Every spring, our Bay Science team deploys automated water quality sensors, called loggers, throughout the network of Buzzards Bay embayments.
In 2025, our logger network expanded to include multi-sensor systems in Onset Bay, New Bedford Harbor, Apponagansett Bay, and West Falmouth Harbor as well as other individual sites, for a total of more than 25 loggers deployed between the Westport Rivers and Squibnocket Pond on Martha’s Vineyard. This year we deployed loggers at the same sites.
These loggers measure dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water temperature, three important measurements used by the Coalition to monitor the Bay. Autonomous loggers capture the fluctuation of data within the day, based on factors such as sunlight, wind, and tidal activity. This information, along with nutrient sampling, provides a robust picture of embayment health throughout the watershed.
Loggers are also used for restoration planning purposes. We currently have four water level loggers at our Mark’s Cove restoration site in Wareham, 14 water level loggers in the Upper Agawam River in Plymouth, and four water level loggers at the Puritan Bog restoration site in Bourne.
