From the Stream to Your Screen: Behind the Scenes with WET’s Creekwatcher Program

Organization is key. Dr. Nyland lines up the bottles and matches each sample with its site code using a long strip of painter’s tape marked with IDs — a simple but effective system to keep everything in order.

Bacteria samples are processed first to prevent any additional growth before testing that would give a false reading. That’s why all samples are kept on ice or refrigerated until they're ready for analysis. Dr. Nyland demonstrates the dilution process, after which the bacteria samples are sealed and placed in an incubator for 20 hours. If fecal coliform bacteria are present, the test packets will glow — a visual confirmation of contamination.

Organization is key. Dr. Nyland lines up the bottles and matches each sample with its site code using a long strip of painter’s tape marked with IDs — a simple but effective system to keep everything in order.

Bacteria samples are processed first to prevent any additional growth before testing that would give a false reading. That’s why all samples are kept on ice or refrigerated until they're ready for analysis. Dr. Nyland demonstrates the dilution process, after which the bacteria samples are sealed and placed in an incubator for 20 hours. If fecal coliform bacteria are present, the test packets will glow — a visual confirmation of contamination.

Next, Dr. Nyland calibrates the YSI meter, a multi-parameter instrument essential for measuring pH, conductivity, and chlorophyll a. Once she has calibrated the meter, she works her way through each bottle, recording results as they appear on the digital screen. Each reading is carefully logged on a paper data sheet before being entered into an online database.

Working alongside Dr. Nyland is Hayden, a longtime student volunteer who started helping in the lab during her freshman year. “The biggest thing for me was getting experience with research,” Hayden says. “Since helping with the Creekwatcher program, I’ve now worked in two other labs on campus.” WET’s partnership with Salisbury University not only ensures high-quality data — it also provides students with meaningful, hands-on research experience that can shape their academic and professional paths.

Another portion of each water sample is pulled using a syringe, then filtered through a series of small glass filters to remove particulate matter. This step is essential for analyzing dissolved nutrients, which are key indicators of pollution and runoff in our waterways. The filtered samples are analyzed using certified EPA methods to generate high-quality data.

With up to 26 samples to process on a busy Tuesday afternoon, Dr. Nyland freezes these filtered samples for later testing during the "off" week when field collection isn’t happening, allowing for a smooth and efficient sample processing cycle.

Precision is critical in the lab. From careful filtering to microliter-level measurements and daily equipment calibration, every step is designed to ensure the reliability of the data.

Each bottle tells us how one site is doing, and, when combined, these data points reveal larger patterns and trends across the watershed. That’s how we monitor change and can assess the impacts of variables over time, such as agricultural nutrient management practices, a new city wastewater treatment facility, or sea level rise. These scientific data and assessments inform WET’s advocacy in championing a healthy environment for all.

Every Creekwatcher bottle and every lab test helps build toward a shared goal: a cleaner, healthier Wicomico River. The data collected throughout the season are compiled into WET’s annual Wicomico River Watershed Report, a resource used by local governments, environmental groups, and concerned citizens alike. The most recent report, as well as all previous annual reports, are posted here on WET’s website.

In next month’s final installment of From the Stream to Your Screen, we’ll show you how these data points are transformed into powerful tools for action — from maps to social media posts to the final watershed report. You’ll meet the people who turn science into story, bringing the data to life through visuals and community engagement.

This article is cross-posted in our October Midstream Monthly newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter to get stories like these in your inbox.