Federation Blog

This week's bottom dissolved oxygen measurements indicate the expanding hypoxic zone from mid-river up to the Rt 50 bridge.  Many of the tidal creek are also experiencing hypoxic conditions (2.0 mg/l or lower).  This is due to the excessive nutrients causing the algae blooms, which then cause the low dissolved oxygen.  Blue Crabs need above 3mg/l of dissolved oxygen to live, therefore at the moment the South River is not that hospitable for the blue crab. ---Diana

The South River Federation's Riverkeeper Tidal Water Quality montoring is in mid-season currently.  Some of you may have see us out there sampling the water quality.  I have been ask many questions about when and where we sample.  I have provided a GIS map of our current tidal stations.  I have 7 main stem stations, then 14 stations in each of the tidal creeks.  

 

EPA Unveils Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy

 The Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategy is now out as presented by Lisa Jackson (EPA administrator) yesterday.  She stated that only thing needed is money and resources.

I would like to include Three more things:

1)  The absolute old fashion American CAN DO.  With out the can do/will do we will not have anything.

2 ) Much better enforcement,  marinas have put large piers/bulkhead/and pilings into the South River and have only received a 43,000.00 fine, and they did not have to take out the structures that were installed.  So, in reality the company folded the fine into the cost of doing the construction.  The State and Federal agencies need to not only have greater fines but mandate that these structures be removed! 

3)  I would also like to include more education on the true causes of the destruction of the Chesapeake Bay and the South River.  I speak beyond the choir quite often and have learned that most adults really do not know what stormwater runoff it,  they do not know how fertilizer can harm the Bay/River,  they do not realize how poor the infrastructure of our septic and sewer systems is.  I see very well educated folks over-fertilize their lawns in order to get the Crayola crayon green color, instead of managing their lawns in a River-friendly way.

http://wjz.com/local/Bay.foundation.epa.2.1689773.html

 

In late December,  after having walked the site of the County's Riva 400 outfall restoration project several times, I became concerned about a possible sewage problem in the area based on a persistent foul odor.

In early January, Diana went to the site and took bacteria and nitrogen samples in the area of the suspicious smell and found very elevated levels of both (Total nitrogen, 0.93 mg/l; total coliform 2490 cfu/ml).  

Shortly thereafter, we contacted the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works (DPW) and notified them that, given the absence of septic systems in the area, and the apparent location of the source, they might have some sewer line issues in the vicinity.  Within a couple of weeks, the County had scoped the nearby sewer line and found a significant crack in the pipe (see below).

Late last month, DPW re-lined the pipe, repairing the crack, and so Diana went down to take another sample earlier this week.  The results?  Total nitrogen, 0.01 mg/l and a total coliform of 16 cfu/ml).  Apparent success (we will continue to monitor through the spring).

The situation played out very similarly to our bacteria issue last year on Almshouse Creek and is absolutely a reminder that just because a community or development is on sewer is no assurance that it isn't contributing both nutrients and bacteria to our waterways.  If you suspect there may be a sewer or septic leak in your area, please contact the Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works or the South River Federation office.

In less than 4 weeks, the 20' deep canyon behind the Riva 400 office complex has been transformed in a beautiful, restored series of sand-bedded step pools recently planted with Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), Sweetbay Magnolia (Magnolia virginica), and a variety of ferns planted by local students.

 

 Yesterday the County started a great stream restoration project on the headwaters off of Gingerville Creek.  This section of Gingerville Creek is hidden away off of Riva Road.  The stormdrain/pipe drained much of the water from the surrounding area which includes Annapolis High School, Anne Arundel County offices, other misc. office buildings; in other words a lot of impervious suface.  This pipe carried so much water at such a high velocity that it created a 15 - 20 foot gorge. All of the sediment that was cut down was carried into Gingerville creek, South River.  This is only one of many restoration projects that need to be done across the South River Watershed- we need to slow the water down.

 

So that our residents know where their water is going, we are painting the stormwater drainages with our "South River Drainage" sign.   The first residential community was Gingerville.  With the help of St. Andrew's Day School's South River Riverwatchers and their teacher Nan Hathaway, we start in their community of Gingerville.  I hope to "paint the watershed" soon in other areas.  If you would like to help with a painting in your neighborhood please contact me or Cindy Wallace.

Diana

We took a quick jaunt up Gingerville Creek to look at the condition of some of the shoreline and ended up finding a substantial bed of horned pondweed at the top of the creek, as well as a number of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias).  It's an encouraging sign that reports of horned pondweed are coming in from all around the river.  Please drop us an email if you happen to see some on your creek.  A photo of the bed is below.  Water clarity still wasn't very good, but it did appear improved in the areas with the grass beds.

 Here's a picture of one of the herons who was hunting in the shallows of the creek.

Sometimes you'll find interesting remnants of the past in the most surprisingly mundane places.  That's the case with the "Old Saw Mill" on the eastern tributary to Broad Creek.  In the 1878 map below, it's called out as "Old S.M." in the upper right-hand corner. That's Broad Creek on the left and Gingerville (formerly "Gingerwell") Creek on the right.

 Today, the dam remains and is actually visible from Truman Parkway when the leaves are off the trees.  It lies just adjacent to the Park-and-Ride.  Below, you can make out the form of the dam, sloping off to each side of the photo.

 

 As is the case with all of these historical impoundments, this one breached long ago and still delivers its silty payload downstream with every storm event.  The photo below is taken looking downstream through the breach in the dam.  The channel has been carved several feet down through the agricultural soils that were trapped behind the dam when it was functioning.

 

Yesterday, 15 Federation volunteers, including several members of the Anne Arundel Watershed Stewardship Academy, worked with residents at the Ginger Cove housing complex to install a rain garden, to help treat stormwater before it runs off into Gingerville Creek.  Projects like these represent great collaborations between concerned community members, an engaged community management group (which paid for the plants and soil amendments), and the Federation.