Most coastal communities have zero continuous water quality data. We're changing that — starting with a low-cost prototype to prove the concept, then scaling to permanent EPA-grade stations with grant funding.
The Problem
Professional water quality monitoring stations cost $10,000 to $50,000 per site. Most coastal communities can't afford them. Instead, they rely on volunteer programs that sample once a week — missing the worst events entirely.
Buzzards Bay has over 300 miles of coastline. Harmful algal blooms, nitrogen loading, and low-oxygen events threaten shellfish beds, swimming beaches, and marine life. Weekly sampling catches some of it. Continuous monitoring catches all of it.
Recent research on Buzzards Bay proved that continuous sensors on dock-mounted platforms revealed critical low-oxygen events that weekly volunteer monitors were completely missing — events happening between sampling days and in the early morning hours.
Our Approach
We don't ask communities to gamble on unproven technology. We prove TideClaw works with a low-cost prototype, then use that data to secure grant funding for permanent, professional-grade monitoring stations.
The prototype is the bridge. The professional station is the goal. A single state grant covers multiple permanent sites.
Algal Bloom Detection
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are a growing threat to Buzzards Bay and coastal communities across New England. Warming waters, nutrient runoff, and aging septic systems are making blooms more frequent and more toxic. Towns need earlier detection — not advisories posted days after a bloom is visible.
TideClaw's continuous monitoring provides early warning through multiple bloom indicators: dissolved oxygen swings (spikes during photosynthesis, crashes overnight), pH elevation from active bloom metabolism, and turbidity increases as blooms grow dense. These patterns can signal a developing bloom days before it becomes visible.
For permanent stations (Step 2), the In-Situ Aqua TROLL 600 supports chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin sensor ports — providing direct measurement of algal biomass and toxic cyanobacteria specifically.
Prototype Specifications
Each prototype buoy is designed for deployment in New England coastal waters using off-the-shelf components.
Pilot Program
Our first planned deployment targets Swifts Beach on Buzzards Bay — a community directly affected by water quality changes and harmful algal blooms. The pilot will collect 90 days of continuous data to demonstrate the platform and support grant applications for permanent stations.
One prototype buoy deployed at Swifts Beach to validate sensor accuracy against existing monitoring data. Successful validation leads to additional buoys and partnership with local environmental organizations for scientific review.
Funding Opportunities
Multiple federal, state, and regional grant programs fund water quality monitoring projects in our region. A single grant award can cover multiple permanent monitoring stations.
$20-75K · No match required (recent cycles)
Up to $500K · Southeast New England Program
Up to $50K · 33% match (in-kind OK)
$50-200K · 40% match (waivers may apply)
Up to $175K · 25% match
One MassDEP award ($20-75K) at $7,400 per station = 3 to 10 permanent monitoring sites fully funded.
The ~$400 prototype proves the concept. The grant pays for the permanent infrastructure.
Grant opportunities identified through public program research. Application windows, eligibility, and match requirements vary by program year.
Sustainability
TideClaw is designed as a self-sustaining monitoring network. Each deployment shares infrastructure with local connectivity services, creating ongoing value that funds continued operation after initial grant funding ends. One investment creates a permanent community resource — not a one-time study that goes dark when funding runs out.
Our approach complements existing monitoring programs like the Buzzards Bay Coalition's Baywatchers — adding continuous, real-time data between periodic manual sampling events. More data points, faster detection, better protection.
Prospective Partners
TideClaw is designed to complement existing monitoring programs, not replace them. We're seeking partnerships with the organizations that have protected Buzzards Bay for decades.
Buzzards Bay Coalition · Buzzards Bay National Estuary Program · SBIA · Town of Wareham
Whether you're a municipal leader, environmental organization, or grant program — we'd love to talk about bringing real-time water quality monitoring to your coastline.
Get in Touch