Fort Wetherhill temps?

[Soggy]

Anyone know the current water temps at Fort Wetherhill? Is it in the 40s at least?

 

[gfisher4792]

It looks like the temps are in the mid to high 30's. Brr.

 

[Soggy]

I've already checked NOAA....those numbers are further off-shore and usually aren't very accurate for shore diving. Fort Wetherhill is often 5-7 degrees warmer than Cape Ann for a number of reasons.

I was wondering if anyone has been there recently. I may be diving this weekend.

 

[raxafarian]

AaronBBrown once bubbled...
Anyone know the current water temps at Fort Wetherhill? Is it in the 40s at least?

37ish.



HERE's a graph of water data.... scroll down to temp. Blue line is water temp. It isn't above 4 Cel (39 F), and seems to average about 37 F.


This is located right at Newport (90% certain)

 

[Soggy]

Thanks.

Looks like my day will just be spent in the pool. I have little interest in freezing my lips off.

 

[raxafarian]

AaronBBrown once bubbled...
I've already checked NOAA....those numbers are further off-shore and usually aren't very accurate for shore diving. Fort Wetherhill is often 5-7 degrees warmer than Cape Ann for a number of reasons.

This time of year there isn't any difference in temp... Well... maybe a degree or so. In the summer ... probably due to gulf stream getting closer, RI will warm up faster since Cape Ann is further north and blocked by cape cod, etc.

 

[raxafarian]

Throw Gary in to 'test' the water.

 

[gmbaker]

its bad enough I have to cross the scary bridge 2x, and now I have to be throw into 38 degree water. ;-0

raxafarian once bubbled...
Throw Gary in to 'test' the water.

 

[PK]

So I'm NOT the only one who thinks that bridge is scary.

Also, I heard last night at our dive club meeting that the old Jamestown bridge will be submerged for a dive site. Exact location is not yet decided but it is intended for divers.

 

[raxafarian]

PK once bubbled...
So I'm NOT the only one who thinks that bridge is scary.

Also, I heard last night at our dive club meeting that the old Jamestown bridge will be submerged for a dive site. Exact location is not yet decided but it is intended for divers.

would you dive the "scary bridge" when it's underwater?


from the Providence Journal:
03/19/2003

BY MEGAN MATTEUCCI
Journal Staff Writer


JAMESTOWN -- The old Jamestown bridge may become the first artificial reef marine habitat in New England.

State Department of Transportation officials told the Town Council last night the preferred method of depositing bridge debris is to sink the steel and concrete structure in pieces, after demolishing the bridge.

"It will enhance the marine environment and improve fishing and diving opportunities," DOT Project Manager Peter Healey said.

Healey outlined the project and addressed environmental concerns to a handful of islanders and council members. The meeting was the first in a series of approval steps for the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, which is required by the Federal Highway Administration.

Although the DOT is endorsing the reef project, Healey said other possibilities are to dispose of the concrete bridge materials in the State Central Landfill in Johnston and recycle the steel, or a hybrid of the recycling and reef plan.

If the reef plan is adopted, the DOT would sink two-thirds of the 60-year old bridge in five offshore locations, including Black Point in Narragansett, Gooseberry Island off Newport, Sheep Point in Middletown and Block Island Hole and Rhode Island Sound, both off Block Island.

The western third of the bridge on the North Kingstown side will be turned into a recreational fishing pier with parking.

The landfill disposal plan would cost $12.1 million and take up significant space at the Johnston site and increase truck traffic, Healey said. The reef plan, which is estimated to cost $7.6 million, would enhance commercial and recreational fishing and diving, according to the DOT.

Dick Brady of Jamestown, who represented the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers, said he supports the reef project and hopes it will spur a renewed interest in local angling.

Although the demolition details have not been worked out, Healey said the construction will probably include cranes on large barges in the Bay and a series of dynamite blasts. The demolition will create 6,000 tons of steel and 38,000 cubic yards of concrete rubble.

Town Administrator Maryanne Crawford said she is concerned about noise disruptions, specifically to Seaside Drive residents. Healey assured her that the work would be restricted to daytime hours, but said there may be some noise.

Council President Guy Settipane said his main concern was protecting the island's alternate water source, a pipeline that runs under the old bridge. The pipe connects the island's water system to North Kingstown for emergency water use. The DOT said they would move the pipe as soon as construction starts and cover the cost.

DOT Chief Engineer Edmund T. Parker Jr. said the state will finalize the plan after April 25, when all public comments are due. The plan still needs to be reviewed by the Coast Guard, the state Department of Environmental Management, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and the Army Corps of Engineers for permits.

The project will go out to bid next spring, with construction probably starting in spring or summer 2004 and be completed in 2006. The fishing pier would open in 2008.

Governor Carcieri put aside an additional $9.5 million in his proposed state budget to tear down the old bridge. He pledged to dismantle the old bridge, after the Coast Guard complained it was a navigational hazard and threatened to fine the state.

The old, two-lane bridge closed in 1992, when the four-lane Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridge opened.