Severn Riverkeeper Water Quality Monitoring Projects, 2006-2008

Function largely in the summer when student labor is available and recreational activities on the Severn focus citizen concern.

Limited to the tidal Severn, a major recreational resource

Emphasize dissolved oxygen (DO) monitoring because: Low dissolved oxygen often limits available habitat for Chesapeake organisms Dissolved oxygen levels are minimal in the summer DO can be readily measured using portable oxygen electrodes Media have played up the Chesapeake’s “dead zone”

Water clarity measurements used to assess submerged aquatic vegetation habitat

Salinity measurements used to assess water movement in the tidal Severn

Collaborated with DNR Fisheries and Arlington Echo to monitor larval yellow perch in March-April in the upper Severn

Multicellular organisms require oxygen

0.2 mg/l Anoxia--death of benthic organisms

5 mg/l Minimun DO for “open water” (most of Chesapeake and all of the Severn)

Severn Station SR2 (Rte 50 Bridge) 2008 Data

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter

Dep

th,

met

ers

5-Jun

10-Jun

17-Jun

24-Jun

2-Jul

9-Jul

16-Jul

30-Jul

6-Aug

11-Aug

23-Aug

5-Sep

10-Sep

Severn Station SR5 (Mid-Round Bay): 2008 Data

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter

Dep

th, m

eter

s

5-Jun11-Jun26-Jun2-Jul9-Jul16-Jul

10-Apr

17-Jun30-Jul6-Aug11-Aug23-Aug5-Sep10-Sep

Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2008%

Wa

ter

co

lum

n w

ith

DO

>5

mg

/lit

er

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0River Kilometers

6-Jun

11-Jun

17-Jun

24-Jun

2-Jul

9-Jul

16-Jul

30-Jul

6-Aug

11-Aug

23-Aug

5-Sep

10-Sep

Mean

Severn Creek Dissolved Oxygen 2008

Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier

% W

ater

Co

lum

n D

O >

5 m

g/l

iter

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

6-Jun11-Jun17-Jun24-Jun2-Jul9-Jul16-Jul30-Jul6-Aug11-Aug23-Aug5-SepMean

Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2006-2008

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

SR1 SR2 SR3 RBS SR5RBW RBN SR6 SR7

Mea

n (

Ju

n-A

ug

) %

wa

ter

co

lum

n >

5 m

g/l

iter

2006

2007

2008

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

0 5 10 15

Bo

tto

m D

iss

olv

ed O

xyg

en,

mg

/lit

er

6-Jun11-Jun17-Jun24-Jun

2-Jul9-Jul16-Jul30-Jul

6-Aug11-Aug23-Aug

5-Sep10-Sep30-SepMean

River Kilometer

Severn Mainstem Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008

?

?

?

Severn Creek Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008B

ott

om

Dis

solv

ed O

xyg

en, m

g/li

ter

Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier

?

?

?1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

6-Jun

11-Jun

17-Jun

24-Jun

2-Jul

9-Jul

16-Jul

30-Jul

6-Aug

11-Aug

5-Sep

Mean

Annapolis

Severna Park

USNA

Rte 50 Br (also monitored by DNR)

JoyceSherwood Pier

Mid RB

Narrows

Indian Landing

Weems Cr

Saltworks Cr

Martins Pond

Chase Cr

Asquith CrRB West

RB North

RB South

MeanBottomDO, mg/l CBP term

>5 Healthy (None!)

3.5 - 5 Hypoxic

1 - 2 Severely hypoxic

<0.2 Anoxic

.2 - 1 Severely hypoxic

2 - 3.5 Hypoxic

Mean Bottom Dissolved Oxygen

July-August2006

2006-2008 Severn Riverkeeper Monitoring: Bottom Dissolved Oxygen

Brewer Cr

2007

2008

Acknowledgments

Fred Kelly, RiverkeeperAllison Albert Buckalewvarious SRK internsNate Frankoff and Aaron Canale, boatboysSteve BarrySuzanne KilbyArlington Echo internsJim UphoffMargaret McGintyPeter Bergstrom

Severn Riverkeeper Program

Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center

MD DNR Fisheries

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office