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Researchers urge tidal‑wetland protection, targeted septic upgrades after long‑term water‑quality review
Summary
University and county researchers presented long‑running monitoring across Calvert creeks, reporting mixed long‑term trends but recent improvements in chlorophyll; they recommended prioritizing tidal‑wetland conservation and focused septic upgrades in Mill, Plum and Hungerford creeks to improve creek health.
Researchers from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and county planning staff delivered the annual water‑quality monitoring update and urged Calvert County to prioritize tidal‑wetland protection and targeted septic upgrades in key creeks.
Dr. Laura Harris said long‑term monitoring (stations active since 1987) shows worrying long‑term declines in bottom dissolved oxygen at some stations but noted several recent years with improved values during relatively dry conditions. Julia Smeltzer’s analysis found tidal wetlands exert an "incredibly important" influence on creek water quality, and the team recommended conserving and restoring tidal wetlands where feasible. "We really recommend that the county invest time conserving, preserving, and restoring where possible," Harris said.
Presenters highlighted septic systems and agricultural land use as important contributors in certain watersheds and recommended focusing county septic‑upgrade grants on Mill, Plum and Hungerford creeks in addition to the critical areas already targeted. They also described a new dashboard that lets staff and the public explore station‑level data and a modelling effort extending Bay‑scale hydrodynamic tools into shallow Patuxent tributaries to help prioritize investments.
Commission members asked about how much temperature change has affected dissolved oxygen and about the influence of wet versus dry years; presenters said temperature increases (multi‑year warming) reduce oxygen capacity and that wet years produce higher pollutant loads. The board received the update and thanked staff for the work; no formal action was required.
