Automated Continuous Streamflow and Water-Quality Monitoring in the Blackstone River at the Massachusetts-Rhode Island State Line

U.S. Geological SurveyNew England Water Science Center

in cooperation with

Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental ProtectionDivision of Watershed Management

US Department of InteriorUS Geological SurveyU.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Blackstone River Basin

Blackstone River at Millville, MA 01111230

DRAFT

Objectives:• Monitor streamflow and water-quality at USGS station 01111230 (Blackstone River at Millville, MA)• Collect data sufficient to produce reliable estimates of nutrient, suspended-sediment and trace-metal loads crossing the Massachusetts-Rhode Island state line• Use surrogate water-quality indicators to develop equations to calculate real-time estimates of constituent loads

Approach:• Automated, composite sampling to provide a more

accurate record of total loads and also variations in loads.

DRAFT

USGS Station 01111230 Blackstone River at Millville, MA

Automated flow-proportional sampling with in-line filtration

Refrigerator

Logger, modem, and relayenclosure

Pump and Filtrationenclosure

Heater

Sampling and filtration pumps

Filter bank for metalsamples

Flow switch

Ventedholding vessels

Pinch valvesKeypad and battery backup

To refrigerated sample containers

DRAFT

US Department of InteriorUS Geological Survey

DRAFT

Manual EWI sampling from RR bridge for quality assurance of automatedflow-proportional point samples

DRAFT

US Department of InteriorUS Geological Survey

Flow duration curve at Route 122 and manually sampled events at Millville

sampled eventsBridge/Point/Blank samples

04/16/14 flow: 1370 cfs

Point sample 03/24/14 flow: 687 cfs

Point sample 06/26/14 and 07/03/14

flows: 116 and 87 cfs

Bridge/Point sample 06/19/14 flow: 172 cfs

Bridge/Point sample 05/01/14 flow: 1250 cfs

Provisional data pending final approval

14-day nutrient loads, Blackstone River at Millville-October 2012 to November 2013

Provisional data pending final approval

US Department of InteriorUS Geological Survey

Four-day metals loads, Blackstone River at Millville-October 2012 to November 2013

Provisional data pending final approval

Initial regressions on particulate metals and in situ turbidity

US Department of InteriorUS Geological Survey

Provisional data pending final approval

US Department of InteriorUS Geological Survey

Conclusions:• Continuous records and point samples collected in the Blackstone River at the MA-RI state line are representative of water-quality conditions in the river.• Transport of nutrient and trace-metal species across the MA-RI state line can be monitored by automated, flow- proportional sampling.• Continuous, real-time loads for nutrients,

trace metals, and other constituents of interest may be

estimated from surrogate records.• Uncertainties associated with load estimates need to be confirmed.

DRAFT