JOR 221 Project 6
Multi-Media Reporting
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Working Toward a Better Bay
By Alex House
KINGSTON, R.I._Many people tend to overlook problems concerning a small area like Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, but Rebecca Robinson, the associate professor of Geochemistry and Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island’s GSO Campus, believes research could lead to cleaner air and healthier living.
The chemistry in our environment has changed as a result of the increase of certain nutrients, namely nitrogen, in the bay area. Fish species like the winter flounder are becoming endangered due to toxins. The Narragansett economy is semi dependent on the fish industry, but it may not be safe to eat if the trend Robinson has studied continues. People may want to exercise caution when eating quahog from the upper part of the bay.
These are problems many marine environments are facing, but Robinson is drawn to Narragansett. She feels comfortable and at home in Rhode Island.
“There aren’t that many academic jobs out there and I was happy to come back to New England,” Robinson said.
The issue at hand is something she and everyone else in the area can relate to. The importance of oxygen is something everyone understands.
Robinson claims that the work she and other geochemists are doing is important because it has an effect on an entire community whether it be minimal or significant, which according to Robinson, it can be in certain areas.
She believes there needs to be a sense of responsibility and pride in Rhode islanders when facing the issue of atmosphere pollution.
“We live on the bay, we get fish, we like to do things on it,” Robinson said. “It serves both the human and nonhuman populations.”
Understanding the problem is fairly easy, but learning how to solve it has proved challenging for Robinson. She has visited the Narragansett Bay and studied organisms like algae which are important for the production of oxygen. They are supposedly responsible for every second breath humans take.
Millions of dollars have been invested by the state of Rhode Island to prevent runoff from lawn fertilizer and other pollutants from entering the bay.Progress has been made, but it still unclear if the waste water treatment facilities will have a direct impact on reducing harmful nutrients.
Residedents would not want to be paying taxes for treatment if it is not necessary. This is why the research of Robinson and other biogeochemists are doing is so important.
The fact that the nutrients entering the atmosphere could be drawing out oxygen and threatening sea life is very alarming to Robinson who has a soft spot for the place she grew up in.
"It's important because it is our home," Robinson said.
Robinson believes things are not yet out of control and could be made ideal if the community becomes more active in preventing pollution.
Maintaining cess pools, monitoring septic tanks and lawn fertilizer are all ways Robinson believes to be effective. Increased awareness and effort could lead to a safer environment free of toxic fish.