The Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance (SeVWA) had their third 2014 river monitoring day on Wednesday, July 16th, marking the halfway point of the sampling season. Volunteers successfully collected 26 samples from sites along the West, Williams, Middle Branch Williams and Saxtons Rivers as well as North Branch Brook, Rock River and the Whetstone Brook. Many of the results indicated very high E. colii levels. There were extremely heavy rains in the days preceding which likely washed contaminants from the land into the water resulting in these high numbers. The presence of E. coli in the water indicates a likely fecal contamination by warm-blooded animals. Swimming in water with an E. coli level greater than 235 parts per 100 milliliters greatly increases the chance of exposure to fecal contamination and could subsequently result in sickness. A general rule for safety is to wait to swim in rivers for 24-48 hours after a rain event.
Volunteers are the backbone of SeVWA’s monitoring efforts every summer and participating as a volunteer river monitor often requires a time commitment every two weeks through the summer. In addition to their regular sampling commitment, some SeVWA volunteers are also participating in the upcoming “Samplepalooza 2014. The Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC) is partnering with the NH Department of Environmental Services (NHDES), the VT Department of Environmental Conservation (VTDEC), MA Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Yale University to coordinate a large-scale, one-day water testing event in the Connecticut River watershed. Water samples will be collected by these agencies as well as volunteer groups and individuals at 55 sites in the Connecticut River watershed, including many of the major tributaries.
SeVWA is scheduled to collect at 2-4 Samplepalooza sites and will be helping with sample transport. SeVWA also has the important role of, by virtue of bringing bacteria samples to CRWC’s lab in Greenfield MA the last several years, enabling a credit for CRWC at the LaRosa lab in Burlington, VT, that will pay for all the nutrient analysis for this project. Sampling on the same day will allow for variations to be minimized in the analysis of nutrients at different locations. Sample results from 2014 will allow partners to make future decisions whether to collect the same data in another year, to collect data at the same sites but under spring or runoff conditions, or to identify “hot spot” areas that are worthy of further investigation and analysis in subsequent years. The goal is to reduce nitrogen pollution to Long Island Sound, which is a probable cause of the “dead zone” in the Sound. Samplepalooza is scheduled for July 30, but if weather is not cooperative there are other dates scheduled (July 31, Aug. 6 or Aug.7). For more information, contact Andrea Donlon at CRWC (adonlon@ctriver.org or 413-772-2020 x205).
SeVWA’s 2014 monitoring season E. coli results and accompanying commentaries will appear at www.ibrattleboro.com (Living/Nature section) every 2 weeks throughout the monitoring season. This monitoring program receives support from VT Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC), VT DEC LaRosa Environmental Lab, Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC), Rock River Preservation and SeVWA volunteers, members and donors. For more information about SeVWA’s monitoring program and other Connecticut River watershed water quality and recreational information, please visit www.ctriver.us. This information is provided by SeVWA Water Quality Monitoring Program (sevwa.volunteer@gmail.com).
PR Hat
An ad campaign for reading these reports might be “Skim Before You Swim!”
or maybe “Review Before You Canoe!”
Sink or Stink
This is a crosspost, referencing the 100th anniversary of an elephant playing in the Whetstone, as seen in another thread.
I noticed where the Elephant would have played, the E Coli levels were not only off the chart, but exceeded the frame of measurements used for such determination. In other words, many, many times in excess of the safely allowable quotient for swimming.
So it’s with remorse I am driven to comment…with no place to swim downtown, no place to ride a bike safely, no place to skate…I’d say the “one and only” has some work to do before proclaiming itself one of the best places to live.