Adopt a Testing Site on Spa Creek Today
Announcing a new program to help fund the Spa Creek Conservancy water quality testing program. 2023 marks the 7th year of the testing program in which volunteers from the Conservancy take weekly water samples from 11 sites on Spa Creek and 4 sites on Back Creek. The program needs your help to continue funding this program.
The water samples are analyzed at the Environmental Center at Anne Arundel Community College under the careful watch of Tammy Domanski, PhD and reported on various online spots using the app and data technology created for Spa Creek Conservancy by Exchange.Design.
Why Test the Water?
Ever wonder how those numbers and terms affect whether Spa Creek water is safe to swim in? Or if it is a safe habitat for fish and other critters? These indicators show the health of the creek in a variety of measurements. The weekly testing provides boaters, paddleboarders, kayakers, swimmers, and fishermen with important safety data. See more information about water testing.
Testing over the years has established baseline water quality numbers and demonstrated the effectiveness of the projects done in the watershed.
Water quality testing also serves as an important piece in grant applications, the lifeblood of our nonprofit.
The 2018 restoration of Hawkins Cove has shown upwards of a 50% improvement in harmful chemicals running into Spa Creek while recreating habitat for native wildlife.
And the 2016 headwaters stream restoration has reintroduced fish, beavers, herons and foxes back into the upland reaches of Spa Creek, a clear indicator of water quality improvement.
Program costs
The Conservancy receives no grant funding for the water quality testing program. Local governments do not test our creeks’ water quality – support the nonprofits that do! Each site costs approximately $1000 per season and those costs have been covered by donations in past years. View the map of testing sites.
We are asking you to adopt a testing site. Water testing will start in May and run weekly through Labor Day.
$1000 covers the cost of testing one site for 2023
$500 covers the cost of testing one site for half of 2023
$100 covers the cost of testing one site for one week.
Join the movement ensuring fishable, swimmable waters in Spa Creek.