Every day, kids living in the Elizabeth River Watershed work as Youth Water Monitors. They help track the river’s health and progress, and alert us to any new water quality threats. It’s a great way for kids and future scientists to explore their home river and become lifelong stewards.
Join the Fun!
Youth monitors range from ages 8-17 and 3rd through 10th grade.
Step 1 - Find your spot: Pick a location on any branch of the river that suits you. You'll visit for the next 8 weeks to test different aspects of the water quality. You'll measure things like temperature, PH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, nitrates, phosphates, and turbidity.
Step 2 - Test the water: Get a FREE kit with everything you need to assess the water quality. You'll have access to videos and instructions to make testing the water easy and fun!
Step 3 - Submit your results: Make a real impact on the river by submitting your results each week. Your data will help us track the river's health and spot any problems. You can also compare your data with other youth monitors and see which branches are cleanest.
How Do Your Results Compare?
Check out Virginia Institute of Marine Science results here.
Spring 2024 Water Quality Monitoring Results April 13th-June 8th
Our Youth Water Monitors spend 8 weeks on the water testing temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, bacteria, nitrates, phosphates, turbidity and salinity using a LaMotte Earth Force Low-Cost Water Quality Monitoring Kit. All of their results are posted here each week, so we can all keep track of the river’s health. This data is recorded for educational purposes only.
Ph is a measure of acidity in the water. Too much acidity can be harmful to shellfish. A healthy Ph level In the Elizabeth River is between 7 & 8.
Bacteria
Fecal coliform bacteria comes from both wild animals and domestic pets and washes into the river with stormwater and flooding. That’s why it’s so important for pet owners to scoop the poop!
Dissolved Oxygen
A healthy level of breathable water for the river’s marine life is 4 parts per million or above.
Nitrates and Phosphates
Landscape fertilizer runoff creates algae blooms that decrease the dissolved oxygen marine life needs. A healthy level in the Elizabeth River is under 5 parts per million for nitrates and 4 parts per million for phosphates.
Temperature
Fish and crustaceans like blue crabs can’t regulate their own body temperature. Marine life in the Elizabeth River enjoy a moderate water temperature between 32 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Turbidity
Turbidity is a measure of water clarity. High turbidity can make it hard for birds like Osprey to find fish. A healthy level in the Elizabeth is around 100 JTU (Jackson Turbidity Units) or less.
Salinity
Salinity is how much salt is present in water and is typically measured in ppt or parts per thousand.
Register for the next session. (July 20th-Sept. 13th)