THE TALBOT RIVER PROTECTION ASSOCATION INC.
RIVER AND SEDIMENT ANALYSIS
BY
CHARLES E. MASON SR., PE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
TESTS WERE PERFORMED BY A STATE CERTIFIED LAB-SEVERN/TRENT LABORATORIES 19 LOVETON CIRCLE, SPARKS MARYLAND 21152. THE TALBOT COUNTY COUNCIL GRANTED THE FUNDS USED FOR THESE TESTS.
TEST SITES: (1) TRED AVON.
(2) WATERMELON POINT-TRED AVON.
(3) HOG ISLAND-UPPER CHOPTANK
TEST RESULTS:
SEDEMENT TEST AT THE UPPER TRED AVON (33&322) EASTON BY PASS & ST. MICHALES RD. REVEALED
THE PRESENCE OF NUMEROUS HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES AS DEFINED BY THE E.P.A. THEY INCLUDE VOLATILE ORGANIC CHEMICALS, SEMI-VOLATIAL ORGANIC CHEMICALS INCLUDING POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC
HYDROCARBONS, AND HEAVY METALS. MOST OF THESE SUBSTANCES DO NOT OCCUR NATURALLY, IN OUR WATERS. THE RESULT OF THESE SUBSTANCES ARE URBAN RUNOFF FROM LAWNS, GRASSES, GOLF COURCES AND THE LIKE.
THE WATERMELON POINT SAMPLE WAS THE CONTROL POINT AND WAS THE "CLEANEST "AND PRACTICALLY DEVOID OF THESE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, INDICATING THE EFFECT OF EASTON'S STORMWATER RUNOFF ON THE UPPER TRED AVON. THE UPPER TRED AVON RIVER IS ALREADY IMPAIRED DUE TO HIGH LEVELS OF FECAL COLIFORM AND NUIRIENTS.
THE HOG ISLAND- UPPER CHOPTANK RIVER SAMPLE EXHIBITED A LESSER AMOUNT OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES THAN THE UPPER TRED AVON WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A SUPRISING LEVEL OF D.D.T. DICHLORO-DIPHENYL-TRICIILOROETHANE WHICH HAS A LONG HALF LIFE.
I WILL LEAVE YOU A COPY OF THE COMPLETE LAB TESTS. PRESENT LAWS:
CLEAN WATER ACT OF 1995- AS AMENDED ,COVERS PRIVATE COMPANY DISCHARGE, MUNICIPAL SEWER TREATMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF STORM WATER PROCESSING.
CHESAPEAK BAY AGREEMENT- OF 1987 SIGNED BY MD.VA, PA, AND EPA THIS ACT SPECIFIES A 40% IMPROVEMENT BY 2000 IN LOWERING NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS.
CRITICAL AREAS PROTECTION OF 1986 MANDATES A BUFEER ZONE WITHIN 1000 FEET OF TIDAL INFLUENCE.
MAGUNSON-STEVENS -FISH MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION ACT 0F1996, WHICH PROTECTS ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT.
EASTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
EASTON ZONING ORDINANCE..
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE DATA SHOW IMPAREMENT IN MANY AREAS, THESE INCLUDE FECAL COLIFORM, NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, DESOLVED OXYGEN, AND SUSPENDED SOLIDS.MARYLAND DOES NOT HAVE STANDARDS FOR NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS. DELAWARE HAS STANDARDS AND OUR MEASUREMENTS ARE MUCH WORSE THAN ALLOWED IN THAT STATE. NOW TRPA HAS PRESENTED EVIDENCE OF HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES IN OUR WATERS WE ALL SHARE THE SAME SMALL FRAGILE PENNISULA, AND MUST PROTECT IT.
RECOMMENDATIONS AS A RESULT OF THESE TESTS:
1. A DEVELOPMENT SITE PLAN AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE RECEIVING BODY OF WATER IN ADDITION, THE GENERAL COMPOSITION AND VOLUME OF THE RUNOFF FROM THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT.
2. THE ZONING ORDINANCES SHOULD SPELL OUT THE PARAMETERS FOR EFFECTIVE STORM WATER MANAGEMENT.
3. DEVELOPERS OF RETAIL PROJECTS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THEIR STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PRESENT ENFORSEMENT AND PENALITYS ARE INSUFFICENT.
4. CURRENT STORMWATER REGULATIONS NEED TO BE REVISED TO PROVIDE A METHOD TO MONITOR THE LEVELS OF ORGANIC CHEMICALS AND HEAVY METALS IN OUR WATERS.
5. MARYLAND'S T.M.D.L. PROGRAM WILL NECESSITATE STRICTER STANDARDS FOR SEWAGE TREATMENT, AND STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, WE SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THESE NEW STANDARDS ARE KNOWN AND IN PLACE BEFORE APPROVING HUGE NEW PROJECTS.