Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Buoy Network

The Stormwater Innovation Center is developing a Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring Buoy Network to better understand and protect water quality in Mashapaug Pond, Cunliff Lake, and Roger Williams Park Zoo Pond. Each buoy records data every 10 minutes and transmits it hourly through cellular telemetry, providing continuous information on eight key water quality parameters that help track changing pond conditions and detect potential harmful algal blooms over time. These ponds and their surrounding watersheds are also the focus of ongoing stormwater management, restoration, and policy efforts aimed at reducing pollution and improving ecological health. By collecting consistent baseline data, the buoy network will provide a critical foundation for evaluating how these efforts affect pond health, identifying long-term water quality trends, and supporting more informed management decisions.