class designation of SC. How- ever, the amount of polluted discharge is greater than the assimilative capacity in the segment. This results in the degradation of downstream areas. The three major sources of effluent in this segment are the Westerly Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant, the Yardney Electric Corporation, and the Harris Intertype Corporation. PLANKTON No studies have been conducted on phytoplankton or zooplank- ton in the Pawcatuck River Estuary or in Little Narragansett Bay. However, a survey of phytoplankton and zooplankton has been made in a small stream and estuary, adjacent to Barn Island Reserve Area in Wequetequock, Stonington, Connecticut (Blackstone, 1970). The 0.7-mile stream empties into Little Narragansett Bay on the Connecticut side of Pawcatuck Point. Blackstone collected plankton from three upstream stations. A survey examining the vertical zonation of algae and inverte- brates was conducted at the three most downstream saline stations. The list of plankton reported is too extensive to reproduce here; the paper is on file at the Coastal Resources Center. BIOTA Macroflora Macroalgae: A bottom survey conducted in April 1970 of the Kitchen area off Napatree Point (White, 1972) indi- cated the presence of five macrofloral species: Zostera marina (eel grass), Ulva lactuca, Laminaria saccharina, Codium fragile, and Dulse (species name not given). Rela- tive abundances were not recorded. Salt Marsh: An in-depth investigation of the Wequetequock-Pawcatuck tidal marsh on the Connecticut side of Little Narragansett Bay was undertaken by Miller and Egler (1950) some 30 years ago. They describe several different plant communities and give lists of flora and relative abundance for each community. Their results are probably representative of the other coastal wetlands and uplands in the area. The vegetation community found furthest inland was an oak-sprout forest that included much hickory; more shoreward was an upland shrub border, followed by the tidal marsh (Figure 5). Miller and Egler classified the marsh in three sections: a narrow upper border (up to 20 m. wide) 26 TIDAL-MARSH f"ea,'t PANICUM VIRGATUM - 2- UPLANDPER 3 FOREST UPLAND .ER JUNCUS SHRUB BORDER ILOP y J BORDER 5\�UPPER SLOPE SPARTINA PATENS R. t$G~~ffLOWER SLOPE SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA LOWER BORDER Di9 117 i~ ___<~' PEAT AND MUCKJg - GLACIAL TILL -- FIGURE 5 Upland-to-Bay Vegetation Sequence of Wequetequock-Pawcatuck Tidal Marsh Diagrammatic cross-section of the upland-to-bay sequence, showing the characteristics of the major vegetational units. Vertical scale is greatly exaggerated. From Miller and Egler, copyright 1950 by the Ecological Society of America. 27 dominated by Panicum virgatum and Spartina pectinata; a 7-to-10-meter-wide upper slope covered with dense Juncus vegetation (Figure 6); and a Spartina patens lower slope; where few species other than S. patens occur (Figure 7). Sometimes Distichlis spicata is abundant in this last zone, but rarely does it gain over 50 percent coverage. The S. patens community is similar to the Juncus community. Finally, a thin (2 m. wide) line of Spartina alterniflora is found on the water's edge both along the bay and along mosquito ditches. Coverage by species other than S. alterniflora is even less frequent here than in other zones (Figure 8). In addition to the aforementioned communities, panne communities are found on the marsh which are surrounded by S. alterniflora and then by Forb pannes. The structure and appearance of these panne communitiesare quite different though the species present are nearly the same, with one exception (Figures 9 and 10). Miller and Egler also discuss the estuaries of this region. Zostera marina is often found at the estuary mouth and S. alterniflora along the edge. These estuaries are charac- terized by natural levees caused by the deposition of sedi- ment as currents slowed by grasses overflow the banks. Barrier Beach: Vegetation on the barrier beach at Napatree was studied by Mills and Sisson (1972). Sampling along a transect, they found that 75 percent of the area was beach grass habitat, 15 to 20 percent was upland vege- tation, and salt marsh covered 5 to 10 percent of the area. A list of species, by zone, is included in Table 5. The beach grass zone, dominated by beach grass, also included much beach pea and seaside goldenrod. The transition zone, which begins behind the Kitchen area, was vegetated with bayberry, poison ivy, spike grass, sea rose, and other scrubby vegetation. The soil here is sandy to silty, and, because of its higher organic content, retains more water than soil in the beach grass zone. Also located in this zone is a small salt marsh, at the base of the fort, that is colonized by Spartina pectinata, Spartina patens, Spartina alterniflora, Panicum virgatum, Distichlis spicata, and Phragmites communis. Salt water seeps up from under the ground to supply this marsh. A small drainage channel from the Kitchen area also supplies salt water during perigee tides. The third community of upland vegetation includes many species, which have probably been imported by birds or humans. At the fort, the soil is organically rich and plant life includes bayberry, European grasses, ox-eye daisies, black-eyed susans, red cedar, Queen Anne's lace, sumac, and wild grape. FREQUENCY MANNER OF OCCURRENCE (PERCENT) RARE OCCASIONAL ABUNDANT ASTER TENUIFOLIUS 86 I ATRIPLEX PATULA HASTATA 56 DISTICHLIS SPICATA 98 GERARDIA MARITIMA 42 IVA ORARIA 70 JUNCUS OERARDI 100 LIMONIUM CAROLINIANUM 88 PLANTAGO DECIPIENS 6 SALICORNIA EUROPAEA 98 SALICORNIA MUCRONATA 8 SOLIDAGO SEMPERVIRENS 4 SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA 28 I SPARTINA PATENS 26 SUAEDA MARITIMA AND LINEARIS 4 TRIGLOCHIN MARITIMA ; 6 FIGURE 6 Vegetation of Juncus Upper Slope Frequency and manner-of-occurrence of the species of the Juncus upper slope. The length of the bar is proportional to the number of quadrats showing the respective degree of occurrence. From Miller and Egler, copyright 1950 by the Ecological Society of America. 