Blog - Watershed Counts

Invasive Species in the Bay: What You Need to Know and How to Help

By Dorothy SkaggsPosted on August 30, 2025Posted in Invasive Species

Understanding the Threat Non-native plants, animals, and microbes constitute invasive species that enter new ecosystems due to human activities, disrupting the natural ecosystem equilibrium. Invasive species that enter bays and estuaries compete with native species for resources while altering habitats and nutrient cycles. The destructive effects spread widely, harming biodiversity, endangering fisheries and recreational activities, […]

Resilient Communities: Preparing the Watershed for Climate Extremes

By Dorothy SkaggsPosted on August 2, 2025Posted in Climate Change, Watershed Monitoring

Understanding the Challenge The worldwide reality shows that climate extremes composed of storm intensity and extreme droughts together with heightened temperatures and rising sea levels occur more commonly and intensively. The water system that moves land-based water toward rivers and lakes and bays stands as the central point in this difficulty. The state of watersheds […]

Saltwater Systems Under Pressure: Protecting Estuaries in a Changing World

By Dorothy SkaggsPosted on July 3, 2025Posted in Saltwater Systems

Estuaries at the Crossroads Estuaries are among the most productive and essential ecosystems worldwide because they serve as the meeting point between fresh river water and ocean saltwater. These geographic regions act as natural environmental filters, reinforcing shoreline stability, protecting coastal settlements from flooding, and fostering an ecological habitat for numerous species. Modern global changes […]

From Farm to Bay: How Land Use Affects Water Quality

By Dorothy SkaggsPosted on June 9, 2025Posted in Water Quality

The Ripple Effect of Land Use The path from agricultural land to coastal waters extends beyond visual beauty because the decisions we make about land directly control the health of water ecosystems. The type of land use between agriculture, urban development, and forestry controls the downstream water quality measurements. The clearing of forests combined with […]

How Climate Change is Reshaping the Narragansett Bay Watershed

By Dorothy SkaggsPosted on May 1, 2025Posted in Climate Change

Rising Temperatures and Sea Levels The Narragansett Bay watershed is experiencing dramatic physical, ecological, and economic changes driven by climate change. The water temperatures in Narragansett Bay have risen by 3 degrees Fahrenheit over the last century, and sea levels have increased by 7 inches. The warming pattern increases the rate of sea level rise, posing risks to […]