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Currents of Change Workshop
Currents of Change
Environmental Status & Trends of the Narragansett Bay Region
May 1, 2009
Currents of Change Workshop
Narragansett Bay Region
• Geographic scope: N. Bay estuary, N. Bay
watershed, Wood-Pawcatuck & Salt Ponds watersheds
• To capture major influences on estuary: physical; biological; political
• 2,066 s.m. area; 50% in Mass.; 48% R.I.; 2% CT
• Bay area: 192 s.m. with 95% in R.I.
• Population: 2 million in 102 municipalities
Currents of Change Workshop
Major Sections
• Estuarine waters
• Fresh waters
• Living resources
• Watershed lands
• Ecosystem management
Currents of Change Workshop
General Findings• Control of point sources improving for currently
regulated pollutants• Control of non-point sources ineffective• Land use impacts significant • Observed changes in temperature and flow are likely
linked to climate change• Environmental information is of variable quality and
coverage, and often inconsistent across state lines• Trends are difficult to discern for many reasons• Environmental monitoring and management
approaches often do not measure ecosystem function and structure
Currents of Change Workshop
Estuarine Waters
Currents of Change Workshop
Estuarine Indicators
• Hypoxia
• Chlorophyll
• Beach Closures
• Shellfish Restrictions
• Toxics in fish tissue (sidebar)
Currents of Change Workshop
Pollution Gradients
Currents of Change Workshop
Estuarine Conclusions
• Hypoxia: Serious problem degrades habitat in upper NB; driven by nutrients, correlated with June river flows
• Beach closures correlated with local stormwater• Shellfish restrictions also correlated with
stormwater• Observed shifts in chlorophyll concentrations• Fish tissue: Mercury & PCBs high but consistent
with MA & CT
Currents of Change Workshop
Hypoxia
Currents of Change Workshop
Shellfish Restrictions
Currents of Change Workshop
Fresh Waters Indicators
• Bacterial impairments
• Dissolved oxygen impairments
• Nutrient impairments
• Chloride
• Low flow
Currents of Change Workshop
Fresh Water Conclusions
• Bacterial problems in half of NBR’s rivers; limited problem in lakes
• DO and nutrients are localized problems in rivers and lakes
• Chloride is increasing, but below standards
• Low riverine flow is an emerging issue of real concern throughout NBR
Currents of Change Workshop
Water Quality in NBR
Currents of Change Workshop
Hunt River at Forge Rd.,
N. Kingstown, RI
July 7, 2007
Currents of Change Workshop
Living Resources Indicators
• Estuarine fish
• Wetlands
• Invasive species
• Seagrass
Currents of Change Workshop
Living Resources Conclusions
• Resident demersal fish declining, possibly due to fishing & climate change
• Wetlands acreage declining at low rate; function/quality is largely unassessed
• Invasive species are widespread in the NBR
• Seagrass has declined historically; now stable, possibly beginning recovery
Currents of Change Workshop
Eelgrass Distribution
Currents of Change Workshop
Watershed Lands Indicators
• Land Use/Land Cover
• Impervious Surface
Currents of Change Workshop
Watershed Lands Conclusions
• Conversion of land increasing: 24% of NBR is developed (1/3 of uplands)
• Sprawl increasing; 14% of NBR covered by impervious surface
• Coastal areas have seen significant growth as population shifted from urban areas
• Land use driving water quality and other ecosystem impacts
• Better interstate information and analysis are needed
Currents of Change Workshop
Land UseChange
Currents of Change Workshop
Impervious Surface
Currents of Change Workshop
Coastal Development
Currents of Change Workshop
Ecosystem Management Indicators
• Water Quality Management Actions
• Environmental Expenditures
• Environmental Reporting
Currents of Change Workshop
Ecosystem Management Conclusions
• Significant investments in point source control (WWTFs, CSO, etc.)
• Investments in land protection increasing
• Agency staff stable or declining
• Federal contribution to state programs increasing
• Reporting insufficient to fully measure environmental outcomes
Currents of Change Workshop
Needs Identified• Improve indicators/fill information gaps• Better align indicators with ecosystem
values• Develop effective system for tracking and
reporting ecosystem condition based on interstate and organizational collaboration
Objectives: • to better assess environmental progress • To improve effectiveness of management
and stewardship efforts.
Currents of Change Workshop
“Despite growing environmental challenges facing the United States, the current system of collection and delivery of information about environmental trends is unable to meet current and future needs of decision makers.”
From “State of the Nation’s Ecosystems 2008” - the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment
Currents of Change Workshop
Status & Trends Report and Workshop Results at
www.nbep.org
Labor In Vain Brook, Somerset MA