The major pollutants in our waterways are nutrients and sediment: basically, fertilizer and soil. These substances are essential for our lands and catastrophic in our water. The way we care for our landscapes, both agricultural and residential, determines whether nutrients and sediment stay put to nourish plants or run off to pollute our rivers.  If you are a landscape professional working on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, you are now eligible for a full scholarship from ShoreRivers to become certified in practices that are healthy for our local waterways and the Bay.

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council’s Chesapeake Bay Landscaping Professional program provides training to create a community of certified landscaping professionals who will be better stormwater partners and environmental stewards. Thanks to grant funding from the France-Merrick and Robert F. Schumann Foundations, ShoreRivers is offering 12 level one scholarships for the program this winter, advancing the goals of our River-Friendly Yards program by building a network of trained, trusted professionals whom we can recommend to residents and engage as contractors for restoration and planting projects.

ShoreRivers has a vision of swimmable, fishable waterways for generations to come, and we believe community members and landscape professionals share this vision. If you employ landscape professionals for your home, please let them know about this great opportunity to become certified as better caretakers of our yards and our rivers.

Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis for any landscape professional working on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. To apply, register at certified.cblpro.org/register and use the code SHORERIVERS for an upfront discount. Refunds for the remaining amount will be given after completion of the certification. Contact Darran White Tilghman, ShoreRivers Director of Community Engagement, with any questions at dtilghman@shorerivers.org

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

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On November 5, Fred Pomeroy was named the third recipient of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship during the organization’s Riverboat Rendezvous & Race. The award recognizes an individual or entity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for their transformational accomplishments as a steward of the environment.

The founding President of Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth, Pomeroy serves as a watchdog and protector for his community. He is a conservationist when it comes to farming and, in addition to working with ShoreRivers on a wetland project, he has implemented acres of buffers, additional wetlands, and quail habitat on his farmland.

“It’s our responsibility as citizens who want to leave a better world to the coming generations to forsake the easy path of cynicism and apathy. In doing so we need to broaden our coalitions by reaching out to underserved folks and those whose political persuasions are different from our own,” Pomeroy, a lifelong waterman, Century Farm owner, poet, former teacher, and courageous citizen activist, said while accepting his award. “[Let’s] resolve to keep speaking up for the environment with a glad heart and a generous spirit.”

Photo: Isabel Hardesty, Executive Director of ShoreRivers; Fred Pomeroy, winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship; and Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper and ShoreRivers’ Director of Riverkeeper Programs, are pictured at the organization’s inaugural Riverboat Rendezvous & Race on November 5. 

Pomeroy also brings a conservationist mindset to the water where he operates several acres of oyster leases near Stoney Cove in the Little Choptank River and from where he gets many of the oysters he’s donated for ShoreRivers’ events. He has also served as an advisor and mentor for ShoreRivers staff on major issues related to Chesapeake Bay fisheries, nutrient pollution, irresponsible development, and other threats that undermine a fundamental right to clean water.

“Fred’s ‘leave it for the next generation’ attitude inspires us all to work harder to ensure that generations to come are able to enjoy fishable, swimmable, boatable rivers on the Eastern Shore,” said Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers Director of Riverkeeper Programs, who presented the award. “He’s an invaluable asset to our region, and someone I’m proud to call a mentor, and a friend.”

ShoreRivers—and the 250 supporters in attendance at the event—were proud to recognize Pomeroy, a true renaissance man and champion of the environment, with this year’s award. After the reception, attendees boarded two turn-of the-century paddlewheelers at the Choptank Riverboat Company and raced to a photo finish where expert helmsmen encouraged more than $44,000 in gifts to support the Riverkeeper program. Visit shorerivers.org to learn more.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

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ShoreRivers’ Riverkeepers are calling for increased testing by the state after the results of a recently released study on PFAS contamination in U.S. surface waters showed concerning levels of the “forever chemical” in some Eastern Shore waterways. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are manmade chemicals that persist in the environment and can be highly toxic with continued exposure.

The study, conducted by Waterkeeper Alliance, assessed PFAS levels in 114 watersheds around the country, including 16 within the Chesapeake Bay region. Maryland had the highest total number of detections and the highest number of different PFAS compounds detected in waterways nationwide. La Trappe Creek, a tributary of the Choptank River, had the second highest number of detections in the state for three of the five most prevalent compounds.

