DEM,
RIDOH Announce Reopening Of Winnapaug And Point Judith Ponds To Shellfishing
The
Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Rhode Island Department of
Health (RIDOH) are announcing that all waters of Winnapaug Pond in Westerly and
waters of Point Judith Pond in Narragansett and South Kingstown that were
affected by last week's emergency closure reopen to shellfishing on August 1.
The
agencies enacted the closures because water samples collected last week had
unsafe bacteria levels, likely caused by stormwater runoff from the more than
three inches of rain that fell on July 22 and 23 in southern Rhode Island.
RIDOH
initiated a recall of shellfish harvested either commercially or recreationally
in both waterbodies since July 23.
On
July 29, DEM collected water samples to test for fecal coliform bacteria in
response to the emergency closures.
Results
completed July 31 from RIDOH's laboratory analysis indicated that these
waters are now suitable for the harvesting of shellfish.
Commercial harvesters may resume shellfishing using the 6P tagging designation for Point Judith Pond, and aquaculturists may resume normal operations of their leases.
Shellfishing
remains restricted in the waters of Winnapaug Pond and Point Judith Pond that
are classified as prohibited or seasonally closed.
Status
of emergency closures and of the CONDITIONALLY APPROVED areas of Upper
Narragansett Bay, Greenwich Bay, Mount Hope Bay, and the Kickemuit River may be
obtained 24 hours a day by calling DEM's shell fishing hotline at 401-222-2900.
Shellfish area maps are available on DEM's website.
Shellfish area maps are available on DEM's website.
For
information on DEM programs and services, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on
Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for
information DEM programs and services as well as other timely updates.
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