1. Severn Riverkeeper Water Quality Monitoring Projects, 2006-2008 Function largely in the summer when student labor is available and recreational activities on the Severn focus citizen concern. Limited to the tidal Severn, a major recreational resource Emphasize dissolved oxygen (DO) monitoring because: Low dissolved oxygen often limits available habitat for Chesapeake organisms Dissolved oxygen levels are minimal in the summer DO can be readily measured using portable oxygen electrodes Media have played up the Chesapeake’s “dead zone” Water clarity measurements used to assess submerged aquatic vegetation habitat Salinity measurements used to assess water movement in the tidal Severn Collaborated with DNR Fisheries and Arlington Echo to monitor larval yellow perch in March-April in the upper Severn

2. Multicellular organisms require oxygen 0.2 mg/l Anoxia--death of benthic organisms 5 mg/l Minimun DO for “open water” (most of Chesapeake and all of the Severn)

3. Severn Station SR2 (Rte 50 Bridge) 2008 Data 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 024681012 Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter Depth, meters

4. Severn Station SR5 (Mid-Round Bay): 2008 Data 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 02468101214 Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter Depth, meters 5-Jun 11-Jun 26-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 10-Apr 17-Jun 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 23-Aug 5-Sep 10-Sep

5. Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2008 % Water column with DO >5 mg/liter River Kilometers 6-Jun 11-Jun 17-Jun 24-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 23-Aug 5-Sep 10-Sep Mean

6. Severn Creek Dissolved Oxygen 2008 Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier % Water Column DO >5 mg/liter 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 6-Jun 11-Jun 17-Jun 24-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 23-Aug 5-Sep Mean

7. Severn Mainstem Dissolved Oxygen 2006-2008 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 SR1SR2SR3RBS SR5 RBWRBNSR6SR7 Mean (Jun-Aug) % water column >5 mg/liter 2006 2007 2008

8. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 05 10 15 Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter 6-Jun 11-Jun 17-Jun 24-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 23-Aug 5-Sep 10-Sep 30-Sep Mean River Kilometer Severn Mainstem Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008 ? ? ?

9. Severn Creek Bottom Dissolved Oxygen 2008 Bottom Dissolved Oxygen, mg/liter Weems Saltworks Chase Brewer Asquith Sherwood Pier ? ? ? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6-Jun 11-Jun 17-Jun 24-Jun 2-Jul 9-Jul 16-Jul 30-Jul 6-Aug 11-Aug 5-Sep Mean

10. Annapolis Severna Park USNA Rte 50 Br (also monitored by DNR) Joyce Sherwood Pier Mid RB Narrows Indian Landing Weems Cr Saltworks Cr Martins Pond Chase Cr Asquith Cr RB West RB North RB South Mean Bottom DO, mg/l CBP term >5 Healthy (None!) 3.5 - 5 Hypoxic 1 - 2 Severely hypoxic <0.2 Anoxic.2 - 1 Severely hypoxic 2 - 3.5 Hypoxic Mean Bottom Dissolved Oxygen July-August 2006 2006-2008 Severn Riverkeeper Monitoring: Bottom Dissolved Oxygen Brewer Cr 2007 2008

11. Acknowledgments Fred Kelly, Riverkeeper Allison Albert Buckalew various SRK interns Nate Frankoff and Aaron Canale, boatboys Steve Barry Suzanne Kilby Arlington Echo interns Jim Uphoff Margaret McGinty Peter Bergstrom Severn Riverkeeper Program Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center MD DNR Fisheries NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office