“The results of this study clearly demonstrate the need to urgently increase monitoring for these chemicals in our rivers,” said Matt Pluta, ShoreRivers’ Choptank Riverkeeper and Director of Riverkeeper Programs. “Once we begin detecting PFAS in local waterways and on our land, it’s only a matter of time before we begin to detect them in the fish, crabs, oysters, and even venison that we eat.”

PFAS are a family of manmade chemicals used for decades to create things like water-repellant clothing, non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, textile treatments like Scotchgard, stain resistant fabrics, personal care products, and food contact materials like microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers. They are biopersistent, meaning they remain in organisms indefinitely without breaking down, and are bioaccumulative, meaning that over time, they build up in ever increasing amounts in people, wildlife, aquatic life, and the environment.

PFAS can also enter wastewater treatment systems after being absorbed by humans who consume contaminated meat and fish and then discharged into waterways or applied to farm fields in the form of biosolids fertilizer. Continued exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health effects including cancers and other diseases of the thyroid, liver, and kidney, and developmental issues in fetuses and infants.

Of the eight water samples that ShoreRivers collected for the study, PFAS were detected in five. In addition to La Trappe Creek, where the sample was collected at the point of discharge from the Trappe wastewater treatment plant, concerning levels of PFAS were also detected in Mill Creek on the Wye East River, Morgan Creek’s Urieville Lake on the Chester River, and Mill Creek in the Sassafras River watershed.

“The Eastern Shore has a number of wastewater spray irrigation permits and smaller wastewater treatment plants that are aging and failing to meet treatment standards,” Pluta said. “The PFAS results from La Trappe Creek at the point where the Town of Trappe’s wastewater treatment plant discharges underscore the need to upgrade and modernize the treatment technology at these older systems before contamination levels get worse.”

The study organized by Waterkeeper Alliance comes on the heels of an effort from the Maryland Department of the Environment to sample fish tissues for PFAS in 2020. The department reported that samples from the Eastern Shore showed no levels of concern, but issued its first-ever fish consumption advisory based on PFAS levels in Piscataway Creek in Prince George’s County, and a first of its kind wastewater discharge permit for the Naval Support Facility Indian Head requiring monitoring for PFAS in wastewater and biosolids.

To learn more about the report from Waterkeeper Alliance, a nonprofit focused on clean water that connects and mobilizes more than 300 local waterkeeper groups like ShoreRivers worldwide, and to read the study’s results in full, visit waterkeeper.org/pfas. ShoreRivers believes that more testing is needed to present a clearer picture of the presence of these chemicals and their effects on Eastern Shore waterways. To support those efforts, or to learn more about the work ShoreRivers is currently doing to monitor local rivers, visit shorerivers.org or contact your local riverkeeper.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

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ShoreRivers is excited to announce that it will be launching a new program focused on supporting the next generation of agricultural land stewards on the Eastern Shore. Since 92% of land in Maryland is privately owned, it is crucial that landowners are engaged in conservation if we wish to see significant improvements in our landscape’s ecological function and in the health of our rivers. ShoreRivers will help rising stewards set conservation objectives concurrent with agronomic and profitability goals.

This new program, funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is the brainchild of ShoreRivers staff members who are the stewards of long-held family farms in the region.

“In 2020, ShoreRivers’ Director of Community Engagement Darran White Tilghman and I gathered our families together for an afternoon to explore each of our family farms and talk about the beauty, the worries, and the opportunities that face us as the next generation of stewards for these farms,” said Laura Wood, ShoreRivers’ Ag & Outreach Coordinator. “The conversations sparked the idea for this program, as we knew we were not the only ones navigating the responsibilities of multigenerational land stewardship, and we wanted to connect with others to build a community of learning and support.”

In 2023, ShoreRivers will convene the first cohort of Next Generation Land Stewards—people who are new or upcoming agricultural landowners—to share resources and expertise, and create a network of peer support.

“Although we are only second-generation land owners, the Drummond family has been farming land in the Delmarva region since immigrating here from Europe. This farm was my father-in-law’s passion,” said Katie Drummond, ShoreRivers’ Restoration Designer. “Making this farm our home, preserving the land, and maintaining it in agricultural production ensures that his life’s work lives on through us and future generations.”

