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

 

Today, Diana, Kincey, and I received a tour of South River Farm Park from Department of Recreation and Parks staff.  The site is 183 acres of beautiful water frontage along Limehouse Cove, the South River, and Selby Bay.  Currently, the park is the site of County's park maintenance facilities, but is only lightly used by the public.  In the future, the Federation, in collaboration with the County, hopes to lead guided nature hikes through the park as well as broaden the community's access to low impact activities like kayaking and canoeing around the park.

 

On Saturday, about 40 Federation members and staff took to the river for the 7th Annual South River Sojourn. 

This year's trip took us from the London Towne Community on Glebe Bay southeast to Selby Bay.  I led a contingent that headed up into the protected headwaters of Glebe Creek, where we had the opportunity to check out several living shoreline projects installed by London Towne and where we spotted great blue herons, osprey, and several red-winged blackbirds. 

As we left Glebe Bay and rounded Cedar Point, we crossed the mouth of Brewer Creek and got out into the open water of the mainstem of the river.  A couple of miles later, we entered the sheltered inlet of Selby Bay, with the protected forests of South River Farm Park to our right.  

Once at the Selby community beach, we seined for minnows and grass shrimp (and found about 6 or 7 species, including croakers, mummichogs, and silversides).  Eventually, we waded into the soupy mix to see how far we could get in before we lost sight of our feet.  This year it was a depressing 19 inches thanks to recent storms and algal blooms.  Nonetheless, a good time was had by all and its great to get out and celebrate the South River.  Hope to see you next year.