SeVWA’s E. coli Monitoring of Local River Sites is Finished for 2013

August 28^th was the last river sampling day of Southeastern Vermont Watershed Alliance’s (SeVWA’s) 2013 river monitoring program. In 2013 there were 24 river and stream sites that SeVWA monitored. Those sites were in the West River and Williams River watersheds and along the Saxtons River and Whetstone Brook. This summer the river monitoring program began on Wednesday, June 19^th and this past Wednesday, August 28^th was SeVWA’s sixth and final monitoring day of the 2013 season!

As the kids are back in school and we head into Labor Day Weekend, many consider summer over. The leaves will soon be turning and it will be full blown autumn before we know it! The two weeks preceding the final sampling featured a mix of rain, clouds, and sun. The weather immediately prior to the sampling was slightly damp, but the majority of the E. coli results were well below the state of Vermont’s and EPA’s standard for suitability for swimming. See the accompanying E. coli results charts for Wednesday’s samples’ results. Thursday, the day after sampling, saw some heavy rains in many areas as thunderstorms moved through. A general recommendation is that it is prudent to wait 24-48 hours after a significant rain event to swim in the effected waters.  Please keep that in mind when deciding how the rivers will fit into your holiday weekend plans.

It has been said already, but it cannot be emphasized enough times how important all of our volunteers are to achieving a successful monitoring season. Most of the volunteers wake-up earlier than usual every other Wednesday morning and wade into our local streams and rivers — rain or shine, hot or cold – to collect these important samples. This year there have been 21 regular SeVWA river monitoring volunteers with an additional 7 volunteers occasionally filling in for “regulars”.

Please post the accomanying E. coli results charts in your communities where folks will see them. If you have a local news publication also submit the chart and this commentary to them for posting/publishing and provide to your town’s conservation commission or planning department.

SeVWA’s water quality monitoring program is supported by SeVWA volunteers, members and donors, including Chroma Technology Group, Village Square Booksellers, Rock River Preservation, State of VT Department of Environmental Conservation’s LaRosa Environmental Testing Laboratory, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters & Connecticut River Watershed Council (CRWC).

E. coli results charts and accompanying commentaries appeared at www.ibrattleboro.com (Nature section) every 2 weeks through the monitoring season. For more information about SeVWA’s monitoring program sites and results and other Connecticut River watershed water quality and recreational information, please visit www.ctriver.us.

Thanks again for all you do to support SeVWA’s monitoring program and for your interest.

This information is provided by Ryan O’Donnell, summer intern and Laurie Callahan, SeVWA WQMP Committee – SeVWA Water Quality Monitoring Program (sevwa.volunteer@gmail.com).

SeVWA website – https://sites.google.com/site/vtsevwa/