Neighbors of the NW Branch, along with the Friends of Oxon Run in DC and Holmes Run in Fairfax County, VA, participated in the visionary assessment organized by Eliza Cava of the Audubon Naturalist Society. Our streams were scored for ability of aquatic life to thrive, human access, resilience to climate change, and biodiversity and habitats.
The beauty of it all is that the story has not ended. It is being written all the time, and YOU can help write it so that it is a tale of improvement.
Check out the report! You'll also find history, maps, and stream user interviews in an interactive format--and of course information about the grading criteria.
The NWB monitoring site at Burnt Mills had an E.coli level of 235.9, passing but not great. The storm will have raised that level considerably, so stay out of the water for the next few days.
We continue to get frequent rains, which tend to bring more bacteria into the water. At NWB-2, our E.coli reading was 307.6, in the "moderate" range. More info on the ARK monitoring program.
Bacterial (E.coli) levels were off the chart at all sites, including the Northwest Branch. No need for the bar chart.
For more information about the Anacostia Riverkeeper water quality monitoring program, see https://www.anacostiariverkeeper.org/programs/water-quality-monitoring/
Where: Alderton Rd., Colesville (NWB Trailhead)
When: 5:30 p.m.
More info: click on the picture.
February 2, 2021
Your participation and generous contributions enable us to improve the health of the Northwest Branch.
Membership levels:
Salamander Saver - $20 - $49
Wood Frog Friend $50 - 99
Great Blue Heron Hero - $100 +
ALL donations are appreciated!
Prefer a check? Send to P.O. Box 4314, Silver Spring, MD 20914. Thanks!
