Federation Blog

 

For everyone who hasn’t been on the river for a few weeks, the first wintering waterbirds have arrived!   Surprisingly, they aren’t Canada Geese or Canvasbacks!

Photo by Michael Budd, USFWS

Say hello to the American Coot, a flock of which recently arrived on the South River, fresh from their breeding grounds in the prairies of south-central Canada.  They look, act, and feed a look like ducks, but technically they aren't ducks at all - they are rails - a group of native marsh birds.  They primarily migrate through North America's Central Flyway, although a few always make their way to coastal rivers like the South River. 

So why is this inlander here at all, and why should we care?  Wintering coots prefer open water, like that found on the South River, where they can spend their days hunting for small fish, snails, and algae to eat.  The Coot is known as a scrappy "survivor" of a bird that can withstand a wide variety of pollutants and other assorted natural and human sources of environmental stress. 

According to Michael Budd of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, whose expertise is marsh birds like the Coot, the presence of American Coots is important for two reasons.  According to Budd,  "because they are so durable as a species, coots are an important indicator species for river systems, and in many regions, scientists track their population numbers every year.  If the coot population were to decline for multiple years, it's an indication that conditions in the river and its wetlands are deteriorating - perhaps rapidly."

Photo by Michael Budd, USFWS

 Budd also stresses that, "if coots can no longer use a river system, we have a problem. It means that other marsh birds also have little or no chance of succeeding in the watershed, and conditions for migratory waterfowl species are probably deteriorating as well."

So if you see one of these funny gray birds this winter, know that you see a true survivor - and a bird who is depending on us to keep the South River cleaner than it is today.

 

This morning (Oct 7, 2011) I took my first flight in a small aircraft in 32 years. I rode with my collegue and board member Lynn Buehl over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to the Bay Bridge Aiport and the whole drive I was fraught with excitment and trepedation. I always have been nervous about heights and have always been a nervous flyer. Lynn and I meet our pilot that flew down from New Jersey to take us on our adventure over the South River Watershed. Pilot Mr. Mike McNamara is one of many volunteer pilots for a non-profit group called LightHawk. This is a great organization set-up to provide flights to other non-profits or academics for research and advocay. I submitted a proposal to search for SAV, clean-water plumes, and 5 legacy landfills. As I first got in the plane, my thought was "oh my goodness, I am not going to make it". But, as we tore down the runway toward the Chesapeake Bay and delicately lifted off into the air and over the Bay Bridge- I became totally filled with excitement and started taking pictures. Being in a small plane over the Chesapeake Bay and the South River is indescribably amazing. I was horrified at the amounts of debris still in the Bay. Then, as we approach the South River- both Lynn and I became very distressed at how our beatiful South River looked. Sediment plumes and oil plumes everywhere- brown water all over. Then as week approached South River Farm Park, where Pam Wood of the Capitol and I kayaked looking for our Submerged Aquatic Vegetation- the planes wings tipped and there is was. Our SAV survived Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee!! What a blessing that our grasses survived such storms!! I am showing 300 pictures, and although I am not a professional photographer, I hope you enjoy them.----Diana, South Riverkeeper

From SRF Red Flag

Due to Hurricane Irene this past weekend - which dropped about 6 inches of rain on the South River watershed - causing the bacteria concentration to be at unsafe levels for swimming, we have put out our red "caution" flag at the office. If you see this red flag hanging from our office balcony, then the South River is generally unsafe for swimming.--Diana

#	Site	8/3/2011
SR1	Hillsmere Shores	20
SR2	Glen Isle Community Association	4
SR3	Harbor Hills Association	14
SR4	South River Manor	10
SR5	Pine Whiff Community Association	174
SR6	South River Park Comm. Ass.	110
SR7	Selby Community Association	140
SR8	Londontown Beach 5	44
SR11	Wilelinor Community Association	390
SR12	Shoreham Beach Citizens Association	144

 

As you drive ovet the South River bridge, you will notice a large Red Flag- this flag represents that the majority of the stations on the South River are high in bacteria

 

The bacteria results are very indicative of the rain event that we had yesterday morning coupled with the Canada Goose problem in a couple of communities.

Above is the Enterococci bacteria results from 8-3-2011 sampling, as per the EPA BEACHs Act guidance document and the Maryland Department of the Environment's bacteria sampling; the concentration must be lower 104 (cfu/100ml) colony forming units/100ml. The bacteria results for several areas are above the limit of 104 colony forming units/100ml. Please remember that the guidance the State of Maryland gives is that there should be no primary contact with the South River after a rain event such as the one earlier this week, so please everyone take the proper precautions, shower after swimming, cover or do not go into the river with open wounds. The most at risk are children, elderly, immune compromised, and pregnant.

On a separate note: As the temperature of the water increases Vibrio growth as well- there has been a case recently of a elderly man with a Vibrio infection last week. Please use caution when recreating in the South River. If you do acquire a suspicious infection, see your doctor immediately as it is important to treat this infection as quickly as possible. If you or someone you know happens to get sick or gets an infection as a result of swimming in the water, please let us know and fill out the attached form and return it to us. The AA County Health Department has a great fact sheet on Vibrio, which is attached. Vibrio is found naturally occurring in all waters, but as the temperature increases so does the concentration of this bacteria.

With the extremely hot temperatures bacteria concentrations may proliferate in areas that are already contaminated. Please, pick up your pet waste and do not feed the ducks or geese. Leaving the shoreline un-mowed and using items that are sparkly will deter the waterfowl from coming ashore causing the bacteria contamination.