Workshops with expert partners, including the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and American Farmland Trust, will explore topics such as succession planning, equitable farm leases that include conservation, forest stewardship, government incentives, and land easements. This program will connect participants to existing efforts and resources—such as the Conservation ReserveProgram and the Natural Lands Project, among others—that will educate and empower the next generation of land stewards to feel confident as they navigate the decisions that will define our landscapes and waterways for years to come.

Whether you are the first generation on family land or the 15th, this program is for you. To learn more or join our first cohort of Next Generation Land Stewards who will help build this program, contact Laura Wood at lwood@shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

Join ShoreRivers on Saturday, November 5, for its inaugural Riverboat Rendezvous and Race, an on-the-water party and friendly competition hosted aboard the Choptank Riverboat Company’s turn-of-the-century paddle wheelers in Hurlock, MD. Tickets to attend this one-of-a-kind event are limited, so visit shorerivers.org/events to get yours today.

This nautical adventure begins at 2:00 pm with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres under the pavilion and the honoring of Fred Pomeroy, this year’s winner of the ShoreRivers Award for Environmental Stewardship. A waterman, Century Farm owner, poet, former teacher, and courageous citizen activist, Pomeroy’s tenacity and grassroots organizing has been a galvanizing force in our community on behalf of clean water. Following the award ceremony, guests will board the Dorothy & Megan and Choptank River Queen for a tandem cruise and a rollicking race to the finish!

During the race, guests will have the chance to support ShoreRivers’ Riverkeeper program, a key part of its mission to protect and restore Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education. Proceeds will help fund new boats and the equipment necessary to keep the Riverkeepers outfitted with all they need to be on the water monitoring and protecting our rivers.

“The Riverboat Rendezvous is a brand-new event, and promises to be an incredible afternoon,” said ShoreRivers Executive Director Isabel Hardesty. “Our volunteers and supporters in the area told us they were ready for a new kind of celebration after more than a decade of hosting a Wild & Scenic Film Festival. We’re very grateful for the energy and imagination they have put in to creating this event that can showcase our mission from the water!” ShoreRivers invites guests to have fun and show off their favorite nautical attire from any era as they raise their paddles for the Riverkeepers and race their vessels to the finish line.

ShoreRivers extends special thanks to River Steward Sponsors:James & Pamela Harris, The Easton Group at Morgan Stanley and EcoPrint; River Guardian Sponsors: Bruce & Barbara Boyd, William & Meta Boyd, Eugene Lopez & Mary Revell Lopez, Alfred & Martha Sikes, Richard & Beverly Tilghman, and Philip&Irmy Webster; and Patron Sponsors:Bruce & Jenny Abel, William & Barbara Lane, Ron Rothman & Robin Stricoff, and Theodore Carski& Janet Ruhl. Sponsorships are still available at various levels and include complimentary tickets—email Freya Farley at ffarley@shorerivers.org to learn more.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

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By collecting, analyzing, and distributing data on bacteria levels in our waterways, ShoreRivers aims to provide the public with the information needed to make educated decisions about contact with the water. This year, ShoreRivers monitored bacteria levels at 45 sites around the region—a major expansion from last year’s 32 sites—providing a critical public health service for communities and identifying pollution hotspots for future restoration efforts.

A team of citizen scientists called SwimTesters volunteer their time to test these sites weekly between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and generous site sponsors cover a portion of the associated costs. These Swim Testers monitor for enterococci bacteria at popular public access locations, marinas, yacht clubs, and town piers. The program follows the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s standard protocols for collecting and analyzing samples and uses a pass/fail system to determine if bacteria levels are safe or unsafe for swimming. Results can be found during the season at shorerivers.org/swim, and at theswimguide.org, or by following #SwimmableShoreRivers or your local Riverkeeper’s pages on social media.

Multiple years of bacteria monitoring have highlighted sites that consistently show elevated levels of bacteria, indicating a chronic source of pollution that could be caused by failing septic systems, waste from animal farms, or manure fertilizer. Acute sources of bacteria pollution include overflows from wastewater treatment plants and pet or wild animal waste. Of the 45 sites monitored by ShoreRivers SwimTesters this year, nine failed to meet the threshold for safe water contact more than half of the times they were tested. These sites are located on the Choptank River: Red Bridges in Greensboro, Hillsboro Landing, Choptank Marina Beach, Trappe Landing, and Willis Street Beach in Cambridge; in Eastern Bay: Broad Cove near Claiborne; and on the Chester River: Millington Waterfront Park, Morgan Creek Landing, and Broad Neck Landing.