29 SPECIES FREQUENCY MANNER OF OCCURRENCE (PERCENT) RARE OCCASIONAL ABUNDANT ASTER TENUIFOLIUS 44 ATRIPLEX PATULA HASTATA 30 DISTICHLIS SPICATA 94 GERARDIA MARITIMA 22 IVA ORARIA I 4 JUNcUS GERARDI 6 LIMONIUM CAROLINIANUM 20 SALICORNIA EUROPAEA 82 SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA 20 SPARTINA PATENS 94 FIGURE 7 Vegetation of Spartina patens Lower Slope Frequency and manner-of-occurrence of the Spartina patens lower slope. The length of the bar is proportional to the number of quadrats showing the respective degree of occurrence. PEES FREQUENCYI MANNER OF OCCURRENE s(PERCENT) RARE I OCCASIONAL I ABUNDANT ASTER TENUIFOLIUS 12 LIMONIUM CAROLINIANUM 2 SALICORNIA EUROPAEA l0 SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA 100 SPARTINA PATENS 6 FIGURE 8 Vegetation of Spartina alterniflora Lower Border Frequency and manner-of-occurrence of the species of the Spartina alterniflora lower border. The length of the bar is proportional to the number of quadrats showing the respective degree of occurrence. From Miller and Egler, copyright 1950 by the Ecological Society of America. 30 FREQUENCY MANNER OF OCCURRENCE SPECIES PERCENT) RARE OCCASIONAL ABUNDANT ASTER TENUIFOLIUS 8 DISTICHLIS SPICATA 20 GERARDIA MARITIMA 20 LIMONIUM CAROLINIANUM 40 PLANTAGO DEGIPIENS 4 SALIGORNIA EUROPAEA 88 SALICORNIA MUGRONATA 46 SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA 100 SPARTINA PATENS 64 SPERGULARIA MARINA AND GANADENSIS + TRISLOCHIN MARITIMA 8 FIGURE 9 Vegetation of the Stunted Spartina alterniflora Community Frequency and manner-of-occurrence of the species of the stunted Spartina alterniflora community. The length of the bar is proportional to the number of quadrats showing the respective degree of occurrence. FREOUENCY MANNER OF OCCURRENCE (PERCENT) RARE OCCGGASIONAL ABUNDANT ASTER TENUIFOLIUS 66 - I DISTICHLIS SPICATA 64 S- _ l GERARDIA MARITIMA 100 , JUNCUS BERARDI 10 LIMONIUM CAROLINIANUM 100 _ _ I 1 PLANTAGO DECIPIENS 100 _ m SALICORNIA EUROPAEA 86 SAUCORNIA MUCRONATA 90 _ SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA 100 . I SPARTINA PATENS 90 _ * SPERGULARIA MARINA AND CANADENSIS + TlIOLoonIn MARITIMA 100 _ _ FIGURE 10 Vegetation of the Forb Panne Frequency and manner-of-occurrence of the species of the Forb panne. The length of the bar is proportional to the number of quadrats showing the respective degree of occur- rence. From Miller and Egler, copyright 1950 by the Ecological Society of America. 31 Table 5 VEGETATION ON NAPATREE Common Name Latin Name Sand Trans Upi Marsh Adams Flannel Verbasawn thapsus x Bayberry Myrica pensyZvanica x x Beach Grass Ammophila breviligulata x Beach Pea Lathyrus japonicus x Beach Plum Prunus maritima x Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta x x Canadian Thistle Cersium arvense x Common Evening Oenothera biennis x Primrose Common Saltwort SaZsola kali x Dew Berry Rubus fZageZZarum x Dusty Miller Artemisia stelleriana x English Plaintain Plantago ZanceoZata x x European Grasses spp. x Glassworts Salicornia spp. x Lichens (on drift- spp. x wood) Ox-eye Daisy Chrysanthemum Zeucanthemum x x Panic Grass Panicum virgatum x x Poison Ivy Rhus radicans x x Queen Anne's Lace Daucus carota x Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana x x Red Soldier Cladonia christatella x (lichen) Salt Meadow Cord- Spartina patens x x grass Sea Beach - Sand- Arenaria pepZoides x wort Sea Oats UnioZa panicuZata x Sea Rocket Cakile edentuZa x Sea Rose Rosa rugosa x Seaside goldenrod SoZidago sempervirens x Seaside spurge Euphorbia polygonifolia x Sumac Rhus spp. x Spike grass DistichZis spicata x x Tall Cordgrass Spartina pectinata x x Tall Reed Phragmites communis x x Wild Grape Vitis rupestris x Wormwood Artemisia caudata x Wood Lily Lilium phiZadelphiaum x Algae and sea grasses observed along the outer beach: AscophyZZum modosum-rockweed Laminaria agardhii-kelp Chondrus crispus-Irish moss Rhodyomenia paZmata-dulse Codium fragiZe-Japanese oyster weed Ulva Zactuca-sea lettuce Enteromorpha intestinalis Zostera marina-eel grass Fucus vesicuZosis-rockweed From Mills and Sisson, 1972 32 Sculco (1972) studied revegetation in the beach grass zone. He observed that beach grass first ventured into an unvege- tated but protected area by spreading rhizomes. Following some stabilization of the substrate, beach pea moved in, growing higher as the beach grass grew more dense. Lastly, seaside goldenrod colonized the area. Periphyton * Studies of periphyton and water chemistry have been per- formed in two freshwater sections of the Pawcatuck River, one at Kenyon (Wood, 1972) and one in the Usquepaug River (Hargraves and Wood, 1967). At Usquepaug, a total of 24 species were found with diatoms dominant in the spring, followed by green algae and some blue-green algae. A seasonal species list for the Kenyon and Peace Dale stations is included in Table 6. Benthos Many commercially valuable shellfish inhabit the Little Narragansett Bay and Pawcatuck River Estuary. The estuary is presently closed to shellfishing, however, because of pollution. Quahaugs (Mercenaria mercenaria) and a produc- tive population of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are found in the Pawcatuck (Olsen and Stevenson, 1975). Surf clams (Spisula solidissima) and soft-shelled clams (Mya arenaria) have also been reported in Little Narragansett Bay (Mills and Sisson, 1972). In 1975, scallops (Aequipecten irradians) were abundant in Little Narragansett Bay between Westerly and Stonington after being absent for several years. This area had been seeded one year earlier. Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) are found on the west side of Napatree Point and on Sandy Point. Beginning in April 1970, Ronald White (1972) made qualitative surveys of benthic life in the Kitchen area off Napatree Point by visual observation using SCUBA. At that time, the only infaunal organisms seen were quahaugs. The epifauna observed are listed in Table 7. Numerous benthic species were undoubtedly missed by White's sampling technique. White observed dramatic changes in the Kitchen's benthic fauna during the two years of his survey. In May 1971, the number of quahaugs seemed the same as in April 1970, but by August numbers had decreased. By November 1971, periwinkles had greatly increased in number, looking like a "continuous carpet of snails" from a distance greater than four feet. The final observations for this survey * periphyton is a term which applies to the total assemblage of sessile, or attached, flora on any substrate. 