Session Lead: Efeturi Oghenekaro (DC Department of Energy and Environment)

Co-Lead(s): Jennifer Keisman (USGS), Liz Chudoba (Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay)

Session Format: Oral Presentations

Session Description: 

This session aims to bring together scientists, managers, and stakeholders who are focused on the unique issues and science needs of urban areas in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Primary drivers limiting usability of urban waters are often very different compared to the broader watershed. For example, greater intensity of stormwater runoff amplifies the effects of bacteria, road salts, nutrients, sediment, and other pollutants on water quality and aquatic habitats. Approaches to solving these problems need to be tailored to provide equitable solutions that are most effective for these specific environments and communities. We welcome abstracts that highlight science needs, management and restoration efforts, policies, and innovative solutions for improving the ecological health of urban waters and increasing access to their resources while also benefiting communities that live in and around them.

Presentations (abstracts):

  1. Allyson Kido, Eric Schott: Phytoplankton-Related Ecosystem Services of Bivalves in Baltimore Harbor
  2. Margaret R. Mulholland, Alfonso Macias Tapia, Peter Bernhardt: Nutrient loading to a lower Chesapeake Bay estuary during tidal flooding: a heretofore unconsidered nutrient load jeopardizing Bay restoration.
  3. Jim Uphoff: Managing expectations for fishable urban Chesapeake Bay waters
  4. Teresa Rodriguez: Urban Fishing; Connecting Diverse Audiences to Aquatic Resources
  5. Abby Hileman: Keeping It Fresh: The Salt Watch Community Science Initiative
  6. Maya Sterett, Maureen Mitchell: Encouraging informed recreation through DC citizen science water quality data
  7. Dongmei Alvi, Amir Sharifi: Microbial source tracking to improve water quality in Rock Creek River
  8. Trevor Needham: Evaluation of high frequency fecal indicator bacteria sampling to forecast swimmable conditions in Urban Waters
  9. Alicia Ritzenthaler, Jonathan Champion, Nicoline Shulterbrandt: MAPS: Making the Anacostia and Potomac Swimmable
  10. Dr. Eric Schott, Allison Blood: This is how we swim in the Baltimore Harbor, this summer.
  11. Lorena Kowalewski: DC BMP and EJ Screen Analysis
  12. Mary Polacek: Looking for a new approach on resident illicit sanitary connections- The DC Sanitary Sewer Correction Pilot project