Standing at the edge of the water, sample bottle in hand, I began to understand that protecting our waterways isn’t just the work of scientists, it’s the work of entire communities. What started as an opportunity to learn about water quality monitoring quickly turned into a deeper look at the people behind the data, and the shared purpose that connects them.
Waterkeepers, Riverkeepers, and Coastkeepers play a critical role in monitoring and protecting local waterways, often serving as the primary advocate for an entire watershed. Through weekly bacteria monitoring programs during the months of May to November, they collect and share data that informs the public about water safety but with only one Waterkeeper per watershed, this work depends heavily on the support of dedicated staff and volunteers.
As part of this experience, I was able to see the full process of water quality monitoring firsthand, from collecting samples directly in the river to working in the lab to prepare and analyze those samples. Observing how each step contributes to identifying bacteria levels gave me a new appreciation for the precision, consistency, and effort required to produce reliable data each week. After learning more about how much community support these programs rely on, I wanted to better understand the people behind the work. I focused on gathering perspectives from both volunteers and staff, organizing my questions into three main themes: motivation and personal connection, impact and meaning, and observations and trends.
Motivation & Personal Connection
One of the most consistent themes I heard was the deeply personal connection people have to their waterways. Whether it stemmed from growing up near the river, wanting to protect their family’s health, or simply feeling a responsibility to their community, volunteers and staff alike shared a strong sense of purpose that motivated their involvement.
For Tim Briceland-Betts, a volunteer for Anacostia Riverkeeper, that motivation comes from a deep appreciation for nature and its resilience. Reflecting on what inspired him to collect water quality samples, he explained:
"For me it started with first understanding and appreciating how nature bounces back from degradation. Then enjoying the rivers and streams in the area and, finally, wanting to do what I could to preserve, protect and improve them.”
Similarly, for Riley Kuehn, Monitoring Program Coordinator at Arundel Rivers Federation, the motivation is rooted in ensuring that communities have access to the information they need to safely enjoy and benefit from those local waterways. She shared:
“As a fellow Maryland resident, I often paddle board, swim, and hike in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, especially near my home by the South, West, and Rhode Rivers. Knowing how important these natural resources are to me, I am motivated to do work that promotes public access and awareness. Residents of these watersheds should be informed about the health of their rivers, so they can make informed decisions before recreating.”
Across the interviews, people rarely describe their work as simply collecting data. Instead, they viewed monitoring as a way to care for places that matter to them and to help others do the same. While data may be the tangible product of their efforts, these conversations suggest that personal connection is often what inspires it.
Impact & Meaning
Beyond motivation, many participants spoke about the meaning they find in the work itself. From contributing to public health awareness to supporting environmental protection, their efforts go beyond data collection. They see themselves as part of a larger mission to keep communities informed, connected, and safe.
As I read through the responses from staff and volunteers, two broad definitions of impact emerged. The first was personal and relational impact: feeling connected, valued by the community, and part of something larger than oneself. The second was measurable and institutional impact: generating data, influencing behavior, improving safety and informing policy.
For Jill MacNiece, volunteer at Potomac Riverkeeper Network, monitoring is an extension of the paddling community’s culture of mutual care:
“Paddling communities are special — we have a culture of caring based on our understanding that rapids and currents can be unpredictable and dangerous, even for very experienced paddlers. We look out for each other and know how to rescue boaters in trouble. Monitoring bacteria in the watershed has taken this caring for my community to a new level. I am honored to be contributing to the health of the river and the people who paddle on it.”
For Jill, the reward comes from protecting fellow paddlers and strengthening community bonds. Her sense of impact is rooted in care for others and a commitment to collective well-being.
Sarah Holter’s, Blue Water Baltimore Water Quality Program Manager, story highlights a different dimension of impact. Her success centers on the creation of a new monitoring route along Herring Run:
“A recent program success is Blue Water Baltimore’s new monitoring route along the Herring Run, established mid-2025. We’ve been wanting to collect samples from the Herring Run, which flows into Back River, for years but capacity and funding were always sticking points. Now we have 9 stations from the headwaters of the nontidal Herring Run down to just above the tidal Back River. Baltimore residents living in this large swath of the City can now use our data to make informed choices before interacting with their local waterway”.
