Maryland Water Monitoring Council
Programmatic Coordination Newsletter

The Voice for the Chester River: Chester River Association

     The 60 mile long Chester River drains a 390 square mile watershed. The majority of the Chester River watershed is agriculture with six urbanized areas and a growing number of countryside communities. Nutrient loading, septic and wastewater facility failures are the detrimental water quality issues the Chester River faces. Physical issues such as fish blockages, riparian buffers, wetland depletion and invasive plant species threaten the diversity and structure that supports the Chester River.
2004 Watershed Snapshot data (Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Nitrates, Ammonia, temperature, Fecal Coliform and BOD) was analyzed and indexed based on a relational Q-value for each parameter. On a 100 point scale, 10 out of 74 sites rated between 26 to 50 and given a grade of “D”, with the remaining sites receiving a “C” average.
2004 Watershed Snapshot data (Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Turbidity, Nitrates, Ammonia, temperature, Fecal Coliform and BOD) was analyzed and indexed based on a relational Q-value for each parameter. On a 100 point scale, 10 out of 74 sites rated between 26 to 50 and given a grade of “D”, with the remaining sites receiving a “C” average.
   
The Chester River Association (CRA) is a group concerned with the water quality in the watershed. Their mission is:
     CRA is an advocate for the health of the Chester River and the living resources it supports. CRA strives to promote stewardship of the Chester River--its forests, marshes, fields, creeks, and streams--as well as an understanding of the river's place in the economic and cultural life of our communities. In its efforts to improve water quality, educate the public and facilitate resolution of river-related issues, CRA is a voice for the Chester River.

      CRA has a number of volunteer oriented programs that heighten environmental awareness by providing insight on the issues directly affecting the Chester River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay . These programs include:

  • Radcliffe Stream Team
  • Watershed Snapshot
  • River Guardians
  • Chester Testers
  • Hotspot Monitoring Team
  • Wetland Restoration and Bayscaping

CRA and the Chester Riverkeeper, Eileen McLellan, works hard to bring river issues to the public through educational programs, special events, river outings, hands-on restoration efforts and environmental monitoring programs.

For more information:

Eileen McLellan: riverkeeper@Chesterriverassociation.org or
Brent Walls: bwalls@chesterriverassociation.org
Office: 410-778-7556
Volunteer at a typical Snapshot site retrieving water that will be sampled. A volunteer based monitoring program needs public, easy access sites.   Comparing color results of a tablet dissolved oxygen test with a color chart.

Volunteer at a typical Snapshot site retrieving water that will be sampled. A volunteer based monitoring program needs public, easy access sites.

 

Comparing color results of a tablet dissolved oxygen test with a color chart.

MWMC Programmatic Newsletter, vol. 13, no. 5, December, 2004