Water quality failing in West, Rhode rivers

Experts say education key to improving waterways

By E.B. FURGURSON III, Staff Writer

Published 04/06/09

Despite having less pollution-producing development and abundant pristine land abutting the water, the West and Rhode river system is failing most water quality measures, according to a new report card.

"The results are sobering, but not surprising," Riverkeeper Chris Trumbauer told a gathering Saturday of conservation-minded residents in Galesville. "Most indicators received poor grades, including a few failing ones."

Four of six indicators - water clarity, nutrients, algae and underwater grasses - received an F on the report card. Stream health earned a D and only oxygen readings were above average with a...

This story has expired!
You can purchase the full text in our news archives.

YOUR COMMENTS

RULES OF PARTICIPATION

If you encounter other problems, please email ewiffin@capitalgazette.com and include your name, username, and any errors or messages that are displayed. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to assist you.

In order to post or vote on a comment, you must be signed in with a hometownannapolis account.

Take a look at a summary of Commenting Guidelines.

Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0

Community Awareness - 2009-04-07 11:36:31

As everything green is waking up and people are getting back into lawn obsessions, I wonder how many in our community would care if they knew. If they just had some education on just how harmful their gardening practices and choices can be. Those of us who are interested in environmental stewardship look for information and educate ourselves but what about the rest of our communities? Have you looked at what's on offer in our local hardward stores/garden centers lately? If that's any indication of public awareness then we are in trouble! Yes, there are more choices than there used to be of good Bay-friendly alternatives but it seems to me they are aways more expensive and harder to find. In these times of economic challenge will people be less likely to make the "right" choices for the environment? Each and every one of us should take responsibility for the Bay, including local businesses. This is definitely as case of "what you don't know know can hurt you!"

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

E. Chevalier - Edgewater, MD - Karma: Bad

Failing Water Quality - 2009-04-06 16:19:11

Once again, we're hearing the same causes for complaint on bad water quality, with no real solution to this ever climbing problem in sight. Why hasn't someone yet suggested that a moratorium be imposed on recreational water craft? The elimination of gas and oil from these vessels alone would significantly help all of our waterways. Perhaps for once, we'd finally see an improvement on the annual pollution report cards. We'd also prevent good grasses from being chopped down by boat motors too. And let's not forget the elimination of all of the trash humans so wrecklessly cast overboard without a second thought.

The greater majority of Maryland residents are not out on our waterways causing serious pollution with recreational vehicles. Yet we have been forced to pay a new flush tax, increased water bills for Bay protection fees, etc. I think the limited few who contribute to personally polluting our waterways should be forced to pay a recreational water vessel tax each time they drop their boats in the water. At least if boaters don't like paying this tax, they can choose not to go boating.

Let's start healing our waterways with actions that can bring immediate positive change to the environment. More importantly, let's have folks reponsible for personally polluting our waterways pay for their detrimental waterway hobbies. Everyone else must pay for their hobbies and so should recreational boaters. Boaters have gone far too long without paying for the demise their hobby causes everyone else to endure.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

Renee S. - Churchton, MD - Karma: Bad

Rhode/West Rivers - 2009-04-06 13:07:58

The latest results of water survey of these two rivers are serious. These watersheds are some of the least 'developed'. The Smithsonian owns a significant portion of the shoreline and has preserved a sizeable portion of land. Muddy Creek flows into the Rhode through a quiet route. Yet there are many marinas and a few industrial ventures located on these rivers. The open entrance allows wave action as you enter from the Chesapeake. There is no single cause to declining water quality, it is the sum of many thousands of sources. We have to face the fact most don't know their actions affect the bay, and some just don't care. When you see the water streaming into the storm drain in your community, where do you think it goes? When you are standing in the Giant or Safeway parking lot and water sweeps the surface, where do you think it goes. All the oil dripping on to the roadways, pet waste, and fertilizer all of it can end up in the streams and rivers. The result is killing the Bay, killing the jobs of watermen, and destroying our unique ecosystem. Understanding each and every one of us is responsible, and appreciating the Chesapeake Bay connects us to the world, is the way to correct our mismanagement. We are stewards for future generations and should act accordingly.

unhide Comment hidden due to low ranking. Why is this comment hidden?

harry trampolini - severna park, MD - Karma: Neutral