33 Table 6 SEASONAL PERIODICITY AMONG THE MORE PREVALENT PERIPHYTON SPECIES IN THE PAWCATUCK RIVER AT KENYON AND IN THE SAUGATUCKET RIVER AT PEACE DALE, R.I. Permanent flora (present throughout the year): Achnanthes Zinearis var. pusilZa Melosira amnbigua Cocconeis placentula Meridion circulare var. con- Eunotia eZegans stricta E. pectinaZis Nitzschia sublinearis E. pectinaclis var. biarcuata Pinnularia biceps E. pectinaZis var. minor StigeocZonium subsecundum FragiZaria virescens (prostrate colonies) Gomphonema angustatum var. producta TabeZZaria fenestrata T. flocculosa Spring flora (increasing in spring, some (marked S or F) continuing into the summer and/or fall): AsterioneZla formosa +S Gomphonema acuminatum Coleochaete sp. no. 1 +S,F var. coronata +F CymbeZlZa ventricosa G, parvuZwn +S,F Eunotia elegans MeZosira granulata E. exigua NavicuZa mutica FragiZaria crotonensis PinnuZaria viridis Gloeothece sp. no. 1 Scenedesmus quadricauda SurirelZa sp. +S Summer flora (increasing in summer, some (marked F) continuing into fall): Achnanthes lanceolata Navicula cryptocephdla CoZeochaete orbicularis Nitzschia vermicuZaris +F C. sp. no. 1 +F Oscillatoria princeps +F Eunotia naegelii 0. sp. no. 2 Fall flora (increasing in fall, some (marked Sp) continuing into spring): Achnanthes minutissima Eunotia incisa CymbeZZa ventricosa +Sp NavicuZa rhynchocephaZa From Wood, 1972. 34 Table 7 BENTHIC FAUNA OF THE PAWCATUCK RIVER ESTUARY AND LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMON NAME LATIN NAME INFAUNA Quahaug Mercenaria mercenaria Soft-shelled clam Mya arenaria* Surf clam Spisula solidissima* EPIFAUNA Bay scallop Aequipecten irradians Blue crab CalZinectes sapidus Rock crab Cancer irroratus Green crab Carcinus maenas Oyster Crassostrea virginica k* Mole crab Emerita talpoida Mud crab Eurypanopeus sp. Lobster Homarus americanus Spider crab Libinia emarginata Horseshoe crab LimuZus poZyphemus Periwinkle Littorina Zittorea Mussel MytiZus edulis Lady crab Ovaipes oceflatus Moon snail Polenices duplicatus Oyster drill Urosalpinx cinerea not listed by White but reported by Mills and Sisson not listed by White but reported by Olsen and Stevenson Adopted from White, 1972 35 were made from April through June.of 1972. At that time, the number of blue, lady, and rock crabs, as well as of scallops and lobsters, had decreased, A number of dead blue and rock crabs were seen, and quahaugs were observed to be dead or dying. Periwinkles, moon snails,and hermit crabs were all more abundant than before. White attri- buted these population changes to increased silt and decaying matter on the bottom, which results in the production of hydrogen sulfide. Artificial Reef Biota: Alfieri (1975) studied the growth of attached biota to two artificial reefs placed in Little Narragansett Bay off the west coast of Napatree Point in July, 1972 and June, 1973. Five species of macro- algae became permanent residents on an automobile tire reef, with Polysiphonia the dominant species throughout the experiment. In addition to macroalgae, a number of invertebrates colonized the reef and three species of fish commonly associated with the reef. A list of permanent, part-time, and visitor species found on or around the reef is shown in Table 8. Metals and Pesticides in Shellfish: The New England Regional Laboratory of the Environmental Protection Agency (Wong, 1973-1976) collected oysters and quahaugs at the mouth of the Pawcatuck River (see Figure 4) in 1973, 1974, and 1976. The shellfish were analyzed for seven heavy metals and for pesticides. Tables 9 and 10 present the results of the chemical analyses. In addition, the Rhode Island Department of Health collec- ted data in the fall of 1977 on three heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and chromium) in oysters at three stations (see Figure 4) in the estuary. The reported values are shown in Table ll. Birds Napatree is an excellent area for bird watching, due to its location on the migration route and its diversity of habitats. More than 125 bird species (Table 12) have been observed there, including many nesting shore and land birds. Mammals Eleven mammal species have been reported on Napatree (Table 13). Small mammals are present, particularly in upland regions where food and cover are available. White- tail deer occasionally visit Napatree. Other mammals probably inhabit shore areas, but have not been reliably reported. 36 Table 8 LIST OF SPECIES FOUND ON OR AROUND THE ARTIFICIAL REEF WEST OF NAPATREE POINT IN LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY Latin Name Common Name Rhodophyceae Red algae *Polysiphonia sp. -Dasya pediceZlata +GraciZaria sp, and family -Porphyra sp. Dulse, purple laver +Ceramium sp. and family Chlorophyceae Green algae *Enteromorpha sp. +Ulva sp. Sea lettuce, sea laver *CZadophera sp. -Codiwnum sp. Sea moss Phaecophyceae Brown seaweed *Laminaria sp. Kelp *Chordaria sp. Bootlace weed Protozoa +Foraminifera Foraminiferans Hydrozoa* Ectoprocta *SchizoporeZZa sp, -BuguZa sp. Bryozoan PeZecypoda Bivalves +MytiZus edulus Blue mussels -Anomia sp. Jingle shells Gastropoda Snails +Littorina obtusata Periwinkles +Crepidula sp. Slipper shells +EupZeura caudata Oyster drills -Urosalpinx sp. Oyster drills AnneZida Segmented worms +Polychaeta Marine worm Crustacea *CapreZZa geometrica Amphipod +Callinectes sapidus Blue crab +Homarus americanus Lobster -Libinia emerginata Spider crab *BaZunus sp. Barnacle +Cancer borealis Jonah crab Asteroida Starfish *Asterias forbesi Starfish Ascidiacea +Botryllus sp. Sea squirt Pisces Fish *Tautogolabrus adspersus Tautog -Hemitripterus americanus Sea raven +Tautoga onitis Tautog *= permanent += part time -= visitor From Alfieri, 1975 Table 9 AMOUNTS OF HEAVY METALS IN OYSTERS & QUAHAUGS IN ppm (DRY WEIGHT) Collection Benthic Mercury Zinc Copper r Lead Cadmium Nickel Chromium Date Organism (Hg) (Zn) (Cu) (Pb) (Cd) (Ni) (Cr) 6/20/73 Oyster -- 4500 230 -- 7.0 2 2 3/13/74 Oyster .87 4700 200 20 4.0 -- - 5/26/74 Oyster .52 4600 220 10 --- 10 - 5/12/76 Quahaug .8 7580 326 10 7.9 -- 2 from EPA, unpublished data Table 10 PESTICIDE CONCENTRATION IN OYSTERS & QUAHAUGS IN ppb (20 GRAMS OF SHELLFISH MEAT) Collection Benthic I P,P/DDT O,P/DDT P,P/DDE O,P/DDE Dieldrin PCB'S (arachlor) Date Organism I I I 1248 1254 1260 5/20/73 Quahaug ND ND ND ND ND C1OO | 40 50 5/26/74 Oyster ND -- 28 ND ND -- 167 -- ND = not detectable (The sensitivity of the test no detectable levels is 10 ppb.) from EPA, unpublished data Table 11 AMOUNTS OF HEAVY METALS IN OYSTERS IN ppm (WET WEIGHT*)- FALL, 1977 Stations I Lead (Pb) Cadmium (Cd) I Chromium (Cr) Avondale Boat Yard 1.06 .31 .32 South of Pawcatuck Rock .56 .78 .31 Mouth of Pawcatuck River (Breen Rd.) trace .23 .15 *Wet weight measurements can be roughly compared to dry weight values by multiplying by 10, i.e. wet weight x 10 = dry weight. From R.I. Department of Health, unpublished data Table 12 BIRDS OF NAPATREE POINT Group Name Common Name Latin Name Water Beach Trans Upl Nest Loons Gaviidae Common Loon Gavia immer x Red-Throated Gavia stellata x Grebes CoZymbidae Horned CoZymbus auritus x B Pied-Billed PodiZymbus podiceps x Shearwaters Proceliariidae S Sooty Puffinus griseus x Cormorants Phaiacrocoracidae Great Phatacrocorax carbo x Double-Crested Phalacrocorax auritus x x Herons Ardeidae Great Blue Ardea herodias x x Green Butorides virescens x x Common Egret Casmerodius aZbus x x S Snowy Egret Leucophoyx thuta x Black-Crowned Night Nycticorax nycticorax x Bitterns Ardeidae S American Botaurus Zentiginosus x Swans Cygninae Mute Cygnus oZor x x Geese Anserinae Canada Branta canadensis x x Brant Branta bernicia x x S Snow Chen hyperborea x Surface Ducks Anatinae Mallard Anas platyrhynchos x x Black Anas rubripes x x S Gadwall Anas strepera x B American Widgeon Mareca americana x Diving Ducks Aythyinae Canvasback Aythya vaiisineria x Greater Scaup Aythya mariZa x Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis x Common Goldeneye Glaucionetta clanguZa x Bufflehead GZaucionetta atbeoZa x Oldsquaw Ciangula hyemaZis x SB Harlequin Histrionicus histrioncus x Common Eider Somateria motZissima x SB King Eider Somateria spectabiZis x White Winged Scoter Metanitta fusca x Surf Scoter Metanitta perspicillata x Common Scoter Oidemia nigra x S Ruddy Duck Erismatura jamaicensis x . Mergansers Merginae Red-Breasted Mergus serrator x 39 Table 12 (cont.) Group Name Common Name Latin Name Water Beach Trans UpI Nest Hawks Accipitrinae, Buteoninae FaZconinae, Circinae,Pandionidae S Sharp-Shinned Accipiter striatus x x x B Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephaZus x x x Marsh Hawk Circus cyaneus x x x SB Osprey Pandion haliaetus x x x Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus x x x S Pigeon Hawk Falco coumnbarius x x x Sparrow Hawk FaZco sparverius x x x Oyster-catchers Haematopodidae American Haematopus palliatus x x Plovers Charadriidae Semipalmated Charadrius hiaticuZa x Piping Charadrius melodus x x Killdeer Charadrius vociferus x SB Golden PZuviaZis dominica x Black-Bellied Squatarota squatarola x Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres x Sandpipers Scolopacidae Common Snipe Capella galbinago x B Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus x Spotted Sand. Actitis macularia x x S Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus x Greater Yellow Legs Totanus metanoleucus x SB Knot Calidris canutus x Purple Sand. Erolia maritima x White Rumped Sand. EroZia fuscicollis x S Baird's Sand. Erolia bairdii x Least Sand. EroZia minutiZla x Dunlin Erolia aleina x SB Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus x Semipalmated Sand. Ereunetes pusillus x S Buff-Breasted Sand. Tryngites subruficoibis x Sanderling Crocethia atba x Phalarope PhaZaropodidae S Wilson's Steganopus tricolor x Jaegar Stercorariidae S Parasitic Stercorarius parasiticus x S Long-Tailed Stercorarius Zongicaudus x Gulls Larinae Great Black-Backed Larus marinus x x Herring Larus argentatus x x Ring-Billed Larus delawarensis x x S Laughing Larus atricibla x x Bonaparte's Larus philadelphia x x Terns Sterninae S Forster's Sterna forsteri x x 40 Table 12 (cont.) Group Name Common Name Latin Name Water Beach Trans Upi Nest Common Sterna hirundo x x Roseate Sterna dougallii x x Least Sterna aZbifrons x x S Royal ThaZasseus maximus x x S Caspian Hydroprogne caspia x x S Black Chlidonias nigra x x Skimmers Rynahopidae S Black Rynchops nigra x Alcids Alcidae S Razorbill AZca torda x S Dovekie PZautus aZle x Doves CoZumbidae B Mourning Zenaidura macroura x Owls Tytonidae & Strigidae SB Snowy Nyecta scandiaca x x x Short-eared Asio facmmeus x x Woodpeckers Picidae Yellow-shafted flicker CoZaptes auratus x x x B Downy Dendrocopus pubescens x Flycatchers Tyrannidae Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus x x Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe x x Larks Alaudidae Horned Eremophila alpestris x x Swallows Hirundinidae Tree Iridoprocne bicoZor x x x Bank Riparia riparia x x x x Barn Hirundo rustica x x x x Cliff Petrochelidon pyrrhonota x Jays-Crows Corvidae Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata x Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos x x Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus x Titmice Paridae Black-Capped Chickadee Parus atricapillus x x Wren Troglodytidae S Short-Billed Marsh Cistothorus platensis x Mimics Mimidae Catbird Dumetella caroZinensis x x Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum x x Thrushes Turdidae Robin Turdus migratorius x x Kinglets SyZviidae SB Golden-Crowned Regulus satrapa x SB Ruby-Crowned Regulus caZendula x Pipits MotaciZZidae SB American Anthus spinotetta x x 41 Table 12 (cont.) Group Name Common Name Latin Name Water Beach Trans Upl Nest Starlings Sturnidae Starling Sturnus vulgaris x x Warblers Parulidae Yellow Dendroica petechia x x x Myrtle Dendroica coronata x x S Palm Dendroica palmarum x x Yellow-throat Geothylpis trichas x x x Weaver Finches PZoceidae House Sparrow Passer domesticus x x x Blackbirds Icteridae Eastern Meadowlark SturneZZa magna x Redwinged AgeZaius phoeniceus x x x x Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula x x x S Cowbird Molothrus ater x Finches Fringillidae Purple Carpodacus purpureus x x x House Carpodacus mexicanus x x x Gold Spinus tristis x x S Pine Siskin Spinus pinus x x S Redpoll Acanthis ftammea x x Sparrows FringiZlidae Rufous-Sided Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus x x Ipswich Sparrow PassercuZus princeps x S Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis x x x Song Sparrow Melospiza meZodia x x x x Slate-colored Junco Junco hyemalis x S Snow Bunting PZectrophenax nivalis x x x S Observed by Eloise Saunders of Westerly, RI B Observed by Lawrence E. Brooks of Stonington, CT From Mills and Sisson, 1972 Table 13 MAMMALS OF NAPATREE POINT Common Name Latin Name Beach Grass Transition Upland Opossum Dideiphis marsupiaZis x Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus x x x