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