Thanks to generous private donations and funding from the Cornell Douglas Foundation, ShoreRivers has begun tracking the sources of this bacteria pollution. In partnership with Jonah Ventures in Colorado, who works with several other Riverkeeper organizations, ShoreRivers utilized DNA testing over several weeks to identify specific animal sources of this bacterial pollution—whether it be human, poultry, canine, or swine. This new type of testing measures the number of DNA copies found per 100ml of sample water.

“DNA copies do not indicate the presence of active bacteria on their own,” said Chester Riverkeeper Annie Richards. “However, when paired with ShoreRivers bacteria testing for fecal enterococci, we can begin to track patterns between high bacteria levels and the most abundant DNA species present in the water at the time a sample was collected.”

Results from 2022 testing indicate the overwhelming majority of DNA present across our rivers is human, making shoreline septic systems, wastewater treatment outfalls, and illegal marine discharge key sources to monitor in the year ahead.

“DNA testing is another tool in our belt to help ShoreRivers identify pollution sources and start working toward real mitigation strategies,” says Richards. “It’s more important than ever to fully fund our testing sites so we can put more resources into DNA tracking next season. Accumulating multiple years of data is the best way for the Riverkeepers to discern trends for these impaired sites and advocate effectively with stakeholders across our watershed to find a solution.”

For the 2023 bacteria monitoring season, ShoreRivers is searching for sponsors for 18 sites. Site sponsorship allows ShoreRivers to redirect general funds to grow our source tracking program and to activate new sites from the waitlist. The cost to sponsor a site is $40 per week or $640 for an entire season. Anyone can be a sponsor—individuals, families, organizations, or communities. The more bacterial data gathered, the clearer ShoreRivers’ path will be to targeted restoration efforts in our local watersheds.

Clean water is an essential right for everyone, and everyone deserves to know if the water is safe for them and their families to access. For more information about our bacteria testing program and to become a site sponsor, visit shorerivers.org/swim or email your local Riverkeeper.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

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If you’ve got a passion for the environment, experience working with students, and are comfortable in a canoe, ShoreRivers needs you! Healthy, fishable, swimmable waterways will not be possible without the next generation of clean water enthusiasts, so we strive to encourage in students an appreciation for our environment and a dedication to making a difference.

ShoreRivers’ Education Department is seeking volunteers to help monitor groups of 10–25  students on field trips at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Horn Point Lab in Cambridge. Volunteers are needed on select school days from 9 am–1 pm between October and May. This is a unique opportunity to support students age 8–15 from all across the Eastern Shore—some of whom may be visiting the river for the first time. During the field trip, students learn about local water quality, study Bay creatures like the Eastern Oyster and Atlantic Sturgeon, and canoe in a cove off the Choptank River.

ShoreRivers leads a robust environmental education program that serves more than 2,500 third-grade and high school biology students every year throughout our watershed communities. We provide students with a Meaningful Watershed Education Experience, a Maryland State graduation requirement. ShoreRivers leads classroom lessons, field experiences, community-focused action projects, and teacher professional development.

Volunteers must have transportation to the site and be comfortable in and around canoes. For our elementary field trips, we are especially in need of experienced canoers who are comfortable paddling in a boat with two students. Responsibilities include: assisting students getting into and out of canoes, on-the-water monitoring of student safety while paddling, alerting ShoreRivers staff of any issues or concerns, and having fun! You will not be responsible for disciplining students, leading lessons on the water, or bringing your own canoe.

Anyone interested should fill out the volunteer application form at: shorerivers.org/volunteer and email Demetrio at dfinley@shorerivers.org for more details on dates and times.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org

This summer, thanks to grant funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Cornell Douglas Foundation, ShoreRivers purchased two pieces of scientific monitoring equipment that significantly improve our ability to predict and monitor toxic algal blooms in real time, facilitating much faster sharing of results with the community. We are hoping that our ability to more quickly alert the public of potential health hazards will result in fewer illnesses in humans and fewer deaths in beloved pets.