Raccoon Procyon Zotor x x * Long Tail Weasel MusteZa frenata x x x Skunk Mephitis mephitis x x x * Red Fox VuZpes fulva x x o Gray Squirrel Sciurus caroZinensis x White Footed Mouse Peromyscus Zeucopus x Meadow Vole Microtus pennsyZvanicus x Eastern Cottontail SyZviZagus ftoridans x x * White Tail Deer OdoeoiZeus virginianus x * Not verified by survey observations but likely visitors or residents of Napatree o Observed by Eloise Saunders in a year of high populations From Mills and Sisson, 1972 43 Fish The most extensive fish survey of Little Narragansett Bay and the Pawcatuck River was conducted at the mouth of the River with a 50-foot, 1/4-inch-mesh minnow seine (Gordon, 1958). The American eel (Anguilla rostrata) was abundant both in the river and in Little Narragansett Bay, in sizes ranging from 6 to 36 inches. Other species found were striped bass (Morone americana; range of 7-12 inches; river), anchovy (Anchoa mitchilli; abundant; river mouth), pipefish (Syngnathus fuscus; bay), sea sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhyncus; one 6'4", 7 miles upriver), and brook trout (Salvelinus frontinalis; in tidal reaches of the river, although it is primarily a freshwater species). Three anadromous species were also identified: smelt (Osermus mordax; there is a small gill net fishery), alewife shad (Alosa sapidissima),and alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus). Five ponds associated with the river were stocked with alewives in the early 1970s and the run is now the best in the state. The Department of Environmental Management has begun a program to reestablish shad and to introduce steelhead trout into the Pawcatuck River. The observa- tions made by Mills and Sisson (1972) and White (1972) indicate that winter flounder (PseudoDleuronectes americanus), striped bass (Morone saxatilis), bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix), tautog (Tautoga onitis), scup (Stenotomus chrysops), and sand dab (Scopthalmus aquosus) are present in Little Narragansett Bay near Napatree Point. Certainly other fish species are present, but no records are available (see Table 14 for a summary species list). WORK IN PROGRESS A study to determine the effects of land use on water quality in the Pawcatuck River Estuary, and to develop techniques for managing the estuary, is in progress at the University of Rhode Island. The purpose of this study which is being conducted by the Department of Community Planning and Area Development (Kupa et al.) is to analyze three growth and development models for the communities of Westerly and Stonington and their subsequent effects on the water quality of the Pawcatuck River Estuary. In addition, plans will be developed for carrying out an interstate estuarine management program that will maintain state standards for water quality and sustain the functional nature of the shared estuarine ecosystem. The Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of writing a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) evaluating the impacts of maintenance dredging in Little Narragansett Bay, the Pawcatuck River Estuary and Watch Hill Cove. This document is scheduled for release in 1978. 44 Table 14 FISH OF THE PAWCATUCK RIVER ESTUARY AND LITTLE NARRAGANSETT BAY Common Name Latin Name Sea sturgeon Acipenser oxyrhyncus Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus Shad Alosa sapidissima American eel Anchoa mitchilli Anchovy Anguilla rostrata Weakfish Cynoscion regalis Smelt Osmerus moidax Bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix Winter flounder PseudopZeuronectes americanus Striped bass Morone saxatilis Brook trout Salvelinus frontinalis Sand dab Scophtharnus aquosus Scup Stenotomus chrysops Pipefish Syngnathus fuscus Tautog Tautoga onitis Henry Stebbins, a biology teacher at Wheeler High School in North Stonington, Connecticut, and his students are continuing their study of the water chemistry of the Pawcatuck River Estuary. Parameters to be examined include temperature, salinity, density, and coliform count. 45 REFERENCES BY TOPICS Geomorphology Griscom, Clement. 1976. Case Study of Napatree Point Illustrating Migratory Characteristics of Landforms in a "V" Zone. In the Ocean's Reach. New England River Basins Commission. pp. 11-29. Martin, Laura Hatch. 1925, The Geology of the Stonington Region, Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 33. Napatree Point Conservation Committee. 1972. Napatree Point Conservation Area - A Status Report. Sculco, Alfred J. 1972, Vegetation Regeneration on Post- disturbed Dunes. A Study of Napatree Point Watch Hill, Rhode Island. 25 pp. Topography Hale, S.O., S.B. Saila, and C,A. Griscom. 1975. Proposal to develop a management plan for the Pawcatuck estuary and its drainage basin 7/1/75 - 6/30/76. Submitted to Rhode Island Water Resources Center. Martin, Laura Hatch. 1925. The Geology of the Stonington Region, Connecticut. State Geological and Natural History Survey Bulletin No. 33. Moore, George E., Jr. 1967. Bedrock Geologic Map of the Watch Hill Quadrangle. Washington County, Rhode Island, and New London County, Connecticut. U.S. Geologic Survey. Napatree Point Conservation Committee. 1972, Napatree Point Conservation Area - Status Report. National Geophysical and Solar-Terrestrial Data Center. 1961, 1962, 1966. Charts 8616, 8708, 8908. Code D62, Environmental Data Service, NOAA. Boulder, Colorado. Phelps, Hubbard and Clement Griscom. 1973. The Proposed Napatree Anchoring Plan-What it is and why it is needed. Sculco, Alfred J. 1972. Vegetation Regeneration on Post- disturbed Dunes. A Study of Napatree Point Watch Hill, Rhode Island. 25 ppo 46 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. 1961. Water Resources Development in Rhode Island. Waltham, Mass. pp. 22-23. U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Geologic Survey. 1976. Water Resources Data for Massachusetts and Rhode Island - Water Year 1976. Annual Report. Boston, Mass. p. 152. Chemistry Hargraves, Paul E. and R.D. Wood. 1967. Periphyton algae in selected aquatic habitats. Intern. J. Oceanology and Limnology 1 (01): 55-66. Raytheon Company. 1974. New England River Basins Modeling Project - Final Report: Volume II - Data Report, Part 2 - Rhode Island River Basins. Prepared for Office of Water Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program and Rhode Island Department of Health. 