But annual score 'not all doom and gloom'
By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer
Published 03/17/09

The troubled South River's water quality has shown little improvement since last year, scoring a dismal 33 on a 100-point scale, according to an annual report.

The scorecard released revealed some improvements among the parameters that make up the score, but there also were new lows in some significant areas. The report, prepared by the South River Federation and South Riverkeeper Diana Muller, was presented at the organization's general meeting on March 10.

"The score of 33 indicates that the health of the South River and its watershed are directly affected by the human footprint," Muller said.

The overall score was a point lower than last year, and the dip could be partially accounted for by zeros in two crucial areas: the count of underwater grasses and chlorophyll, or algae, readings.

Grasses put oxygen in the water and provide habitat for young fish and crabs, while algae have the opposite effect, robbing oxygen.

But there were some positives in the data.

"The results from this year's scorecard are not all doom and gloom," said Erik Michelsen, the federation's executive director. "The federation has noticed a marked improvement in the responsiveness of both county and state regulators in addressing problem construction sites and violations on the river."

"In addition, for reasons that aren't entirely understood, the levels of dangerous bacteria on the river were significantly lower in 2008 than they have been in past years," he said.

Those two factors showed notable improvement. Enforcement jumped two points to six out of 10, and bacteria scored a seven, a five-point improvement over last year's count.

Conversely, there was a disturbing dip in the nutrient score, reflecting the level of two telltale pollutants found in the river: nitrogen and phosphorus. Last year the nutrient readings earned a score of seven out of 10, but this year's report indicated much worse conditions, earning a two.

Nutrients wash into the river from fertilizer on lawns, poorly maintained septic systems, even pet waste. While most plants need nutrients to grow, "excess nutrients are like fast food for algae," the report said.

The excess of algae was evident in the zero score for chlorophyll, the element tested to indicate algae levels. Algae gobbles up oxygen in the water, rendering vital oxygen so low in some areas that fish die as a result.

The South River watershed suffered the worst fish kill in the region in September, when more than 100,000 fish suffocated in Aberdeen Creek.

For the first time in the four-year history of the scorecard, no underwater grasses were found in the river in the main measure of their presence, the annual overflight by the Virginia Institute for Marine Science.

"Given the poor water quality, it's hardly a surprise that aquatic life such as oysters and submerged aquatic vegetation struggle to get established in the river," Michelsen said.

Muller's background in water-quality testing is helping drive the federation's effort to gain a solid set of data to be able to pinpoint problem areas, inform the public, and direct the organization's specific efforts in the near and long term.

Like the numerous restoration and cleanup projects the organization had undertaken in the past several years, the future lies in generating more interest, backing and volunteer effort in the watershed, the two leaders stressed at the meeting.

But it also will take more area residents looking at their own daily routine and habits, they said.

"Everyone living in the South River watershed can do their own part by trying to keep the rain that falls on their property in their yard, upgrading septic systems to the best available technology, and minimizing or eliminating the use of fertilizers on their yards," Michelsen said.

Muller noted it will take both public and private effort to turn the tide.

"As residents, it is our responsibility to make some behavior modifications with ourselves, businesses and our government," she said. "Without real cooperation from every sector of our community, we will pass the point of no return and our South River will be permanently damaged."

For more information about the scorecard, what you can do and other details, visit the Web site at www.southriverfederation.net.

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