Each year, on a single day in spring, Federation volunteers spread out across the entire South River watershed and conduct water quality tests to assess the River’s health. Although the data represents just a “snapshot” in time, collecting the data from 40 to 50 sites around the River simultaneously, and doing it at about the same time each year gives a good general barometer of the relative health of our streams and creeks.

2009 Overall Snapshot Results:

During the 2009 Snapshot, only 5% of the sites sampled failed the EPA limit for bacteria, as compared with 23% in 2008 and over 50% of the sites in 2007.  This was probably because it had not rained for several days before this year's snapshot. Water clarity was significantly better in 2009 as well, likely for similar reasons.  Nutrient levels in the river varied considerably by the areas sampled and type of nutrient examined.  For instance, nitrate levels were low coming down from the headwaters area but higher near the mouth of the river.  High nitrate levels are often associated with runoff from septic systems, wastewater treatment plants, or fertilized areas.  Phosphate levels, often associated with fertilizers, detergents, and stream bank erosion, were uniformly moderate across the river.  More detailed results are posted below:

What does this mean?

• 2009 Snapshot captured “baseline” conditions of many streams (no rain, i.e. stormwater, for a week).
• Improvement from 2008 to 2009 likely due to weather at time of sampling.
• Very little pollutants appear to be coming from forested headwaters area (Let’s preserve this area!).

Past Snapshot Results: