Blue Water Baltimore Assesses Patapsco River and Baltimore Harbor

Blue Water Baltimore has released its latest Water Quality Report Card, providing insights into the health of the Patapsco River watershed, with a focus on Baltimore Harbor.

Key Findings from the Report

The report evaluates the ecological health across 50 monitoring stations, highlighting significant trends and areas of concern:

• Overall Improvement Since 2022: All eco-regions have shown improvement since last year.
• Regional Grades:
• The Patapsco River region, including Baltimore Harbor and Middle Branch, received an F grade.
• The Jones Falls and Gwynns Falls watersheds received a D grade.
• Station Performance:
• 25 out of 27 stream stations improved in 2023 compared to 2022.
• 17 out of 23 riverine stations also demonstrated improvement.

Insights into Specific Regions

The report notes varying trends across different areas:

• Baltimore Harbor and Patapsco River:
• Both regions show a weak declining trend over the past eleven years.
• Jones Falls:
• Indicates a slight improvement trend according to the latest data.

Challenges and Progress

Alice Volpitta, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper at Blue Water Baltimore, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the report:

• This report card reflects extensive data collection efforts by our team, highlighting the ecological narratives of our water bodies.

Recommendations for Future Improvement

To enhance ecosystem health scores, Blue Water Baltimore advocates for strategic actions:

• Green Stormwater Infrastructure: Promoting rain gardens to mitigate pollutants.
• Sewer Infrastructure: Ensuring adequate funding and maintenance.
• Legislative Action: Advocating for laws to curb trash pollution and strengthen water quality regulations.

Conclusion: Working Towards Cleaner Waterways

Blue Water Baltimore’s annual report underscores ongoing efforts and challenges in maintaining water quality across Baltimore’s waterways. For more detailed insights, visit BaltimoreWaterWatch.org and stay informed about local environmental initiatives.

For continued updates on Baltimore’s environmental health, download The Local News App today.

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