Restoration Associate Mollie takes the quarterly water samples from test wells in Sherwood Forest. If nitrogen levels are high enough, the site will be a candidate for a permeable reactive barrier to treat the septic system effluent before entering the Severn.

This newsletter is made possible in part thanks to the generous support of Platinum Sponsor: Zuhowski Engineering

While the equinox is still around the corner, Labor Day has come and gone and with it the unofficial end of summer. Out on the Severn River, summer is the time for so many activities that put us in touch with the water—sailing, fishing, waterskiing, swimming, or wading along the shore. For many of us (myself included) these experiences are how we build a bank of cherished memories and cultivate a love for the river that stays in our hearts forever. 

Unfortunately, our river has some serious problems and summer is also a time when those problems can come to a head. Data on no-swim advisories from Anne Arundel County’s Health Department show that there were 59 days during which a no-swim advisory was in effect at some place in the River. That’s 60% of our summer vacation, where getting in the water (or even getting hurt by something that was in the water) could be dangerous to your health.

Many people heard about an angler in Oyster Harbor at the mouth of the Severn River this July who nearly lost his leg after getting nicked on a minnow trap. Still more will recall Retired Navy Captain Ted McClanahan, who perished after suffering an infection from a fall into the river in 2023. While specific data on the frequency of these infections is difficult to pin down, the anecdotes seem to be increasingly common.

Thankfully, we are not totally powerless against bacteria in our river. Precautions for our own health are critical—if you have open wounds, do not swim. If you get a cut on or around the water, treat it seriously and immediately, even if it appears superficial. Our own immediate health is not all we can influence. While many harmful bacteria like vibrio are ubiquitous in estuaries like the Chesapeake, their prevalence and the associated risk to humans increases in warmer, more algae-ridden waters. We can attack the root cause of these bacteria’s survival by cutting back the amount of nutrients and sediment that fuel algae blooms and proliferation of the tiny crustaceans called copepods that are vectors for bacteria like vibrio. Stop polluted runoff, reduce the number of copepods, reduce the vibrio. It’s a simple plan, but takes a lot of work to execute. SRA is committed to seeing it done, and with your support, we can get the stormwater management projects done to keep us all safer on the water.

For the Severn,

Jesse Iliff

Executive Director

Jesse@severnriver.org

Join us for the Anne Arundel County Lifeline 100 Century Ride, a fun cycling event with something for everyone. Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or just starting out, choose from 100, 65, 30, and 15-mile route options as well as a family ride. Each route showcases the natural beauty and unique sites of Anne Arundel County including views of downtown Annapolis, the Severn River, southern Anne Arundel County, BWI/Marshall Airport, and more! All routes are available on the website at www.Lifeline100.com.

Business Sponsors

Thank you to our Diamond, Platinum, and Gold sponsors for their investment in a cleaner and healthier Severn River!

To see our complete business sponsor list head over to our website. You will also find instructions on how to join if you own a business.

Water Quality Update

In August the water quality in the Severn changed a few times. The pH levels were very high in the middle of the month—going above 10—which can be harmful to aquatic life. pH returned to a more normal range of 6 to 7 by the end of the month.

Salinity was also higher than usual, likely due to a dry August. It reached about 11 to 12 ppt (fresh water is 0, ocean water is 35) but also backed down some by month’s end.

Dissolved oxygen was quite high in the upper Severn, which may indicate an algal bloom. While algae can increase oxygen levels during the day, they can also create hypoxic areas (zones with little to no oxygen) when they die off and decompose which is a threat to aqautic wildlife. In contrast, the water at Whitehall had more typical DO levels, ranging between 3 and 8 milligrams per liter.

Monitoring continues through the end of October, if you are interested in volunteering, email Restoration Associate Mollie Boyd.

We had 27 volunteers come out on Sunday and build 65 oyster cages! Thank you to everyone who came out! These cages will be used in our Marylanders Grow Oysters program which is set to receive new oyster spat-on-shell at the end of this month.

Fall is one of the best times to volunteer for water quality monitoring as the weather is cooler and the trees are turning color. An invasive species removal will be coming up soon too.

Our important work is only possible due to the generous support of people like you. If you are a current donor - THANK YOU! We welcome your support any time of the year. If you are not yet a member, please consider joining the movement today. Any size donation makes you a member.

HELP RESTORE AND PROTECT THE SEVERN RIVER