ShoreRivers works for waterways that are swimmable and fishable. The Swimmable ShoreRivers program uses expert staff, state-of-the-art technology, and dedicated volunteer time to monitor bacteria levels, tidal water quality, and toxic algal blooms in our rivers. ShoreRivers strives to provide the community with these data so they can make informed decisions about whether or not to recreate in their waterways.

As part of this initiative, ShoreRivers monitors algal blooms in conjunction with the Maryland Departments of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Health, and local county health departments. Monitoring blooms can be a time-consuming process that involves multiple government agencies and requires transporting samples across the state. With traditional methods, results can take days or weeks to return, leaving community members in the dark about potentially unsafe—even deadly—algal blooms.

Algae occurs naturally in our rivers, but blooms are fueled by excess nitrogen and phosphorus running off into local rivers and streams. Excess nutrients come from agricultural and lawn fertilizers, leaking septic systems, non-native ornamental plantings, tree removal, and other human activities.

During the summer months, all of our waterways experience algal blooms with varying levels of toxicity. Blooms are becoming more toxic, longer lasting, and more frequent. Algal blooms can fluctuate rapidly depending on weather conditions, tidal phases, and time of day. Exposure to toxins can be fatal to pets within just 12 hours. In humans, these algal toxins can cause rashes, gastrointestinal illness, and neurological or liver damage, especially in children and other at-risk individuals. For all these reasons, the ability to predict potential blooms and monitor active blooms is critically important in order to keep people and pets safe.

Algal Monitoring Equipment and Technology

The first piece of new equipment is an algal fluorometer (commonly used by researchers and state agencies) that monitors phycocyanin and chlorophyll ratios—indicators of an imminent or active bloom. Chlorophyll is one of the pigments found in plants that allows them to absorb sunlight during photosynthesis. Phycocyanin is a pigment most commonly found in cyanobacteria species, like those present during certain types of harmful algal blooms. By monitoring their ratios, it is possible to predict when a bloom is about to occur. Results return in 10 seconds or less, which allows for real-time monitoring in the field and gives our staff the flexibility to take more samples, more often.

The second piece of equipment is a high-powered, wireless field microscope that syncs to a phone or tablet and provides a live view of algae cells. Using an app, Riverkeepers can quickly identify algae and calculate cell density to determine if harmful species are present in concerning amounts.

These new pieces of equipment have allowed our Riverkeepers to monitor potential blooms and respond to active ones much more quickly. Once a bloom has been confirmed to have high levels of toxin-producing algae species like Microcystis, Riverkeepers send water samples to the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment for toxin testing.

Additionally, Riverkeepers utilize other technology to enhance their monitoring program, including satellite imaging from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cyanobacteria Assessment Network Tool and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Phytoplankton Monitoring Network. These tools use infrared and ultraviolet lenses on satellites to pick up algal blooms around the country.

ShoreRivers Participates in Bay-Wide Research

Because of this innovative new technology, ShoreRivers was able to join a pilot program conducted by BloomOptix, a research company based in New York. Researchers from around the country are participating in this program, which has developed artificial intelligence technology that can provide algae species identification and cell counts in a matter of minutes.

ShoreRivers is also working with the Innovation Lab at Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society, which captures and uploads water quality data, including water temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and phycocyanin concentrations, every 20 minutes to its website. This publicly available data, captured via remote sensor at Budds Landing on the Cecil County side of the Upper Sassafras River, is extremely useful in monitoring for potential algal blooms.

Despite this innovative and rapidly evolving technology, community participation is still vital to ShoreRivers’ work. Anyone who observes potential algal blooms should contact their local Riverkeeper, who can identify whether or not a toxic bloom is occurring. Blooms can vary in appearance, but it is generally a good idea to avoid water contact where there is visible algae, particularly if it resembles pea soup or green paint, or if it emits an odor. Pets, livestock, children, and adults with compromised immune systems are particularly sensitive to algal blooms.

For interested community members wanting to learn more, please contact Sassafras Riverkeeper Zack Kelleher at zkelleher@shorerivers.org.

