1. Water-Quality Monitoring for Environmental Management and Source-Water Protection U.S. Geological Survey New England Water Science Center in cooperation with Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management US Department of Interior US Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey

2. Monitoring goals: Characterize water-quality conditions in 4 major RI streams Provide data in a format that is used in reporting water quality conditions (305B reports) and assisting in management decisions Collect data that may be used to: Identify long-term trend Estimate constituent loads Slater Mill, Pawtucket, RI

3. Station NameIdentifierStreamflow dataWater-quality data Blackstone River at Millville, MA 0111123020081971, 1973, 1978-2002, 2007-present Blackstone River at Manville 011129001970, 1979-present1970, 1978-2002, 2007-present Blackstone River at Roosevelt St, at Pawtucket 011138952003-present2007-present Branch River at Forestdale 011115001940-present 1953, 1954, 1956-57, 1958, 1965-67, 1968, 1969, 1971-72, 1975-2002, 2007-present Pawtuxet River at Pawtuxet 01116617 Nearby gage (01116500) 1939-present 1978-2002, 2007-present Pawcatuck River at Westerly 011185001940-present 1952, 1953, 1963, 1967, 1971-73, 1975-2002, 2007-present Rhode Island water-quality monitoring network: DRAFT

5. Analyte USGS NWQL Parameter code Minimum reporting level Monthly sampling Quarterly sampling Nutrients Organic-N + ammonia-N, whole water6250.07 mg/L Organic-N + ammonia-N, filtered6230.07 mg/L Ammonia nitrogen6080.010 mg/L Nitrate + nitrite nitrogen6310.04 mg/L Nitrite nitrogen6130.0010 mg/L Total phosphorus, whole water6650.004 mg/L Total phosphorus, filtered6660.0030 mg/L Orthophosphate phosphorus6710.004 mg/L Trace metals  Cadmium, filtered10250.016 ug/L  Chromium, filtered10300.07 ug/L  Copper, filtered10400.80 ug/L  Lead, filtered10490.025 ug/L  Nickel, filtered10650.09 ug/L  Zinc, filtered10901.4 ug/L  2014-15 Sampling Plan:

6. Analyte USGS NWQL Parameter code Minimum reporting level Monthly sampling Quarterly sampling Major ions Calcium, filtered9150.022 mg/L Magnesium, filtered9250.011 mg/L Sodium, filtered9300.06 mg/L Chloride, filtered9400.06 mg/L Suspended sediment  SSC801541 mg/L Field parameters  Water temperature100.01 o C Specific conductance951.0 uS/cm Dissolved oxygen3000.1 mg/L pH400 2014-15 Sampling Plan:

7. Monthly sampling strategy covers the full range of flow conditions at all stations. DRAFT

8. Data show seasonal variations in water-quality conditions. DRAFT

9. Flow-weighted trend analysis shows long-term changes in some constituents. DRAFT

10. Summary: Monthly sampling adequately characterizes full range of flow conditions at all stations Sampling locations shown to be well mixed through equal-width-increment isokinetic sampling Monthly sampling is suitable to identify long-term trends Provide routine, long-term water quality results, formatted for RIDEM’s database, that can be used for a variety of water resource management activities through the USGS cooperative program. Rhode Island water-quality monitoring network DRAFT