The water in Spa Creek is being tested in seven locations every Thursday morning, rain or shine, throughout the summer and twice monthly in September and October. The following water quality factors are among the values being tested:Spa Creek water is tested every Thursday morning at seven locations on the creek. Red indicates unsafe swimming levels.
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Bacteria Results
August 2017
all values listed in cfu/100ml
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Enterococci
Safe Level
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Aug 3 | Aug 10 | Aug 17 | Aug 24 |
| Capital SUP | 104 cfu | 20 cfu | 28 cfu | 14 cfu | |
| Hawkins Cove (Truxtun) | 104 cfu | 88 cfu | 100 cfu | 192 cfu | |
| Ches Children's Museum | 104 cfu | 800 cfu | 400 cfu | 900 cfu | |
| South Cherry Grove | 104 cfu | 1900 cfu | 15,700 cfu | 25,950 cfu | |
| Silopanna | 104 cfu | 52 cfu | 160 cfu | 72 cfu | |
| Ego Alley | 104 cfu | 6 cfu | 32 cfu | 30 cfu | |
| EYC | 104 cfu | 8 cfu | 44 cfu | 4 cfu |
Aug 1: Restoration work began on the headwater section of Spa Creek that runs under the bridge at the end of S. Cherry Grove and may effect the results.
July 27: Bacteria levels climbing into unsafe levels around Truxtun Park. With heavy rain on the way stay out of the water for at least 48 hours after the rain stops.
July 20: The water temperature in Spa Creek is now at an average of 84.65 degrees F. This isn't surprising since we've all been smoldering in the heat but that's up nearly 2 degrees in the last week and could mean an increased chance for algae blooms. The water at South Cherry Grove and the Children's Museum has very high levels of unsafe bacteria. Stay out of the water in those two areas.
July 6: The only place with safe bacteria levels this week is at Capital SUP, all other areas are unsafe to swim in. After heavy rain on Thursday it is best to stay out of Spa Creek for at least 48 hours.
2017
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Spa Creek Watershed
Bacteria Results 2017
all values listed in cfu/100ml
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Enterococci
Safe Level
|
July 6* | July 13 | July 20 | July 27 |
| Capital SUP |
104 cfu |
20 cfu | 8 cfu | 4 cfu | 46 cfu |
| Hawkins Cove (Truxtun) | 104 cfu | 1,220 cfu | 80 cfu | 84 cfu | 200 cfu |
| Ches Children's Museum | 104 cfu | 560 cfu | 400 cfu | 7,700 cfu | 600 cfu |
| South Cherry Grove | 104 cfu | 5,050 cfu | 1950 cfu |
2,150 cfu | 1700 cfu |
| Silopanna | 104 cfu | 240 cfu | 40 cfu |
10 cfu | 110 cfu |
| Ego Alley | 104 cfu | 5,760 cfu | 6 cfu |
4 cfu | 36 cfu |
* indicates rain within 24 hours of collecting sample
June 29 results: The only spot with unsafe bacteria levels this week is at the footbridge at the end of South Cherry Grove. Clean up of trash and debris around the Children's Museum and Silopanna is nearly complete. It's a holiday weekend and warm temperatures, perfect for being on the water but remember, if it rains stay out of the water for 48 hours.
June 15 results: There are unsafe bacteria levels at the foot bridge near the Chesapeake Children's Museum, where phragmites removal is about completed, and at the end of South Cherry Grove. Total suspended solids (TSS) are too high at all locations, except So. Cherry Grove, to allow for subaquatic vegetation to grow and survive.
June 8 results: Unsafe bacteria levels in Hawkins Cove (across from the Truxtun boat ramp), Chesapeake Children's Museum and at the end of South Cherry Grove. The project to remove phragmites near the Children's Museum is likely the cause of increase enterococci levels at that location.
June 1 results: Bacteria levels are back within safe ranges except near the headwaters and Silopanna where work is being done to pull out phragmites and create swales upstream.
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Spa Creek Watershed
Bacteria Results 2017
all values listed in cfu/100ml
|
Enterococci
Safe Level
|
June 1* | June 8 | June 15 | June 23 | June 29 |
| Capital SUP |
104 cfu |
28 cfu | 18 cfu | 16 cfu | 14 cfu | 16 cfu |
| Hawkins Cove (Truxtun) | 104 cfu | 50 cfu | 120 cfu | 20 cfu | 28 cfu | 28 cfu |
| Ches Children's Museum | 104 cfu | 28,500 cfu | 86,400 cfu | 47,500 cfu | 47,000 cfu | 100 cfu |
| South Cherry Grove | 104 cfu | 550 cfu | 250 cfu | 800 cfu | 1,200 cfu | 550 cfu |
| Silopanna | 104 cfu | 13,100 cfu | 50 cfu | 20 cfu | 5,506 cfu | 50 cfu |
| Ego Alley | 104 cfu | 20 cfu | 4 cfu | 10 cfu | 20 cfu | 4 cfu |
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Spa Creek Watershed
Bacteria Results 2017
all values listed in cfu/100ml
|
Enterococci
Safe Level
Cutoff
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May 11
Actual
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May 25
Actual +
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June 1
Actual *
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Actual
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| Capital SUP | 104 cfu | 4 cfu | 1,228 cfu | 28 cfu | |
| Hawkins Cove (Truxtun) |
104 cfu | 100 cfu | 33,200 cfu | 50 cfu | |
| Ches Children's Museum | 104 cfu | 420 cfu | 21,700 cfu |
28,500 cfu | |
| South Cherry Grove | 104 cfu | 650 cfu | 17,200 cfu |
550 cfu | |
| Silopanna | 104 cfu | 10 cfu | 2,520 cfu | 13,100 cfu | |
| Ego Alley |
104 cfu | 990 cfu | 6,800 cfu | 20 cfu |
Testing began on Thursday, May 11, 2017 and will continue weekly beginning May 25th. Results should be available on Friday afternoons.
Anne Arundel County, and many other agencies, recommend not swimming in the water for 48 hours after a rain event of 0.5 inches or more, especially for those that are immune-suppressed and those with open wounds.
Results show Enterococci levels, the bacterial measurement that is an indicator of fecal contamination (found in the gut of all warm-blooded mammals and a number of birds including geese and ducks).
+ Rain event within 24 hours of testing
++ Rain event within 48 hours of testing.
* Work being done near the Chesapeake Children's Museum site is underway