Since November 2025, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® has been working diligently alongside the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative (CMC) who provides technical and logistical support to partners, communities, and individuals who want to collect, share, interpret, and use water quality data to increase understanding of Chesapeake Bay watershed health. Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is currently in the process of obtaining its Tier III accreditation for its bacterial and Tidal water quality monitoring programs. This means we must meet the sampling and analytical requirements of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Methods and Quality Assurance procedures with the ultimate goal of allowing our data to be used in state decision making regarding water quality.
As of May 2026, Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® is in the final stages of receiving its Tier III accreditation for both its bacterial and tidal monitoring programs. After spending the winter months updating our procedures and quality assurance protocols on paper these will soon be put to the test. Later in June The CMC will accompany Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® staff and trained volunteers to conduct a field audit. Here CMC staff will observe our updated protocols and ensure that our methods will produce accurate and reliable data every time we sample. Upon successful completion of this final step, any data collected by Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® can be used to inform regulatory assessments and state decision making when it comes to water quality. Here at Gunpowder RIVERKEEPER® we are committed to providing reliable bacterial data to the public to ensure the safety of those that use the streams and rivers of the Gunpowder. Be sure to check our website and social media after Memorial Day for weekly updates on bacteria values at our five sites we currently monitor throughout the Gunpowder Watershed.
