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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
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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 5 mg/l Minimun DO for “open water” (most of Chesapeake and all of the Severn) 0.2 mg/l Anoxia--death of benthic organisms
0 5-Jun 1 10-Jun 2 17-Jun 24-Jun 3 2-Jul 9-Jul 4 16-Jul 30-Jul 5 6-Aug 11-Aug 6 23-Aug 5-Sep 7 10-Sep 8 Severn Station SR2 (Rte 50 Bridge) 2008 Data Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Depth, meters
10-Apr 5-Jun 11-Jun 26-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 17-Jun 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 23-Aug 5-Sep 10-Sep Severn Station SR5 (Mid-Round Bay): 2008 Data Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 0 1 2 3 Depth, meters 4 5 6 7 8
6-Jun 11-Jun 100 17-Jun 24-Jun 90 2-Jul 80 9-Jul 16-Jul 70 30-Jul 6-Aug 60 11-Aug 50 23-Aug 5-Sep 40 10-Sep 30 Mean 20 10 0 0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2008 % Water column with DO >5 mg/liter River 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 Mean Severn Creek Dissolved Oxygen 2008 120 100 80 % Water Column DO >5 mg/liter 60 40 20 0 Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier
Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2006-2008 80 2006 70 2007 2008 60 50 Mean (Jun-Aug) % water column >5 mg/liter 40 30 20 10 0 SR1 SR2 SR3 RBS RBW RBN SR6 SR7 SR5
2-Jul 5-Sep 6-Jun 6-Aug 9-Jul 10-Sep 11-Jun 11-Aug 16-Jul 30-Sep 17-Jun 23-Aug 30-Jul Mean 24-Jun Severn Mainstem Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008 7 6 5 4 Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter 3 ? 2 ? 1 ? 0 0 5 15 10 River Kilometer
Severn Creek Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008 8 7 6-Jun 11-Jun 6 17-Jun 24-Jun 5 2-Jul 9-Jul 4 Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter 16-Jul 30-Jul 3 6-Aug ? 11-Aug 2 5-Sep ? Mean 1 ? Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier
2006-2008 Severn Riverkeeper Monitoring: Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Mean Bottom Dissolved Oxygen July-August Indian Landing 2008 2006 Narrows 2007 Severna Park Mean BottomDO, mg/lCBP term RB North >5 Healthy (None!) Mid RB 3.5 - 5 Hypoxic 2 - 3.5 Hypoxic RB South Asquith Cr RB West 1 - 2 Severely hypoxic .2 - 1 Severely hypoxic Sherwood Pier <0.2 Anoxic Joyce Brewer Cr Chase Cr Saltworks Cr Rte 50 Br (also monitored by DNR) Martins Pond Weems Cr USNA Annapolis
Acknowledgments Fred Kelly, Riverkeeper Allison Albert Buckalew various SRK interns Nate Frankoff and Aaron Canale, boatboys Steve Barry Suzanne Kilby Arlington Echo interns Jim Uphoff Margaret McGinty Peter Bergstrom Severn Riverkeeper Program Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center MD DNR Fisheries NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office