Environmental Monitoring

Overview: Because of the economic, biological and recreational importance of the River, there exists a pressing need for independent, comprehensive baseline environmental monitoring and mapping of the river and its watershed. Parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved solids, Chlorophyll A, Nitrogen, Phosphorous and bacteria will be collected throughout the watershed. This data will be visualized with GIS mapping and shared with regulatory agencies.

Project: In-stream monitoring work will take place at sites of concern along the river and its watershed to determine water quality impacts.

Benefits: This information may be used to assess and report on the river’s relative biological health, potential watershed impacts and monitoring industrial, commercial and recreational impacts along the watershed. This data set will be used to direct county and state agencies to factor existing impacts into TMDL, (Total Maximum Daily Load) recommendations throughout the watershed.


Interested in doing your part to protect your river?
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Gunpowder River Water Quality Update: May 26, 2026

Gunpowder River Water Quality Update: May 26, 2026

Gunpowder Riverkeeper is proud to provide weekly water quality information to residents of Baltimore and Harford counties along the Gunpowder ...
/ Monitoring, Water
Update on Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® pursuit for Tier III Water Quality Monitoring Accreditation

Update on Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® pursuit for Tier III Water Quality Monitoring Accreditation

Since November 2025, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® has been working diligently alongside the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) who provides technical and logistical support ...
/ Monitoring, Water
2026 Anadromous Fish Spawn Monitoring Round Up

2026 Anadromous Fish Spawn Monitoring Round Up

Thanks to Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Fish Biologists Jeffrey Horne, Marek Topolski, Marissa Ponte, and Shannon Moorhead and ...
/ Education, Monitoring
Chesapeake Water Watch Publishes 2025 Data Report

Chesapeake Water Watch Publishes 2025 Data Report

Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® was pleased to receive our data report from Rae Terracina, the Chesapeake Water Watch Program Manager at Smithsonian ...
/ Monitoring, Outreach, Water
Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® partners with Nitrate Watch

Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® partners with Nitrate Watch

Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is proud to partner with the IZAAK Walton League of America (IWLA) to join their Nitrate Watch program ...
/ Monitoring, Take Action, Water
Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® Begins Anadromous Fish Spawn Surveying with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries

Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® Begins Anadromous Fish Spawn Surveying with Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries

On March 3rd, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® staff and volunteers met at Jerusalem Mill for our first outing with the Fisheries crew ...
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