Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Department of Environmental Management has declared that its seasonal 24-hour Bay Line telephone information line is now open. The Bay Line number, (401) 222-8888, is toll-free within the state.

Bay Line provides Rhode Islanders with a central telephone number to leave a recorded message about any sign of Bay-related environmental problems throughout the summer season for appropriate follow-up, the DEM said. It also offers updates on water quality in Narragansett Bay, and referral numbers for information about any current restrictions on beaches or fishing. Callers may also pose questions about the Bay.

Reports of Bay water quality conditions, updated weekly on Bay Line, are compiled from data provided by a network of monitoring stations in the Bay that monitor oxygen, temperature, salinity, pH levels, and, in some cases, water clarity and the presence of algae blooms. The monitoring data is supplemented by field observations made by DEM personnel.

The line can be used to provide DEM with early warnings about emerging issues, such as algae blooms, that might serve as precursors to low oxygen events and fish kills.

A related initiative is the Bay Assessment and Response Team (BART), which is designed to facilitate timely and well-coordinated responses to any major Bay-related environmental emergency. BART includes professional staff from DEM, the Department of Health, and the University of Rhode Island. Rhode Islanders can find a great deal of Bay-related information, including the weekly Bay Line reports, on the DEM's Web site here.

 Tags  Narragansett Bay information RI Department of Environmental Management water quality

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