The blog copied below is from the South River Federation’s web site at <www.southriverfederation.net> and <http://networkedblogs.com/gzq98?ref=nf> — These bacteria counts (“Enterococci”) are based on one element of the EPA-certified sampling that the Federation did this last weekend at 51 sites in the watershed,  as their seventh annual “Snapshot” of water quality conditions in the South River watershed. 

You will note that two of the sites (circled in green) are from Church Creek (CCH), and show bacteria levels above the EPA standard — as explained by Diana Muller, the South RiverKeeper <riverkeeperdiana@southriverfederation.net>, and a professional microbiologist with years of water quality testing experience, this high level was probably related to runoff from the previous day’s rain. It also means to STAY OUT, and keep your dogs out of Church Creek, to avoid infections — especially after rains.

Nevertheless, high levels of pollution, generally higher than other tributaries of the South River, are characteristic of Church Creek. In response to this problem, the Federation has developed a long-term strategy to demonstrate improved water quality management in Church Creek as a model for other areas of the watershed and similar areas throughout the Chesapeake Bay. Erik Michelsen, <erik@southriverfederation.net>, the Executive Director of the Federation can supply details of the strategy. 

The cost of the overall strategy will be around a million dollars, and the Federation has already raised a significant start on this requirement from residents of the Church Creek watershed. If you want to contribute to this unique example of direct citizen engagement and investment in improving our local environmental health AND in applying new science to high level national problems, contact Diana or Erik.