A MESSAGE FROM RAPID BACTERIA TESTING THE BALTIMORE HARBOR In April 2019, Blue Water Baltimore began using new rapid bacteria testing methods on water samples WATERKEEPER from several of our tidal monitoring stations at our own water quality lab. The new equipment allows us to monitor more frequently and return results to the public faster than ever before. We selected several locations around the Baltimore Harbor for rapid bacteria testing that are commonly used for boating, As we face the impacts of climate change, fishing, and other recreational activities. understanding the health of our waterways is To see our most recent critical to protecting them. The Baltimore region bacteria readings, visit experienced the wettest year on record in 2018, www.baltimorewaterwatch.org. with over 71 inches of rain (29 inches more than OUR MISSION average). Blue Water Baltimore’s data show this had complex impacts on water quality. Stormwater runoff Blue Water Baltimore is home to the carrying increased sediment loads spiked turbidity Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper and in our streams, and at the same time, the increased a proud member of the international rain flushed algae downstream and led to the lowest Waterkeeper Alliance. Our mission is to Chlorophyll levels we’ve seen. As we work to protect restore the quality of Baltimore’s rivers, and restore our waterways, our ambient monitoring streams, and harbor to foster a healthy program is designed to determine the overall environment, a strong economy, and thriving ecosystem health of our waters. SCIENCE IS THE BACKBONE communities. Our Waterkeeper and staff scientists OF OUR WORK who lead our ambient water quality monitoring that In a time when our bedrock environmental laws are generates the data for this report are supported by Each year, Blue Water Baltimore collects and synthesizes under assault and federal funding for the environment private and governmental grants as well as donations tens of thousands of individual data points in is on the chopping block, Blue Water Baltimore’s from supporting members. order to score the health of our regional waterways. monitoring program is more important than ever. Every indicator we track is equally important; from Our tidal data was accepted into the Chesapeake FOR MORE the Dissolved Oxygen content in the Inner Harbor 2019 Monitoring Cooperative at the highest level of rigor, INFORMATION to the Conductivity levels in the Towson Run, each and our program is a model for other nonprofit about Blue Water Baltimore measurement has a story to tell about the ecology groups throughout the Chesapeake. The data we and our Baltimore Harbor TC of our streams, rivers, and harbor – and the pollutants WA H collect is the driving force behind our enforcement, Waterkeeper program, visit ER degrading them. The long-term dataset that Blue advocacy, and restoration work that will lead to T www.bluewaterbaltimore.org. Water Baltimore has been building since 2013 is used by A cleaner waterways and healthier communities in the academic institutions, state regulators, local law-makers, Baltimore region. W and members of the public to make informed decisions E about our waterways. It’s also the scientific backbone To see more information about the R of the restoration, advocacy, outreach, and education health of Baltimore’s waterways and O work we conduct year-round. Visit our online mapping IM to download the 2018 data, visit BALT Blue Water Baltimore, home of the Angela Haren, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper platform at www.baltimorewaterwatch.org for more www.baltimorewaterwatch.org. Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, information on each monitoring station and to access the data behind the scores. measures and maps the health of our waterways. Find out more at www.baltimorewaterwatch.org

Stream and boat photos by Damon Meledones. The map below displays overall ecosystem health scores calculated from Blue Water Baltimore’s 2018 water quality data using the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (MTAC) protocol. The first five parameters below are weighted equally and each station is scored from 0-100%.

CHLOROPHYLL DISSOLVED CONDUCTIVITY TURBIDITY & TOTAL NITROGEN & FECAL BACTERIA measures how OXYGEN measures salts WATER CLARITY TOTAL PHOSPHORUS is not part of the MTAC much algae is in is important for all and chemicals in are important for are nutrients that feed Score shown on this map, the water, and aquatic animals. Fish, our streams that fish to thrive and microscopic plants in but we monitor bacteria is a symptom of shellfish, and other could harm fish and for plants to have the water, which can because it is a human excessive nutrients. life need oxygen to other organisms. enough sunlight to lead to algae blooms. health concern. Results Some algae blooms breathe. Algae blooms Over-application of grow in the water. Common sources of are online at: are toxic to fish and can cause dissolved road salts, polluted Too much sediment nutrient pollution are baltimorewaterwatch.org. harmful to human oxygen levels to quickly stormwater runoff, from stormwater untreated sewage, urban health. rise and fall, which can and sewage overflows runoff makes the stormwater runoff, pet lead to fish kills. contribute to high water cloudy. waste, and fertilizers. conductivity levels. 2019 H ATC B R W ALTIMORE WATE

UPPER 83

DIPPING POND RUN NORTH BRANCH

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RED 795 DEEP RUN RUN ROLAND 57 60 60 56 RUN RUXTON RUN

HORSEHEAD 59 BRANCH 54 60 695 52 47

GWYNNS JONES FALLS 51 TOWSON FALLS RUN WATERSHED 83 36 LAKE SCOTTS ROLAND LEVEL 60 52 BRANCH WESTERN 57 RUN

POWDER JONES 52 STONY MILL RUN FALLS RUN 95 43 WATERSHED 46 51 GWYNNS FALLS 70 WATERSHED 49

DEAD 54 51 RUN 62

50 GWYNNS INNER RUN HARBOR 61 MAIDENS 58 35 CHOICE 54 55 RUN 52 55

49 50 50 295 MIDDLE 49 BRANCH 49 95 51 BEAR CREEK MASONVILLE NONTIDAL COVE PATAPSCO 55 895 51

PATAPSCO 55 RIVER CURTIS BAY OLD ROAD 695 BAY 53 59 52

97 60

58 61 COX CREEK

62 ROCK CREEK BALTIMORE HARBOR STONEY WATERSHED CREEK 58

BODKIN CREEK

NONTIDAL TIDAL 55 ECOSYSTEM ECOSYSTEM HEALTH SCORES HEALTH SCORES

CONDUCTIVITY 10% CHLOROPHYLL 61%

TOTAL NITROGEN 59% DISSOLVED OXYGEN 93% TOTAL PHOSPHORUS 68% TOTAL NITROGEN 26% TURBIDITY 71% TOTAL 59% PHOSPHORUS

Grade has improved since 2018 WATER CLARITY 35% Grade has worsened since 2018

Blue Water Baltimore monitors water quality at 49 stations in the rivers, streams and harbor of the watershed. Ecological health parameters are all weighted equally and scored according to the MTAC protocols. Visit www.baltimorewaterwatch.org to view annual scores for individual parameters, the latest results at each station, and the bacteria scores not shown on this map. 50

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