Take Care Swimming or Recreating,

Sincerely,

Diana

In a dual research roal between me and my wonderful colleagues, Dr. Muller, Commander Smith, and Captain Nicholson (USNA) we deployed what is known as a REMUS (Remote Environmental Measuring unitS). This instrument was one of many used in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This Iraqi War vet was responbile for mine sweeping, to keep our troops safe. It was donated to the Naval Academy for research. This amazing instrument is now being used in their part of Chesapeake Bay program research. The REMUS follows a pre-programmed multi-length path, maintaining constant depth. The sensors that the REMUS has are:GPS, side-scan sonar, temperature, depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, current speed and direction. I want to thank Captain Nicholson, Commander Smith and Dr. Muller for their time, knowledge and use of the instruement!---Diana

Good Morning All,

This weeks bacteria data had two communites that were above the allowable limit of 104cfu/100ml. These were Hillsmere and Pine Whiff. Congrats to the Glen Isle community for defeting the Canada Geese, I hope the deterants work all summer!!

Diana, South RIVERKEEPER

Enterococci (cfu/100ml)
#	Site	7/13/2011
SR1	Hillsmere Shores	1016
SR2	Glen Isle Community Association	12
SR3	Harbor Hills Association	14
SR4	South River Manor	28
SR5	Pine Whiff Community Association	196
SR6	South River Park Comm. Ass.	36
SR7	Selby Community Association	24
SR8	Londontown Beach 5	6
SR11	Wilelinor Community Association	84
SR12	Shoreham Beach Citizens Association	16

Good Afternoon,

There were three locations of higher that the allowable concentration of bacteria (104cfu/100ml). These creeks are Warehouse Creek, Almshouse Creek, and Church Creek. Glen Isle has been preventing the Canada Geese by stringing CD's in the area to prevent the geese from landing, must be working because for the past two weeks the counts have been good. Congratulations to them!!

South River Federation 2011 Enterococci Counts (cfu/100 ml)
#	Site	5/18/2011	5/25/2011	6/1/2011	6/8/2011	6/15/2011	6/22/2011	6/29/2011
SR1	Hillsmere Shores	84	16	88	16	8	92	16
SR2	Glen Isle Community Association	272	2	3427	144	156	28	80
SR3	Harbor Hills Association	56	12	2	1	6	6	68
SR4	South River Manor	X	2	344	22	4	92	148
SR5	Pine Whiff Community Association	X	X	178	122	374	112	380
SR6	South River Park Comm. Ass.	20	8	160	20	22	4	16
SR7	Selby Community Association	X	X	X	10	16	74	48
SR8	Londontown Beach 5	X	X	X	X	X	X	60
SR11	Wilelinor Community Association	32	16	16	4	10	60	716
SR12	Shoreham Beach Citizens Association	184	4	86	4	1	1	40

This week's bacteria data still shows that the two communites are still having high bacteria counts. Any Enterococci counts above 104 colony forming units/100ml is considered unsafe for swimming (primary contact).

I congratulate the Glen Ilse community for trying the different methods of glittery and shiny items to prevent the Canada Geese the staying on the community beach.

Site	5/18/2011	5/25/2011	6/1/2011	6/8/2011	6/15/2011
Hillsmere Shores	84	16	88	16	8
Glen Isle Community Association	272	2	3427	144	156
Harbor Hills Association	56	12	2	1	6
South River Manor	X	2	344	22	4
Pine Whiff Community Association	X	X	178	122	374
South River Park Comm. Ass.	20	8	160	20	22
Selby Community Association	X	X	X	10	16
Wilelinor Community Association	32	16	16	4	10
Shoreham Beach Citizens Association	184	4	86	4	1

Since May 18, my interns and I have been sampling communities for Enterococci bacteria for your swimming and recreational safety.  Since this time, one community has seen high bacteria counts.  However not only do we just sample for the bacteria I also take visual measurements as well- for instance noting how many geese, ducks, boaters, swimmers; etc are present.  All of these things could potentially cause the bacteria concentration to increase.  During the past several weeks, we have witnessed between 30-55 geese making this community their home.  Some ideas to discourage the geese population are: use Mylar flagging or hang old CD by a string- anything "flashing and glittery," which geese do not like; walk dogs along the beach to scare off the geese; or consider a predator decoy .  A great long term solution is planting Spartina alterniflora- or otherwise known as smooth cordgrass - geese like short mowed grass and not long grass.

 

Anne Arundel County Department of Health
Recreational Water Quality Alert
Anne Arundel County, Maryland
Department of Health
3 Harry Truman Parkway
Annapolis, MD 21401
June 13, 2011 - GLEN ISLE IN RIVA - ADVISORY The Department of Health issued an advisory on June 13 to avoid swimming, water skiing and other direct water contact at Glen Isle on the South River in Riva, Maryland, due to high bacteria levels found in water samples collected on June 7 and June 9. The advisory will remain in effect until water samples show bacterial levels to be acceptable for at least two consecutive days. The Department of Health has posted advisory signs in the affected area. The Department advises people who have come in contact with the affected water to wash well with soap and warm water immediately. Clothing should also be washed. Many factors, such as waterfowl, rainfall, water temperature and tidal action, can cause high bacteria readings. Subscribers of free water quality e-alerts will be notified when the advisory is lifted.