ShoreRivers is pleased to bring significant state and federal resources into the region to support integral work for healthy rivers on behalf of our communities. Follow the progress of these projects: @shorerivers on Facebook; @shoreriversorg on Instagram; or subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter at shorerivers.org/subscribe.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

Celebrate the end of summer with ShoreRivers and the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper at the Shaw Bay Raft-Up Concert from3-6 pm on Saturday, Sept. 10. Created decades ago to raise awareness for local clean water efforts, the on-the-water party will feature both the Eastport Oyster Boys and last year’s headliner, The Wye River Band. New this year, sign up for text updates about the concert by clicking on the event at shorerivers.org/events or find the Miles-Wye Riverkeeper on Facebook. The concert is presented with support from sponsors Wye River Marine, Leigh Family Dentistry, and 103.1 WRNR.

This annual benefit concert is a must for mariners of all kinds. Bring your dinghy, paddle board, kayak, sailboat, or power boat, and join the floating raft-up to enjoy live music in Shaw Bay, near the mouth of the Wye River. Visit shorerivers.org/events to find a map of nearby locations from which to launch your vessel.

The concert is free, but donations are welcome, with all proceeds helping to promote the clean water initiatives of ShoreRivers on the Miles and Wye Rivers and Eastern Bay. Attendees are asked to use the organization’s pumpout boat services while in Shaw Bay, and throughout the boating season, to help with these efforts.

Since May 2016, the ShoreRivers pumpout boat has removed more than 90,000 gallons of waste from boaters on the Miles and Wye Rivers. The pumpout boat is funded by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and operates in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. The vessel operates Friday–Sunday and on holidays from mid-May through mid-November. Pumpouts may be scheduled on VHF Channel 9 or by contacting Captain Jim at 410.829.4352 or POBcaptainjim@gmail.com.

ShoreRivers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education. Our local waterways are polluted by excess nutrients and sediment that run off of urban, suburban, agricultural, and commercial land. ShoreRivers is dedicated to implementing real solutions through programs and projects to improve the health of these waterways. To learn more, please visit shorerivers.org.

Event questions may be directed to Freya Farley at ffarley@shorerivers.org.

One of the best strategies to protect and restore our environment is to instill a conservation ethic in the next generation. ShoreRivers is committed to providing quality, professional internships for college-aged students in order to cultivate an informed and passionate generation of rising professionals. Through a paid, 10-week summer program, ShoreRivers interns gain experience and knowledge in multiple aspects of environmental conservation and real-world skills applicable to any career field. Internships are supported by the ShoreRivers Elizabeth Brown Memorial Fund and through a partnership with Washington College. Visit ShoreRivers.org/jobs for descriptions and to apply.

This summer, ShoreRivers hosted five college interns who participated in a variety of projects including mapping underwater grasses, planting trees in community spaces, monitoring water quality on our rivers, taking soil and water samples in farm fields, removing invasive species, and more. They also gained essential skills applicable to any career field: experience with the inner workings of a nonprofit organization; working for a supervisor with deadlines; working as part of a larger team; presenting professionally in front of an audience; problem-solving; leveraging technology; and working with volunteers and board members.

Kyle McKim and Adam Brown focused on submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration: monitoring beds, harvesting seeds, and planting new beds to restore habitat. They developed a GIS platform to host SAV data: the “SAV Restoration Living Atlas” will compile volunteers’ data on grass bed locations and species, streamline data sharing with Bay-wide restoration and tracking efforts, and improve the siting of new locations for restoration. Kyle is a 2022 graduate of Washington College with a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and a minor in Chesapeake Regional Studies. Adamis a rising senior at Washington College with a major in Environmental Science and a minor in Philosophy.

Maegan White and Riley Kuehn assisted the Riverkeepers in water quality monitoring and community outreach. They updated the SwimTester bacteria monitoring program to make information more accessible and easy to find online. Maegan is a rising senior at Washington College majoring in Environmental Science and Political Science. Riley is a rising senior at Dickinson College majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in Spanish.

Connor Maycott spent the summer assisting the agricultural and restoration department by surveying and building wetlands, stream restorations, and meadows. Connor is a rising fifth year senior at North Carolina State University studying Ecological Engineering and Restoration. His technical engineering expertise increased ShoreRivers’ capacity to put restoration projects in the ground.

The Elizabeth Brown Memorial Fund was created in memory of her dedication to clean water, her enthusiasm for engaging others with their rivers, and her joyful service as an environmental steward. Interested students from any field of study are encouraged to apply annually in February and notification of selection will be in March. Each intern is awarded a competitive stipend of $5,000.

ShoreRivers protects and restores Eastern Shore waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration, and education.

shorerivers.org