1976. Water Quality Management Plan for the Pawcatuck River Basin. Report Number 26E. Sisson, Richard T. 1970-1973. Temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen in the Pawcatuck River Estuary. Unpub- lished data, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management - Wickford Laboratory. Southeastern New England Study. 1975. Pawcatuck Planning Area Report: Draft. How to Guide Growth in New England, Part III, Vol. 10. New England River Basins Commission, Boston. U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey. 1971. Water Resources Data for Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt. pp. 113-114, 321-322. Wood, Richard D. 1972. Periphyton and Phytobenthon as Indicators of Water Quality, In Eighth Annual Report of R.I. Water Resources Center, October, 1972. pp. 46-51. Sedimentology Coastal Resources Management Council. 1977. State of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Program. p. 62. Mills, Douglas E. and Richard T. Sisson. 1972. Inventory and Management of Life at Napatree Point. 39 pp. Quist, Walter J. and Gaboury Benoit. 1972. Napatree Point Summary (1 June - 7 September 1972). 10 pp. Realini, Frank. 1972, 1973. Status Reports on Napatree Point. 47 Schafer, J.P. 1965. Surficial Geologic Map of the Watch Hill Quadrangle, Rhode Island - Connecticut. U.S. Geologic Survey. Sculco, Alfred J. 1972. Vegetation Regeneration on Post- disturbed Dunes. A Study of Napatree Point Watch Hill, Rhode Island. 25 pp. Spangler, Daniel G. 1975. Interim Soil Survey Report for Town of Westerly, Rhode Island. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England Division. 1977. Environmental Assessment-Sidecast Maintenance Dredging: Little Narragansett Bay, Stonington, Connecticut; Waltham, Massachusetts, Wong, Edward F.M. 1973-1974. Heavy metals and pesticide analysis of sediments from Pawcatuck River mouth. Unpublished data, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Regional Laboratory, Lexington, Massachusetts. Hydrography Anonymous. 1954. Watch Hill's Famous Bathing Beach from Early Days. Seaside Topics LI (13):8-9. Anonymous. 1968. Watch Hill in the Hurricane of September 21st, 1938. Special Pictorial Issue of Seaside Topics, Chas. F. Hammond, publisher, Watch Hill, R.I. Hale, S.O., S.B. Saila, and C.A. Griscom. 1975. Proposal to develop a management plan for the Pawcatuck estuary and its drainage basin 7/1/75-6/30/76. Submitted to R.I. Water Resources Center. Stebbins, Henry,et al. 1970-1977. Water chemistry data collected in the Pawcatuck River Estuary. Unpublished data. U.So Department of Interior, Geological Survey. 1971. Water Resources Data for Mass., N.H., R.I., Vt., pp. 113- 114, 321-322. Wood, Richard D. 1972. Periphyton and Phytobenthon as indicators of water quality. In Eighth Annual Report of R.I. Water Resources Center, October, 1972. pp. 46-51. Plankton Blackstone, Dan E. 1970. A Survey of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton in a Small Fresh and Brackish Water Stream. M.S. Thesis, U.R.I. 48 Macroflora Miller, William R. and Frank Eo Egler. 1950. Vegetations of the Wequetequock-Pawcatuck tidal marshes, Connecticut. Ecological Monograph 20:143-172. Mills, Douglas E, and Richard T. Sisson, 1972. Inventory and Management of Life at Napatree Point. 39 pp. Sculco, Alfred J. 1972. Vegetation Regeneration on Post- disturbed Dunes, A Study of Napatree Point Watch Hill, Rhode Island. 25 pp. White, Ronald L. 1972, A Statement of General Bottom Conditions off the Bay Side of Napatree Point. Periphyton Hargraves, Paul E. and R.D. Wood. 1967. Periphyton alga( in selected aquatic habitats. Intern. J. Oceanology and Limnology 1 (01):55-66. Wood, Richard D, 1972. Periphyton and Phytobenthon as indicators of water quality. In Eighth Annual Report of R.I. Water Resources Center, October, 1972. pp, 46-51. Benthos Alfieri, Daniel J. 1975. Organismal Development on an Artificial Substrate 1 July 1972 - 6 June 1974. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, Vol. 3. pp. 465-472. Mills, Douglas E. and Richard T. Sisson. 1972. Inventory Management of Life at Napatree Point. 39 pp. Olsen, Stephen B. and D,K. Stevenson. 1975. Commercial Marine Fish and Fisheries of Rhode Island, URI Marine Technical Report 34. Providence Journal-Bulletin. 1975. Scallop beds produce fishing okay, 10/25/75. R.I. Shellfish Advisory Committee. 1964. Unpublished draft of Report of the R.I. Shellfish Advisory Committee 2/13/64. 14 pp. R.I. Department of Health. 1977. Heavy metals in oysters in the Pawcatuck River Estuary. Unpublished data. White, Ronald L. 1972. A Statement of General Bottom Conditions off the Bay Side of Napatree Point. Wong, Edward F.M. 1973-1976. IIeavy metals and pesticide analysis of shellfish from Pawcatuck River mouth. Unpub- lished data, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England Regional Laboratory, Lexington, Massachusetts. 49 Wildlife Mills, Douglas E. and Richard T. Sisson. 1972. Inventory and Management of Life at Napatree Point. 39 pp. Fish Alfieri, Daniel J. 1975. Organismal Development on an Artificial Substrate 1 July 1972 - 6 June 1974. Estuarine and Coastal Marine Science, Vol. 3. pp 465-472. Borden, D.V. i974. Evaluation of R.I. fishway program for the alewife (Alosa pseudoharenus). Unpublished report, Coastal Resources Center, URI, Gordon, Bernard Ludwig. 1958. The Marine Fishes of R.I. MoS. Thesis, URI. Guthrie, R.C., J.A. Stolgitis and W.L. Bridges. 1973. Pawcatuck River Watershed Fisheries Management Survey. R.I. Division of Fish and Wildlife, Fisheries Report No. 1. Mills, Douglas E. and Richard T. Sisson. 1972. Inventory and Management of Life at Napatree Point. 39 pp. Olsen, Stephen B. and D,K. Stevenson. 1975. Commercial Marine Fish and Fisheries of R.I., URI Marine Technical Report No. 34. White, Ronald L. 1972. A Statement of General Bottom Condi- tions off the Bay Side of Napatree Point. Work in Progress Kupa, John J., Richard O. Brooks, and Clement A. Griscom. 1976. Proposal to Study the Effect of Land Use on Water Quality in the Pawcatuck River Estuary and Develop Legal Vehicles for Its Management, 7/1/76 - 9/30/77. Submitted to Rhode Island Water Resources Center. Stebbins, Henry. 1978. Personal communication. 