A BIG shout out to the "fabulous three" (Emily, Averill and Sally) who showed up for the winter monitoring yesterday. For the first time in a long time (at least two winters) we hit 100 macros!
No Snow Yet, but Salt Levels are High in the Watershed
LFWA citizen scientists are busy at work again, this time testing for salt pollution in our creeks. While the 3 inches of rain last weekend washed away much of the salt pollution, the baseline tests taken in mid-December showed high levels of salt - almost to the chronic level. This is alarming as the freshwater organisms who live in the creek, cannot survive when the salinity of the water gets too high. The saline levels are caused by road salt which makes its way into the creek through run-off when the salt melts.
Baseline results from December 16.
These high levels at the beginning of winter are a reminder of long lasting effects of road salt.
Just a sprinkle will do.
High baseline levels are also a reminder to keep salting to minimum on your sidewalks and driveways. We want people to be safe, but we also want healthy creeks. So read the instructions on the salt containers carefully and remember more is not better. A 12 ounce coffee cup holds enough salt to treat a 20 foot driveway! And if there is salt still on the pavement after the storm - you can sweep it up and save it for another storm.
call 311 to report salt spills
Montgomery County is committed to responsible salt treatment of public roads and sidewalks. This means removing piles of excess salt. Please, if you see piles of salt on your street or other public areas, call 311 to report. They will come out and clean it up.
More information about the LFWA Salt Watch program and Salt Wise winters HERE.
Montgomery County maintenance crew cleaning up excess salt in the Westbrook neighborhood after receiving a 311 call from a resident.
New Year's Bird Count, Norwood Park
Snow Plow Painting Raises Awareness of Road Salt Toxicity
Report Concludes Area Streams have a Serious Fecal Bacteria Problem
For the third consecutive summer, the fecal bacteria levels in the Little Falls watershed have exceeded the Maryland State Standards for recreational water use - even for infrequent human contact. According to the 15 week study of eight sites along two creeks in the watershed, both creeks at all locations fail to meet the criteria for safe water play.
Stream Scores Poor in Fall Monitoring
Thanks to everyone for an efficient and productive Fall Monitoring. With a plethora of volunteers - there were 9 of us - we recorded 106 macro's. Watching small minnow mayflies take flight might have been the highlight of the day or possibly finding one Narrow Winged Damsel Fly (thanks to Averill!).
Illegal Discharge in the Creek? If You See Something, Say Something!
August 8, 2023: Dead fish in the Little Falls Branch by Willard Avenue Park in Chevy Chase, MD.
Kudos to our trash volunteers who noticed dead fish and a weird smell in the Little Falls Branch at Willard Avenue Park in Chevy Chase during our August clean-up. They reported the problem to our trash host who passed it along to Steve Martin at the Montgomery County Department of Environment. Steve and his crew were able to track down at least some of the problem and a local pool was found to have discharged muriatic acid into the creek. The pool management company was issued a citation.
Thank you to our trash host Emily Simone for following up on this and to the MoCo DEP for their prompt and successful investigation.
how to report problems in the creek
This is not the first time that LFWA has reported a problem to the County with success. Illegal discharges are common in the creek and quite often the DEP is able to track the source and have the problem fixed. But they can’t do it without the help of residents. The key to a successful outcome is prompt reporting with lots of details, pictures and maps. There are two ways to report:
Call 311 - this non-emergency number will take your report and relay it to the right department. 311 is only available Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. Call 911 for emergency service when 311 is closed.
Email Environmental Compliance Supervisor directly at Steve.Martin@montgomerycountymd.gov Be sure to include photos and a map along with the date of observation. Please copy us at info@LFWA.org if you do email. We will also follow up.
Examples of problems you might report include paint, construction silt, dead fish, funny smells, weird colored water, lots of foam from soap suds, and of course, plain old dumping,
Murky water on the Little Falls Branch coming from an outlet near Willard Avenue in Chevy Chase. Dead fish and an abnormally low pH were found below this outlet. Photo taken on August 8, 2023.
Hooded Warbler Visits Green Acres
It's a good season for sowbugs!
Summer time is sowbug time in the Little Falls Branch! These freshwater crustaceans (Asellus aqaticus) live under the rocks and eat little bits of debris floating in the water. As is common in the summer, almost 20% of macroinvetebrates found in our summer stream monitoring session were sowbugs. Other stars of the July 9 survey were planaria and minnow mayflies.
Fecal Bacteria Monitoring FAQ
To answers all the questions about our fecal bacteria monitoring program you never knew you had!