For South River: No rain equals better 'good' conditions at times

The South River Federation's annual "snapshot" revealed the watershed in fair shape in the three-hour window volunteers took to measure conditions around the river and its tributaries in April. But looks are sometimes deceiving.

Like last year's snapshot, the results underscored the connection between rainfall and water quality.

It had not rained for days previous to the April 25 effort, in which 35 volunteers fanned out around the watershed to test 40 sites from Crownsville to Thomas Point.

Because there was no rain flushing nutrients and bacteria into the river and its roughly 300 miles of...