Water Chemistry and Nutrient Dynamics Study

Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

Water Chemistry and Nutrient Dynamics

Patuxent River floods the marshes at Jug Bay

Since 1988, volunteers have gathered water quality data to build a long-term database to answer these questions.

How do freshwater tidal wetlands improve the water quality of the Patuxent River?

How does water quality change with time, the tides, and the seasons?

Is the water quality in the Patuxent River improving or getting worse?

Research Activity: Volunteers visit four sites to make measurements and collect water samples for nutrient analyses. On-site measurements include oxygen content, pH, water clarity, and temperature.

Measuring clarity with a Secchi disc

Schedule: New volunteers receive training at water quality workshops held twice each year. After training, volunteers sign up for specific sampling dates, which occur throughout the year.
Schedule of water testing dates.
Go to our web-based calendar for water testing dates
Many dates have volunteers, so please contact Lindsay for openings.

Data: Excel spreadsheet of raw data

To sign up: Contact Lindsay Hollister at the Sanctuary Contact Us