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WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Managing stormwater is critical to the health of the water bodies that receive it, including the ponds in Roger Williams Park, which have been identified as being impaired (RIDEM 2007). The SIC has established a water quality monitoring program to assess ambient conditions in the ponds, document the impacts of ongoing restoration efforts, and confirm the benefits of green infrastructure as a strategy in stormwater management.
Watershed Watch
The SIC works closely with the University of Rhode Island by participating in their Watershed Watch program, a scientist-led volunteer water quality monitoring program. The Watershed Watch program provides current and historical information on the water quality of surface water resources throughout Rhode Island, including lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and the marine environment. Trained volunteer monitors take weekly measurements from spring to fall.
Through Watershed Watch, we recruit local community scientists to monitor six pond sites in Roger Williams Park. Monitoring is conducted according to the standard Watershed Watch Lake and Ponds monitoring schedule, except we encourage volunteers to complete more intensive weekly dissolved oxygen measurements to better account for stormwater impacts in this urbanized watershed. Community scientists sample weekly for dissolved oxygen and temperature, bi-weekly for chlorophyll-a, and 3 times per year for nutrients, bacteria, alkalinity, and pH.
To participate as a community scientist, submit your information at the following URL and contact Stormwater Director Ryan Kopp at rkopp@asri.org for more details. https://web.uri.edu/watershedwatch/getting-involved/become-a-volunteer/
Continuous Water Quality Monitoring
The ponds at Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI, have faced persistent water quality challenges due to urban development, stormwater runoff, and internal nutrient loading. To address these issues, over 35 green infrastructure projects, such as rain gardens, infiltration basins, and shoreline plantings, have been implemented since 2017. These efforts aim to reduce phosphorus—a primary cause of harmful algal blooms—by 30-60 pounds annually. However, much of the nutrient pollution originates from outside the park, highlighting the need for broader watershed management.
Real-time monitoring conducted in 2021 revealed some promising trends, including a 50% reduction in phosphorus levels at the pond outlets compared to historical data, demonstrating the success of in-park measures. However, phosphorus and nitrogen levels remain elevated, driven by both external inflows and internal sediment sources. Continued efforts, including watershed-scale interventions and innovative nutrient management techniques, are needed to fully restore the ponds’ health and reduce algal blooms, ensuring the park remains a vibrant community resource.
