Protocol Selection: Why the Lynnhaven River Watershed?

I chose the Lynnhaven River Watershed for multiple reasons. I live within the Lynnhaven River watershed and my children have been involved in school clubs supported by the non-profit group Lynnhaven River Now. Additionally, at work I have spent time on several projects relating to water quality within the Lynnhaven River.

Because of my employment background, my approach has been mainly from a water quality perspective. According to the NSTA protocols, I am utilizing Protocol 1, 2, 8, and 9. My first step was to print off an aerial photo of the area to compare to my in person observations. Then I performed a field survey of the watershed. I visited several segments on the watershed and made visual observations and utilized a multiparameter sonde to collect water quality data. I used a YSI 6820 and a variety of Chemets field tests. I made observations of invertebrates and vertebrates present, but I did not actually collect any.

Most recently, my focus has shifted to specifically to the effects of stormwater on the watershed. For a project at work, I have set up independent samplers to collect influent and effluent stormwater of a dry detention basin. A dry detention basin is meant to remove sediment, nutrients, and sometimes bacteria from stormwater before it is released into state waters. In an effort to help the City of Virginia Beach get full "credit' for pollution reduction, we will be comparing what goes in and what comes out of this basin. The hope is, that there will be a significant reduction in pollutants to not only meet the requirement of the TMDL, but exceed them. In a time where nutrient trading is becoming more popular, this could help the city in a multitude of ways.

The Lynnhaven River Watershed encompasses the majority of the city of Virginia Beach. It is an important economic and ecologic resource for the city. The impacts of water quality improvement within the watershed will surely be felt regionally as all of the watershed drains into the Chesapeake Bay which is under Executive Order to be restored.