PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today that Conditional Area B in Upper Narragansett Bay will reopen to shellfish harvesting at sunrise tomorrow, Saturday, January 28; the opening comes four days earlier than anticipated.
The shellfish closure began at sunrise on Wednesday, January 25 - following 2.03 inches of rainfall in the Providence area. A seven-day closure of this area is enacted for Area "B" after one and one-half inches (1.5") of precipitation. DEM uses post-storm monitoring data and operational information to determine whether the completion of Phase II of the NBC's Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project has improved water quality so that these areas can be opened earlier. The data used to determine this early opening was collected on Thursday, January 26.
DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline, providing updates on shellfish closure areas: 401-222-2900. For more information on DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.