Wickford Fish kill

[jkjnp]

Originally Posted by BigFish

But instead of understanding that this more than likely is a natural manifestation, they automatically attribute it to pollution! Very ill informed folks!

How many times this year have beaches had to be closed in RI due to "High bacteria levels" in the water. You do realize that those closures are due to high levels of human waste in the water???

I personally feel that you're are not giving STB enough credit for what they have done in the last 20-30 years. The bay would be a very different place without them.

I have heard John Torgan speak, he sees both sides of the situation and is very well informed. I understand it's a hot political issue, but please don't jump down their throats unless you know for a fact that pollution had nothing to do with the kill.

[BigFish]

They seem to think pollution had everything to do with the kill? Seems we have a bit of a conundrum?

[likwid]

Wow look at all those pretty homes up that area with the pretty lawns.
I wonder how they keep them so green.

[BigFish]

They fertilize with dead pogies!

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by jkjnp

How many times this year have beaches had to be closed in RI due to "High bacteria levels" in the water. You do realize that those closures are due to high levels of human waste in the water???

I personally feel that you're are not giving STB enough credit for what they have done in the last 20-30 years. The bay would be a very different place without them.

I have heard John Torgan speak, he sees both sides of the situation and is very well informed. I understand it's a hot political issue, but please don't jump down their throats unless you know for a fact that pollution had nothing to do with the kill.

There are a couple of factors that add way more to the BOD than human waste (mostly eliminated from flowing directly into bodies of water in the United States) One of them is excess fertilizer and the other is your pet dog or cat. Both are carried thru stormwater drains directly into the water.

[jkjnp]

Originally Posted by bluefishercat

There are a couple of factors that add way more to the BOD than human waste (mostly eliminated from flowing directly into bodies of water in the United States) One of them is excess fertilizer and the other is your pet dog or cat. Both are carried thru stormwater drains directly into the water.

Agreed... but it is my understanding, and I could be wrong, that strong storms in the Providence area cause the waste water treatment facility to be maxed out allowing raw sewage to leak into the bay. I'm pretty sure they're working on fixing the problem, but it is a major undertaking and not done yet.

[parker23]

Those fish have been in brackish water deep inside tha harbor for at least a month. The water is pee warm and has very little oxygen.
Stuff happens. I am no expert, just an observer.

[EarnedStripes44]

Originally Posted by jkjnp

Agreed... but it is my understanding, and I could be wrong, that strong storms in the Providence area cause the waste water treatment facility to be maxed out allowing raw sewage to leak into the bay. I'm pretty sure they're working on fixing the problem, but it is a major undertaking and not done yet.

This is the same problem we have in Boston, despite the "state of the art" wastewater treatment plant on Deer Island. You should see some of the culverts along the lower Charles and the Mystic spewing generous mixtures of gutter wash, litter, oils and untreated sewage. The system gets overloaded and the wastewater ends up in the Harbor. You can see it yourself, the Harbor is green on better days. On those wetter days, water at Wollaston beach looks like water breaking over a sandbar on the mississippi. The difference is even more stark after a trip a few miles off shore and you return to the inner harbor. Its amazing how much cleaner the water is on the other side of Islands.