Watershed Alliance Annual Meeting

Following a short business meeting, Claire Buchanan, Ph.D., of the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) will share a presentation on water quality in Adams County—a subject important to all county residents, human and non-human alike.
 
Claire will offer an overview of the ICPRB’s recently published report, “Stream Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.” The report’s conclusion is optimistic, finding that “the Chesapeake Bay watershed shows a slight improvement in recent years but a strong positive trend over the past two decades.” 
 
The research team behind this report used macroinvertebrate sampling to measure stream health. Macroinvertebrates (or “macros”) are the nymph and larval stages of aquatic insects. By analyzing the numbers and types of macros found in a stream, researchers can get a pretty accurate reading of water quality in a stream.
 
If you’ve never seen a macroinvertebrate, just wade into a stream and lift a rock where, in a healthy stream, there’s a good chance you’ll see a macro or two. Shown above are two mayfly nymphs from Marsh Creek. Finding mayfly nymphs is good news, because these macros can only survive in streams with good water quality.
 
The ICPRB report is great news for everyone involved with improving the water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. That includes the Watershed Alliance—and you, if you’re part of the solution by following pollution prevention guidelines frequently discussed in this newsletter.
 
This year’s Watershed Alliance annual meeting promises to be an interesting evening. We look forward to seeing you there!