West River study points to future fixes

The West and Rhode rivers suffer from similar degradation as the rest of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, according to a new study.

While not pointing to specific polluters, the analysis by an independent watershed group released earlier this month lays out a game plan to start turning things around.

The Center for Watershed Protection unveiled its assessment of the West River watershed at the West/Rhode Riverkeeper's fall general meeting. A similar plan for the Rhode River will be completed in the spring.

"There is no smoking gun," Riverkeeper Chris Trumbauer said.

While the report does not point to any specific polluters, it notes septic systems, marinas, agricultural land use and lawn fertilizing as sources of pollution in the river.

"This is a framework to help focus our efforts as we move forward," Trumbauer said.

The assessment and the one to follow form a specific agenda to approach fixes.

"If we apply for grants to complete some of these projects, they want to see specific plans backed by scientific analysis," he said. "That is what this provides."

The biggest culprit is runoff that scours creek beds upstream and rushes off hard surfaces, bringing pollutants with it. It's the dominant source of nutrient and chemical pollution in this section of the bay.

A survey of potential stormwater hot spots was part of the assessment that confirmed eight, all marinas.

The report found the West River's marinas and some restaurants have acres of impervious surfaces abutting the river and its tributaries. The plan recommends a concerted outreach effort to encourage those businesses to consider planted buffers or other retrofits to soak up oil, chemicals and rushing rainwater before they hit the water.

The report suggests 22 retrofit projects around the West River to help clean up the river, including some at marinas and other sites, and gives a high priority to eight of those.

All of those include techniques to treat runoff, like bioretention areas to treat parking lots or roads.

It also said improvements will best be started with three efforts: a watershedwide septic system inspection that also informs homeowners and community leaders; working to develop a good relationship with area farmers and help them secure funding to make changes to aid waterways; and working with marina owners to do the same.

"We are not about walking in and saying, 'You need to fix this,' " the Center for Watershed Protection's Bryan Seipp said. "We need to come in and say, 'Let's work together, find funding to do it.' "

"This is not a plan made to sit on a shelf and not get used," he added. "It's a basis to move forward."

This week the full Center for Watershed Protection report will be available on the Riverkeeper Web site at www.westrhoderiverkeeper.org.

"Hopefully people out there will read it and buy into it, and we'll be working to get the community to help get it done," Trumbauer said.