“Is it safe to swim in the river?” This is one of the most common questions ShoreRivers hears from community members. It’s an understandable concern. Contact with bacteria- or toxin-laden water can result in eye, ear, and respiratory diseases, skin rashes, gastrointestinal issues, and even brain or liver damage. No one wants to get sick from taking a summer dip!
“Fecal bacteria and toxic algae in waterways pose threats to both water quality and public health,” says Rebekah Hock, director of development of ShoreRivers, a nonprofit in Easton, MD dedicated to fighting pollution along Maryland’s Eastern Shore. “At ShoreRivers, we believe that healthy, fishable, swimmable waterways are an essential right for our communities.’”
Through legislative and science-based advocacy, restoration, and education, ShoreRivers focuses on the Chester, Choptank, Sassafras, Miles, and Wye rivers, Eastern Bay, and the Bayside Creek. Sources of this type of pollution are both chronic and acute. Chronic sources include failing residential septic systems, as well as waste from animal farms and manure fertilizer. Acute sources include overflows from wastewater treatment plants and pet or wild animal waste.
“Access to these beautiful waterways is a luxury we should all appreciate and take advantage of,” says Hock, noting that many of the waterways in the Eastern Shore are safe to use. “Just be informed before you jump in.”
If you do intend to swim or recreate in the water, Hock says to keep this advice in mind.
Tips for Swimming
- Check swimguide.org for up-to-date water quality conditions.
- Don’t swim within 48 hours of a major storm event.
- Don’t swim if you have open wounds, scratches, or other breaks in the skin, or if you have an ear infection or a compromised immune system.
- Don’t swallow river water.
- Always shower or rinse off after swimming in open water.
- Never swim in cloudy or murky water, or water that has an odd smell or appearance (say, if it’s more green or more brown than usual).
- Avoid areas where oil slicks, fish kills, or “scum” is visible. If this is the case, let your local Riverkeeper know about it at shorerivers.org.
Get Involved
You can also help your larger community by getting involved with ShoreRivers and similar organizations. “[As team members, volunteers, or donors,] it takes all of us—people like you and me—to get out there and make our voices heard,” Hock says.
Since its outset, ShoreRivers has completed more than 200 projects aimed at creating healthy waterways across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. These projects include providing assistance to landowners, towns, and communities to fund and develop pollution-reduction projects. Projects range from helping farmers adopt sustainable practices and protect their lands from runoff and erosion to helping students appreciate how their lives are enriched by Maryland’s river networks and how to protect them.
“Educating students is a really important aspect of our mission,” says Hock. “Our students are the next generation of environmental stewards and leaders. Both inside and outside of classrooms across six counties, our education team guides their energy and ideas to inspire action.”
Even if you can’t get involved in a formal way, Hock says, there are plenty of simple things you can do at home.
- Whether you own a home on the water or not, choose native, river-friendly plants for your yard or garden.
- Advocate for clean water laws in your town, county, and state.
- Carefully maintain or upgrade your own septic system.
- Always pick up after your pets.
- Properly dispose of marine waste by using a Pumpout Station or service.
ShoreRivers has a simple mission: “healthy, fishable, swimmable waterways are an essential right for our communities.” Agree? Join the movement at shorerivers.org!
Sustainably,
Bobby Firestein
For our 2022 Ecoprint calendar, Protecting the Natural Beauty of the Chesapeake Bay, we have partnered with 13 different organizations, all dedicated to helping solve the environmental challenges in this important ecological hub. ShoreRivers is our featured partner for the month of March. To get your own 2022 Ecoprint calendar, click the button below.
Featured image courtesy of Kate Livie.