50 APPENDIX Table A-1 PAWCATUCK RIVER AT WHITE ROCK, R.I. DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO), (MILLIGRAMS PER LITER), MAY TO OCTOBER 1971 May June July August September October Day MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN 1 10.5 9.2 12.0 9.1 10.1 7.8 8.0 5.2 10.4 6.2 10.0 6.6 2 10.1 9.2 13.4 9.2 10.0 7.8 8.7 5.0 10.4 6.9 9.9 6.5 3 9.7 9.5 11.1 8.5 10.7 7,7 10.6 5.3 10.0 5.5 10.3 6.5 4 10.4 9.6 10.1 7.0 10.8 8.4 7.0 4.5 10.0 5 5 10.7 6.9 5 10.8 10.0 10.5 8.5 12.4 8.4 9.6 4.5 10.5 5.6 10.4 6.6 6 10.0 9.2 12.2 9.0 10.5 6.8 9.9 5.2 10.5 5.5 8.1 5.6 7 10.0 9.1 -- -- 10.8 6.8 9.9 5.1 9.4 5.5 9.0 5.7 8 9.5 9.2 -- -- 9.3 6.0 10.2 4.9 9.7 5.4 9.2 6.0 9 9.6 9.1 -- -- 8.0 4.0 10.2 5.1 10.0 5.6 9.9 6.3 10 10.5 9.6 -- -- 9.2 5.0 10.9 5.1 10.4 5.5 7.2 6.2 11 10.7 10.1 -- -- 8.7 5.5 11.8 6.2 9.0 5.8 7.2 6.2 12 10.1 9.0 -- -- 10.1 5.5 12.2 7.1 10.1 5.6 8.3 6.6 13 9.0 8.3 -- -- 10.2 7.8 11.9 7.4 9.2 6.0 9.1 7.6 14 8.8 8.4 -- -- 9.6 7.0 14.0 6.0 9.3 5.8 9.2 7.5 15 8.7 8.0 -- -- 10.0 7.0 13.1 7.0 10.0 5.3 9.1 7.4 16 8.5 8.0 -- -- 10.0 6.9 12.5 6.4 8.5 5.6 9.1 7.0 17 9.5 8.4 -- -- 10.0 7.0 13.5 6.9 8.2 4.6 9.2 6.8 18 10.0 9.0 -- -- 10.7 7.0 12.4 6.1 8.0 5.2 9.2 6.4 19 9.0 8.7 -- -- 9.0 7.1 10.0 4.9 9.3 5.8 9.4 6.3 20 8.7 8.3 -- -- 8.1 7.0 9.7 5.6 8.4 5.9 9.4 6.2 21. 8.4 7.5 -- -- 8.3 7.0 9.5 5.0 10.0 5.1 9.0 6.3 22 8.0 7.3 -- -- 8.4 6.5 9.3 4.0 10.0 6.0 9.0 6.3 23 8.4 7.5 -- -- 8.4 6.5 9.5 4.0 10.0 6.2 9.6 6.4 24 9.2 8.0 -- -- 8.6 6.5 9.5 5.5 10.0 5.9 8.1 6.6 25 9.5 9.0 8.1 5.5 7.1 5.9 11.3 6.7 10.4 6.7 7.2 5.7 26 8.2 6.0 7.9 5.4 7.1 5.6 11.5 7.3 10.5 7.0 7.2 5.4 27 9.3 6.8 10.0 6.7 8.0 5.8 8.4 6.4 11.0 7.5 5.8 4.5 28 9.8 6.8 11.0 7.1 8.5 5.3 9.5 5.5 10.3 7.0 6.1 4.4 29 10.3 7.4 12.2 9.4 8.0 5.2 9.4 5.3 11.0 6.9 7.0 5.1 30 9.8 7.9 11.6 8.8 8.2 6.0 9.7 4.9 10.4 4.9 7.4 5.1 31 9.6 8.0 -- -- 8.3 5.5 10.0 5.4 -- -- 7.2 5.5 Month 10.8 6.0 -- -- 12.4 4.0 14.0 4.0 11.0 4.6 10.7 4.4 Period 14.0 4.0 Location -- Lat 41023'51", long 71o50'33", Washington County, two parameter monitor on old trolley bridge 0.2 mile southwest of White Rock and 1.2 miles upstream from gaging station at Westerly. Period of Record -- Chemical analyses: May to October 1971. Water temperatures: May to October 1971. Extremes -- May to October 1971: Dissolved oxygen: Maximum, 14.0 mg/l Aug. 14; minimum, 4.0 mg/l July 9, Aug. 22, 23. Water temperatures: Maximum, 30.00C Aug. 14; minimum, 9.50C May 4, 5. From U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, 1971 Table A-2 PAWCATUCK RIVER AT WHITE ROCK, R.I. TEMPERATURE ( C) OF WATER, MAY TO OCTOBER 1971 May June July August September October Day MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN MAX MIN 1 12.0 11.0 19.0 14.5 24.5 24.0 26.0 24.0 -- -- 20.5 17.5 2 12.0 11.0 18.5 13.5 27.5 24.0 26.0 24.0 23.5 21.5 20.5 17.0 3 11.0 10.0 18.0 13.5 26.0 23.5 26.0 24.0 23.0 21.0 19.5 17.0 4 10.0 9.5 21.0 12.5 25.5 23.0 25.0 21.0 24.5 21.5 17.5 16.5 5 11.0 9.5 19.0 14.0 25.0 23.0 24.5 21.0 25.0 22.0 19.0 16.5 6 12.5 11.0 20.0 13.0 26.0 23.0 23.5 22.0 23.5 22.5 24.0 17.5 7 14.0 12.5 -- -- 26.0 23.0 24.0 22.0 22.5 21.5 20.0 15.5 8 14.0 13.0 -- -- 28.0 21.0 25.0 22.5 25.0 22.0 17.0 12.5 9 13.0 11.5 -- - 25.5 23.0 26.5 24.0 25.5 22.5 13.0 11.0 10 11.5 11.0 -- -- 25.0 23.5 27.0 25.0 25.0 22.5 17.0 12.0 11 15.0 11.0 -- -. 24.5 23.0 28.0 26.5 23.0 22.0 15.5 11.5 12 15.0 14.5 -- -- 25.0 22.0 29.0 27.0 25.0 22.5 -- -- 13 15.0 14.0 - -- 25.0 22.5 28.0 23.5 24.0 22.5 -- -- 14 16.0 14.0 -- -- 25.5 24.0 30.0 22.0 23.0 22.5 - -- 15 19.5 16.0 -- - 26.5 23.5 28.0 27.0 -- -- -- -- 16 21.0 19.5 - -- 26.0 24.5 28.0 25.5 25.0 20.5 -- -- 17 20.0 17.0 -- - 29.5 24.5 27.0 24.0 23.0 20.5 -- -- 18 19.0 16.5 - - 27.0 24.0 26.5 24.0 23.0 21.0 -- -- 19 19.0 17.0 -- -- 25.0 22.5 25.5 23.5 26.0 21.0 -- -- 20 19.0 18.0 -- -- 23.0 21.5 - -- 21.5 21.0 14.5 13.5 21 19.0 18.0 -- -- 22.5 22.5 -- -- -- -- 15.0 14.5 22 19.0 17.5 -- -- 23.0 22.0 -- -- 23.5 20.0 15.0 14.0 23 20.0 18.0 -- -- 24.0 22.0 -- -- 22.5 19.5 14.5 13.5 24 19.0 18.0 -- -- 24.0 23.0 -- -- 22.0 19.5 14.5 14.0 25 19.0 17.5 26.5 23.5 24.0 23.0 -- -- 20.0 18.0 14.0 14.0 26 21.5 18.0 26.5 24.5 24.0 23.0 -- -- 18.0 18.0 15.0 14.0 27 20.0 17.0 26.5 24.5 25.5 23.5 -- - 18.0 17.5 15.5 14.5 28 19.0 16.0 26.0 24.0 26.5 24.0 -- -- 18.0 17.5 16.5 15.5 29 20.0 15.0 24.5 23.5 26.0 24.0 -- -- 19.0 17.5 17.0 15.5 30 18.5 17.0 25.5 23.5 25.0 24.0 -- - 20.5 17.5 17.0 16.0 31 20.0 17.0 -- -- . 26.0 24.0 -- -- -- - 17.0 16.0 Month 21.5 9.5 - -- 29.5 21.0 -. -- 26.0 17.5 - -- Period 30.0 9.5 From U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey, 1971 TABLE A-3 Rhode Island Department of Health Water Quality Survey Data Pawcatuck River Basin August 22, 1973 (unless otherwise noted) Total a Fec Ammon b Totalb Totalb River Flow Temp.a DOa BOD5 Coliform Coliform Nitrogen Copper Zinc Nitrite Nitrate Location Mile (mgd) (OF) (mg/l) (mg/l) (MPN/100ml) (MPN/I100ml) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/l) (mg/1) (mg/l) Green Haven Road 73 6.1 1.2 2,100 150 Stonington, CT 1.3 Tidal 76 7.11 2.4 3,350 840 0.44 0.47 0.32 0.400 0.010 79 10.3 4.2 4,300 930 Main Street Bridge 71 4.4 1.6 230 230 Westerly, RI 4.8 157 75 4.6 2.5 2,615 430 0.18 0.10 0.06 --- 0.004 79 6.2 3.3 9,300 4,300 Boom Bridge 72 3.3 1.6 430 150 BoomHighway Bridge 8.4 141 75 4.2 3.0 2,415 930 0.14 0.07 0.06 --- 0.010 HighWesterly, RI 77 4.5 5.3 9,300 930 Meeting House Bridge 72 3.1 1.9 750 73 (RI Route 3) 11.6 138 75 3.5 3.0 930 290 0.16 0.07 0.06 0.100 0.010 Hopkinton, RI 78 3.7 3.7 4.600 430 Narragansett Electric 72 3.6 2.0 1,500 230 Company Substation 13.3 137 74 3.8 3.0 2,400 680 0.16 0.05 0.06 0.000 0.100 Hopkinton, RI 77 4.6 4.6 2,400 930 Bradford Road Bridge 71 5.9 1.1 2,400 43 Westerly, RI 17.0 126 72 6.2 2.2 3,500 585 0.11 0.05 0.07 0.100 0.002 76 6.6 3.8 15,000 2,400 Burdickville Road Bridge 65 6.5 1.1 9,300 9,300 Hopkinton, RI 20.5 c 65 6.9 1.9 33,500 19,500 0.13 0.08 0.10 0.000 0.000 66 7.2 3.1 43,000 43,000 Same - August 30, 1973 71 6.4 1.3 3,050 460 118 74 6.8 1.4 4,600 460 0.14 0.08 0.14 0.100 0.002 76 7.5 4.4 1,500 460 Wood River 21.6+ 66 6.6 0.5 390 240 Alton-Carolina Road 0.6 67 67 7.4 2.1 840 315 0.09 0.03 0.09 --- (RI Route 91) 68 7.8 4.0 2,400 930 Richmond, RI TABLE A-3 (cont'd) Totala Fecala Ammoniab Total Total River Flow Temp.a DOa BODsa Coliform Coliform Nitrogen Copper Zinc Nitrite Nitrate Location Mile (mod) (OF) (mg/l) (mg/1) (MPN/100ml) (MPN/100ml) (mg/1) (mg/l) (mg/1) (mg/l) (mg/l) Kings Factory Road 65 5.8 1.5 15,000 7,500 Wood River Junction, RI 24.0 92 65 6.6 1.8 68,000 15,000 0.17 0.05 0.07 0.000 0.000 65 6.9 3.0 390,000 43,000 Alton-Carolina Road 64 6.4 1.7 23,000 < 2,300 (RI Route 