URI Watershed Watch uses the USEPA approved membrane filtration method with mTEC media for analyzing fecal coliform and E. coli bacteria rather than the Rhode Island Department of Health approved MPN (Most Probable Number) procedure. Watershed Watch data is intended for screening purposes only, but is very valuable for targeting areas of concerns and for tracking potential sources of bacterial contamination.

Rhode Island standards for recreational contact:
Fresh water - Fecal coliform not to exceed 200 fecal coliform / 100 mL.
Marine water - Fecal coliform not to exceed 50 fecal coliform / 100 mL.

USEPA standards for recreational contact:
Fresh water - Recommends the use of E. coli, not to exceed 126 E. coli / 100 mL.
Marine water - Recommends the use of enterococci, not to exceed 35 enterococci / 100 mL.
(Enterococci data available upon reques for a limited number of sites)

Narrow River sites #02 through #10 are considered marine water sites.


2002

RIVER BACTERIA DATA

       

MAY
MAY
JUNE
JUNE
JULY
JULY
AUG
AUG
SEPT
SEPT
OCT
OCT

**

= URIWW Watershed Code
Fecal

Fecal

Fecal

Fecal

Fecal

Fecal

coliform

E. coli

coliform

E. coli

coliform

E. coli

coliform

E. coli

coliform

E. coli

coliform

E. coli

**

RIVER SITES

---
---
---
---
COUNT
PER
100
mL
---
---
---
---
B CHEPACHET RIVER
12
12
-
-
20
20
62
54
-
-
108
106

WD

FALLS RIVER AT STEPPINGSTONE FALLS

6
6
72
38
7
7
4
4
13
13
43
43

WD

FALLS RIVER AT TWIN BRIDGE

4
4
14
14
11
11
14
14
19
19
6
5

WD

FALLS RIVER AT SAND BANKS

4
4
24
22
62
60
8
8
12
12
13
13

WD

FALLS RIVER AT AUSTIN FARM ROAD

2
2
38
38
44
44
58
56
19
19
26
25

WD

GREEN FALLS RIVER (01)

<2
<2
46
46
7
7
18
16
80
80
12
12

WD

GREEN FALLS RIVER (02)

14
14
38
38
11
11
8
8
36
36
30
29

WD

GREEN FALLS RIVER (03)

93
87
7300
7300
360
360
86
80
520

310

64
64
WD MEADOW BROOK AT RICHMOND SCHOOL
-
-
190
190
290
270
-
-
840
820
427
427
WD MEADOW BROOK AT PINE HILL ROAD
-
-
32
30
42
42
-
-
450
420
226
226
WD MEADOW BROOK AT TURF FIELDS
-
-
26
24
55
55
-
-
-
-
246
246

TH

MOOSUP RIVER HEADWATERS

22
22
140
132
22
20
160
158
104
102
30
29

TH

MOOSUP RIVER AT FAIRBANKS BRIDGE (RT 14)
16
16
110
108
47
45
46
46
44

42

87
87

TH

MOOSUP RIVER AT TRESTLE TRAIL

44
38
54
52
15
15
2
2
17
16
86
85
PE

NARROW RIVER (01) GILBERT STUART

33
31
43
44
45
45
70
70
40
40
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (02) UPPER POND

-
-
-
-
4
4
5
5
20
20
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (03) LOWER POND A

< 2
< 2
20
20
4
4
2
2
14
14
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (04) LOWER POND B

14
14
40
40
-
-
8
6
18
16
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (05) LACEY BRIDGE

-
-
90
88
4
4
16
14
22
18
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (06) METTATUXET

4
4
188
188
2
< 1
56
52
50
50
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (07) END OF NARROWS

< 2
< 2
340
338
6
5
20
16
135
135
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (08) MIDDLEBRIDGE

8
8
476
472
20
20
120
112
70
66
-
-
PE

NARROW R. (09) PETTAQUAMSCUTT COVE

< 2
< 2
248
244
20
18
8
8
-
-
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (10) SPRAGUE BRIDGE

4
4
220
220
11
11
6
6
42
42
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (11) METTATUXET BROOK

160
160
4700
4700
1370
1370
1020
1000
74000
73000
-
-
PE

NARROW RIVER (12) MUMFORD BROOK

300
280
21000
21000
2000
1800
1460
1400
2000
1700
-
-
WD

PAWCATUCK RIVER AT BRADFORD

36
36
-
-
28
27
-
-
-
-
138
138
WD

PAWCATUCK RIVER AT AVONDALE

220
220
-
-
28
27
-
-
-
-
-
-

WD

QUEEN RIVER - SHERMAN BROOK TRIBUTARY

8
8
36
36
289
289
Dry
Dry
210
200
38
36

WD

QUEEN RIVER - REYNOLDS ROAD

8
8
43
43
44
42
12
12
120
120
108
106

WD

QUEEN RIVER - THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

10
10
632
632
148
148
247
239
820
800
138
136

WD

QUEEN RIVER - EPPLEY RESERVE
-
-
86
82
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

WD

QUEEN RIVER - LOCKE BROOK TRIBUTARY

10
10
98
98
53
53
118
116
15
15
1600
1600

WD

ASSECONK SWAMP - SHUNOCK RIVER

12
10
-
-
34
30
-
-
-
-
52
52

WD

SHUNOCK RIVER AT BABCOCK

20
20-
-
-
8
8
-
-
-
-
14
13

WD

SHUNOCK RIVER AT HEWITT

12
10
-
-
34
30
-
-
-
-
59
53

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