Rhode Island’s Most Polluted Lakes
Friday, March 09, 2012
Nearly a quarter of Rhode Island’s lake water is polluted and 63 percent of the water was found to be unsafe for swimming, aquatic life or fish consumption, according to a new study released by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM).
The report found that 24 percent of the state’s 20,749 acres of lake, pond and reservoir water is contaminated with mercury, nutrient enrichment, metals or pathogens, substances that could be harmful if they come into contact with humans or animals.
Of the most polluted bodies of water, more than two dozen tested positive for more than one water quality impairment, according to the study.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTCollectively, 43 reservoirs are the source water for 11 public water systems that currently supply 74% of the state's population with drinking water.
"Our lakes and ponds supply drinking water for the majority of Rhode Island residents and are highly valued resources for active and passive recreation," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "This report will help ensure an informed discussion as we work to protect the state's freshwater resources."
Report Findings
The report suggests that many of the most polluted waters are located in urbanized, largely sewered watersheds and are likely affected by storm water discharges in addition to other sources of pathogens such as illicit wastewater discharges, waterfowl, wildlife and pet waste.
It notes that eight lakes exhibited elevated levels of dangerous bacteria, including: Mashapaug Pond and Roger William Park Ponds (Providence), Valley Falls Pond (Central Falls), Slater Park Pond (Pawtucket), Omega Pond (E. Providence), Print Works Pond (Cranston), Sandy Pond (Warwick) and the Kickemuit Reservoir (Warren).
In addition, the study found that that invasive plants have become a widespread problem for the state, with at least 13 different species found during the study. Experts say the unchecked growth of aquatic invasive plants can have a dramatic and negative impact on the ecology and recreational uses of a water body, as well as property values.
“Aquatic invasive plants create dense vegetative growth in lakes that interferes with the desirable uses of lakes and has been documented by researchers in New England and elsewhere to reduce lakeside property values as the infestation progresses,” the study noted.
Category 5 Polluted Lakes
The report analyzed over 237 of the state’s lakes, ponds and reservoirs, placing them into categories based on their health. Category 1 waters are considered non-threatening and fully support both recreational use and fish consumption. Only the Oak Swamp Reservoir in Johnston falls into the top category.
But Category 5 waters are considered the most dangerous, with more than two dozen lakes considered “impaired or threatened for one or more designated uses by a pollutant.” Among the pollutants found in the Category 5 waters were mercury, lead, copper, phosphorus, fecal coliform and chloride.
The report found that three cities and towns (Cranston, Lincoln and Providence) had at least two bodies of water making the Category 5 list.
In Cranston, the Blackamore and Fenner ponds were polluted by phosphorus while the Print Works Pond had chloride, lead, non-native aquatic plants, total suspended solids and fecal coliform in it.
In Lincoln, the study found phosphorus in the Barney Pond and copper, dissolved oxygen and phosphorus in the Scott pond.
In Providence, the Mashapaug and Roger Williams Park (pictured left) ponds were contaminated with excess algal growth, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, PCBs in fish, fecal coliform, and non-native aquatic plants.
See below for the complete list of Category 5 waters.
State Senator: This is a Concern
The condition of the state’s lakes has caught the eye of at least one General Assembly member. State Senator Nicholas Kettle, who represents Coventry, Foster and Scituate said cleaning up the harmful waters should be a priority for both the DEM and the communities in which the pollutants are found.
“I think this is a concern with that fact that our lakes and ponds are valuable resources that should be conserved for recreation and for sportsmen, but also as a natural resource, conservation of our lakes and cleaning them up should be a priority for DEM and our local communities,” Kettle said.
Others say more context needs to be put into the studies of the state’s lakes. Linda Green, a director at the University of Rhode Island’s Watershed Watch, said that the majority of water is safe in the state. She said she wasn’t surprised by the lakes that are considered polluted.
“That's not surprising for lakes in a very urbanized environment. Nutrient enrichment is definitely a problem, particularly phosphorus,” Green said.
Monitoring Water
The URI Watershed Watch enlists volunteers to monitor the state’s water quality every week between May and October, which is part of the reason the state has one of the nation’s most extensive databases of water quality information. Green said the group is currently looking for more volunteers for the upcoming season.
Green said the abnormal winter weather only causes more risk for the state’s lakes.
“It’s the first year that most lakes and ponds did not freeze over for more than a day or two, “Green said. “This enabled geese to roost on our lakes and their droppings, a rich source of phosphorus and nitrogen, to go into the water. We have already fielded reports of algae blooms, which is unprecedented.”
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