WELCOME to Ava Larson! We are so excited to announce that URI Watershed Watch has hired a new research associate to help with lab analyses and overall program support. Please introduce yourself to Ava when you see her at a water collection.
The fourth round of samples for the 2026 monitoring season has wrapped up. We’ll be starting the fifth round of samples the first week of September (rivers and marine sites mostly, and DEEP lakes. Other sites are welcome to bring in samples too – just let us know in advance so we have replacement bottles ready)! Wondering when you should bring yours in? Check out the labels on your bottles or “Monitoring Schedules” to learn more… And please contact us if the scheduled time doesn’t work with your schedule.
Here’s a great example of why protecting water quality is so important URI graduate students have found a rare and unexpected freshwater mussel in Moosup River (a former Watershed Watch monitoring site). Check it out at https://www.uri.edu/news/2026/07/uri-researchers-discover-rare-freshwater-mussels-in-moosup-river/.
Happy Summer – can’t believe it’s nearly over already!!
Great video by Hanna Instruments about the Rhode Island Chapter of Trout Unlimited and it’s work to protect trout habitat and water quality. URIWW even gets a shout out (and some screen time) Check it out at https://hannainst.com/rhode-island-trout-unlimited/
RI Department of Environmental Management has posted updated maps of sites with aquatic invasive plants and Asian clams.
We’ve had lots of HABs advisories in 2026. To learn more these blooms or current advisories posted to warm of potential harm if you swim in a particular place, check out our HABs resource page.
Want to see more about HABS? Check out this Self Magazine article that features URIWW: https://www.self.com/story/toxic-blue-green-algae
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