Federation Blog

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

Much of the top of Warehouse Creek is now a mudflat at low tide, but believe it or not, it got its name because it was once a local hub of commerce.  Agricultural products were brought up from south county and delivered to the warehouses along the creek where deepwater vessels loaded up and carried the goods to points north and elsewhere. 

 A friend of the Federation with family roots that go back several hundred years in the region passed along this anecdote about Warehouse Creek:

 Aunt Adelaide the last of the family to own the whole Ivy Neck told my father that she would ride in a horse and buggy under the bow sprits of the big boats. That would mean where the water treatment plant (pumping station) on the edge of Mayo Road is, was the edge of the original creek and the largest of the boats could sail all the way to the end. - Allen Calhoun (2009)

 Given the ages of those involved, this account likely describes the situation in the early 20th century.