2009 WATER QUALITY REPORTS

Here is the eighth and final set of Citizen Monitoring Program Reports for 2009, covering the period September 9 to October 11.

The last 3 weeks of September were wet, but October has been dry (that is, until today’s storm). Most of September’s rain came in two events (10th-11th) and (26th-27th). Temperatures throughout the period were about normal.
DO conditions have continued to improve, although moderately low dissolved oxygen conditions (<4.0 ppm) were still observed in several locations in tributaries and canals.
In the fresh water ponds/impoundments, submerged vascular plant and algae have started to decline. In the estuaries, minor accumulations of seaweeds were observed at a few sites.
Total Enterococcus bacteria levels were elevated in some tributaries and ponds. Most samples were collected within a few days of the first rain event mentioned previously.
As before, the HAB flora remained diverse, but only a few blooms were observed, including the dinoflagellate, Gyrodinium instriatum at Warwick Cove, and various Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Red Mill Pond and Torquay canal. Background levels of Karenia papilionacea persisted at the ocean beaches.
We had another sampling event earlier this week, but did not have time to incorporate the data into this report. In general, there was little to add to this report except that bacteria levels were generally reduced.