Here, the impact is tangible and measurable. Expanding geographic coverage means more residents have access to reliable information about their local waterways, empowering them to make informed decisions about recreation and water use.
One of the most striking themes across these interviews was that participants seemed to value people-building as much as water-quality improvement. Impact was not solely defined by healthier waterways, but also by stronger relationships between people and the places they care about. In this sense, community science succeeds when it produces both better environmental data and stronger environmental citizens.
Observation & Trends
Although these programs operate in different watersheds across Maryland, a clear pattern emerged: the challenges, goals, and motivations are remarkably similar. Despite geographic differences, participants expressed a common understanding of the importance of water quality monitoring and a shared commitment to protecting local waterways. Their responses revealed several recurring themes, including the hidden nature of water pollution, the influence of rainfall and stormwater runoff on water quality and the importance of long-term monitoring as a tool for environmental stewardship and community action.
As Colin Casey, volunteer for James River Association, explained, “One thing I’ve learned from monitoring is just how complex the James River watershed is. It extends all the way to the West Virginia line, so rainfall far upstream can affect water quality in Richmond days later. Even without local rain, storm runoff upstream can lead to higher bacteria levels at city monitoring sites.” His experience highlights how waterways function as interconnected systems, where conditions in one area can have consequences far downstream.
Similarly, Gabe Horchler, volunteer for Anacostia Riverkeeper noted the unpredictability of water quality, observing that “water quality can vary from one monitoring session to the next, and sometimes for no apparent reason, although following a heavy rain, the quality is predictably bad.” His comments underscore the importance of public awareness, particularly for those who fish, swim, or participate in other recreational activities. Water conditions cannot be judged solely by appearance, making reliable monitoring data essential for public health and safety.
The relationship between rainfall and water quality is especially evident in urban watersheds. Maureen Mitchell, Watershed Programs Director at Anacostia Riverkeeper, explained that waterways within the Anacostia watershed continue to struggle with elevated bacterial contamination, including E.coli, due in part to leaking pipes and aging combined sewer systems that overflow during rain events. These challenges are being intensified by climate change, which is increasing frequency and severity of heavy storms. As a result, greater volumes of untreated sewage, pollutants, sediment and stormwater runoff are entering streams that often lack the natural wetlands and forests needed to filter contaminants.
Together, these perspectives illustrate that waterways are dynamic and complex systems whose health cannot be assessed by visual observation alone. They also emphasize the critical role that rainfall, stormwater runoff and watershed wide processes play in determining water quality.
Another shared theme was the importance of long-term monitoring. Participants consistently emphasized that monitoring programs are valuable not only because they measure environmental conditions but because they provide the data needed to identify trends, locate problem areas, and guide meaningful action. Effective monitoring supports restoration projects, informs legislative advocacy, educates the public, and motivates community cleanups. It can also help draw attention to environmental challenges faced by underserved communities that are often disproportionately affected by pollution.
Ultimately, monitoring is most valuable when it serves as a catalyst for improving environmental outcomes. Rather than simply documenting conditions, long-term monitoring provides the knowledge necessary to protect waterways, strengthen communities, and drive lasting environmental change.
This experience highlighted the power of community science where everyday people contribute to meaningful environmental monitoring. With limited staff and wide areas to cover, these programs demonstrate how collective effort can fill critical gaps and ensure that important data continues to be collected and shared. Protecting our waterways is not the responsibility of a single person or organization. It’s something that requires community involvement. Whether through volunteering, learning more, or simply paying attention to local water conditions, everyone has a role to play in supporting the health of our environment.
Learn more about the Waterkeepers’ water quality monitoring programs, visit: https://waterkeeperschesapeake.org/water-quality-monitoring/
If you’re interested in learning who your local Waterkeeper is and how to get involved click this link to learn more: Waterkeeper Members – Waterkeepers Chesapeake
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