91) 25.3 85 65 6.5 1.8 43,000 33,000 0.20 0.07 0.10 0.000 0.000 Charlestown, RI 66 7.0 2.5 150,000 75,000 Carolina Dam 64 5.7 1.9 15,000 9,100 Charlestown, RI 27.1 82 66 7.2 2.0 84,000 32,000 0.23 0.04 0.07 0.000 0.000 67 7.4 2.4 460,000 43,000 Shannock Dam 65 4.8 2.1 430,000 240,000 Richmond, RI 29.0 78 66 5.0 2.6 430,000 315,000 0.23 0.05 0.10 0.000 0.010 67 5.3 3.0 750,000 430,000 a Data tabulated presented in order: Minimum,Median, and Maximum of values obtained during a twenty-four-hour sampling period. Samples taken at two-hour intervals. Composite of all samples collected at station c Error in 'calculation suspected From Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program and Rhode Island Department of Health, 1976 54 Table A-4 CHEMICAL-PHYSICAL, HYDROLOGIC AND COLIFORM DATA IN THE PAWCATUCK RIVER AT ROUTE 2, KENYON, R.I. March April May June July August Temperature, 0C 2.0 9.1 13.0 19.0 22.3 25.2 pH 5.28 6.10 5.85 6.10 6.25 6.15 Alkalinity, ppm 0.7 2.7 2.5 4.4 6.0 4.1 Dissolved oxygen, ppm 9.72 8.64 7.62 5.20 4.20 4.04 % oxygen saturation --- 75 72 55 52 49 Conductivity, u mhos 55 71 --- 80 97 90 PO4,ppm --- 0.008 0.026 0.091 0.076 0.071 NO3,ppm --- 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.128 --- Color 60 65 100 130 80 80 Turbidity, JTU --- --- --- --- 3.1 --- Velocity, ft/lec --- --- 0.55 0.55 0.39 0.39 Discharge, ft sec --- --- 113.96 85.84 56.67 56.63 Coliform, cells/100 ml --- 336.8 --- 2496.1 3095 3215 Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Temperature,C& 19.0 13.0 3.2 3.0 0.0 0.0 pH 6.41 6.41 6.60? 5.88 5.20 5.30 Alkalinity, ppm 6.2 4.1 5.0 1.8 1.4 1.2 Dissolved oxygen, ppm 6.08 6.40 11.20 10.40 11.04 10.80 % oxygen saturation 65 60 83 --- - - - - Conductivity, u mhos 90 99 115 98 91 70 P04, ppm 0.028 0.002 0.010 0.021 0.017 0.008 NO3, ppm 0.407 0.191 0.518 0.000 0.226 0.010 Color 35 50 30 60 40 45 Turbidity, JTU --- --- --- 1.0 1.0 1.0 Velocity, ft/lec 0.20 0.22 0.14 0.37 0.61 1.22 Discharge, ft /sec 27.94 30.78 20.34 62.84 105.05 232.5 Coliform, cells/100 ml 2200 3379 1222 60 111 104 From Wood, 1972 55 Table A-5 TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) OF THE PAWCATUCK RIVER ESTUARY Date* Westerly Marina Westerly Yacht Club Avondale Town Dock Watch Hill (Breen Road) temp sal DO temp sal DO temp sal DO temp sal DO C o/oo ppm 2/22/70 4.0 <1.0 -- 2.0 1.0 -- 2O 2.0 -- 2.0 5.5 -- 3/08/70 5.0 1.5 -- 5.0 2.0 -- 4.0 12.5 -- 4.0 22.5 -- 3/22/70 7.0 2.2 13.0 6.0 3.0 13.0 6.0 10.0 14.0 6.0 24.8 14.0 4/05/70 6.0 0.0 12.0 6.0 <1.0 10.0 7.0 2.0 11.0 7.0 1.5 11.0 4/20/70 10.0 1.5 9.0 9.0 2.0 10.0 8.0 16.4 7.0 10.0 21.2 11.0 5/04/70 14.0 1.0 11.0 14.0 3.0 9.0 13.0 17.8 8.0 12.0 17.0 9.5 5/18/70 14.5 1 12.0 14.5 2 11.0 14.0 5 9.0 13.0 12.5 6.0 6/02/70 18 3.0 12.0 18 3.0 8.0 14 5.0 8.0 18 11.8 12.0 6/15/70 17.0 1.5 7.5 19.0 2.5 7.0 19.0 6.5 6.5 18.0 12.0 8.0 6/30/70 17 4.0 10.0 18 2.0 9.0 18 7.0 6.0 18 11.5 13.0 7/18/70 22.0 2.0 8.0 23.0 5.5 8.0 23.0 11.5 6,0 22.0 26.5 8.0 8/03/70 23.5 2.0 5.0 21.0 2.0 8.0 24.5 10.5 10.5 24.0 17.5 11.0 8/17/70 24 0.0 6.5 25.0 11;0 7.5 24 21.0 6.5 23.5 22.5 -- 8/19/70 24.5 -- 8.0 24.0 -- 9.0 22.6 -- 8.0 21.5 -- 8.5 2330 hrs 8/20/70 8 0 22�8 -- 5.0 23.2 -- 7.5 22.0 -- 8.0 22.5 -- 7.5 0800 hrs 8/21/70 8/21/70 23�0 -- 5.0 21.5 -- 5.5 21.0 -- 6.5 20.8 -- 5.0 0445 hrs 8/31/70 23.0 0.0 6.5 22.5 5.5 9.0 22.0 22.0 7.5 22.0 26.5 7.5 9/11/70 18.0 3.5 7.5 17.5 -- 8.5 18.0 13.5 8.5 17.5 21.8 7.5 9/28/70 17.0 4.0 6.0 16.5 4.4 7.0 17.5 -- 7.5 17.0 -- 8.0 10/26/70 15.0 5.0 8.0 14.0 5.5 8.0 14.0 9.0 7.5 15.0 23.6 7.0 11/24./70 7 2.4 8.0 5 (1.0 7.0 5 1.6 7.0 6 6.4 -- 1/07/71 0 < 1 -- 0 1.4 -- ice -- -- 0 5.4 -- 4/05/71 8 2.2 12.0 8 1.0 11.0 8 7.8 11.0 8 9.8 11.0 4/19/71 8.5 2.2 8.5 7.0 4.8 8.5 7.0 11.2 9.5 7.0 18.8 11.5 4/30/71 8.0 1.8 8.5 8.0 3.1 8.5. 8.0 . 8.6 9.0 ..8.0 12.0 9.5 5/17/71 12.5 0.5 8.0 12.5 4.1 7.0 12.5 10.8 7.5 13.0 12.7 9.5 6/07/71 18.0 0.5 6.5 17.0 1.0 7.0 19.0 4.6 7.0 19.0 11.9 9.0 6/21/71 20.0 0.0 5.5 22.0 4.6 7.0 22.0 7.6 7.5 20.0 17.4 9.0 7/06/71 24.0 0.0 6.5 24.0 0.0 9.5 24.0 8.6 12.0 23.5 15.6 12.0 7/20/71 21 0.0 5.0 21 2.4 5,.5 21 10.8 3.5 22 16.7 5.5 8/03/71 25.0 0.0 3.5 26.0 0.0 6.5 26.0 0.0 6.5 24.0 10.5 8.0 8/16/71 22 3.8 8.5 21 12.0 11.0 21 17.8 7.5 21.5 26.3 8.5 8/30/71 23 3.9 6.5 23 5.4 7.0. 22 16.2 7.0 22 21.2 8.0 9/16/71 -- 3.9 6.5 28.0 6.2 10.0 26.0 16.6 11.5 23.5 20.1 11.5 9/28/71 20 2.6 9.0 20 25.6 7.5 19 26.3 10.0 18.5 29.0 9.5 10/26/71 13.0 5.5 6.5 15.0 11.2 7.5 15.0 21.2 6.5 15.0 27.6 7.5 11/15/71 4.0 3.7 10.5 1.0 5.5 10.5 4.0 15.2 1001 5.0 27.4 10.0 11/30/71 5.0 2.5 12.0 5.5 3.9 11.5 5.5 10.1 11.5 7.0 20.6 10.5 12/13/71 5.0 1.7 11.5 6.0 1.6 11.5 5.0 5.2 12.0 5.0 12.8 12.0 56 Table A-5 (cont.) TEMPERATURE, SALINITY, AND DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) OF THE PAWCATUCK RIVER ESTUARY ;ate* Westerly Marina Westerly Yacht Club Avondale Town Dock | Watch Hill (Breen Road) temp sal DO temp sal DO temp sal DO temp sal DO C o/oo ppm 1/04/72 2 0.0 14.0 2 0.0 12.0 2 3.0 12.5 5 12.8 12.5 1/17/72 ice ice ice ice 1/3i/72 ice ice ice ice +2/14/72 0.5 1.6 13.5 ice ice ice +2/28/72 1.3 0.0 10.2 1.0 0.0 10.2 1.2 0.0 10.0 -- -- -- 3/13/72 2.9 0.5 13.5 3.2 0.3 14.0 3.5 3.2 13.0 4.0 13.3 13.5 3/23/72 4.0 0.0 12.0 4.2 0.0 12.0 3.9 0.0 12.0 3.8 6.5 13.0 4/10/72 5.0 0.0 14.0. 4.0 0.5 14.0 4.5 4.5 13.0 5.0 7.0 13.5 4/24/72 10.0 2.2 11.5 9.9 2.5 10.3 10.4 5.5 10.6 10.2 8.0 11.6 5/08/72 14.0 0.4 9.0 14.0 0.4 8.6 13.5 3.2 8.7 8.0 11.4 9.9 5/22/72 16.9 5.5 9.0 16.8 6.0 8.8 17.0 9.5 8.8 17.5 21.0 9.7 6/05/72 18.0 0.9 7.8 18.0 0.9 7.4 17.8 2.8 7.5 17.8 8.9 8.2 6/19/72 16.2 0.2 7.4 16.0 2.0 7.4 16.5 5.2 6.2 15.7 12.2 6.7 7/05/72 19.3 0.5 6.4 19.2 1.0 6.2 18.6 5.0 5.9 18.6 14.0 5.9 9/01/72 22.0 8.0 9.0 24.0 10.5 8.0 24.0 22.0 8.5 22.5 24.5 9.5 9/19/72 18.8 9.0 5.9; 19.3 9.0 6.3 20.4 14.0 7.0 21.0 20.5 6.0 9/28/72 22.5 0.0 2.8 23.0 3.0 2.9 23.0 14.0 3.61 22.5 9.5 6.4 11/13/72 8.6 (1.0 10.5 8.6 1.0 10.5 8.9 1.0 10.51 9.2 8 9.5 4/18/73 14.5 0.0 -- 14.5 1.0 10.0 14.5 2.0 10.5 15.5 8.0 9.0 6/07/73 18.8 0 6 20.5 6.3 7 20.0** 12.8** 6** 20.5*** 28.9*** 5 *** 6/21/73 19.0 3.0 7.0 19.0 3.0 7.5 19.0 8.0 7.5 17.0 30.0 9.0 *unless otherwise noted samples taken between 7-8 a.m. **Frank Hall Boat Yard ***Watch Hill Boat Yard +Ice breaking up in river-fresh water lens apparent Compiled from unpublished data by the Department of Environmental Management - Wickford Laboratory COA TI\IONE GALRD No. 2333 PRINTED IINTER&. E3 668 14106 3992