From the Stream to Your Screen: How Creekwatchers Data Make a Difference

Every time our Creekwatchers volunteers collect a sample, they’re contributing to something much bigger than a single data point. Those bottles of water you saw in last month’s newsletter become part of a growing body of information that guides local action, informs community conversations, and connects our work here in Wicomico County to the broader health of the Chesapeake Bay. 

So, how are the Wicomico Creekwatchers data actually put to use?

• Informing the Public through the Wicomico River Watershed Report – Each year, WET compiles and analyzes Creekwatchers data into the Wicomico River Watershed Report, available on our website and at public events. This annual report helps residents, educators, and policymakers understand the health of our waterways. It highlights where conditions are improving and where attention is still needed. This report is one of the most tangible ways community science supports environmental transparency.

• Supporting Local Decision-Makers – WET presents Creekwatchers results directly to the City of Salisbury and Wicomico County each year. These in-person briefings foster conversations about trends, problem areas, and opportunities for solutions. By bringing reliable data to the table, WET helps ensure local leaders have the information they need to make sound decisions.

• Increasing Data Accessibility – This year, WET expanded our efforts to make Creekwatchers data more accessible to the public. A monthly water quality snapshot is now featured on our website and at least twice a month we post social media updates that highlight any sampling locations with elevated bacteria levels. These timely updates help keep the community informed – they can even help you decide where to fish or paddle!

• Contributing to Regional Decision-Making – Creekwatchers data also feed into the Chesapeake Data Explorer, a platform maintained by the Chesapeake Monitoring Cooperative. Through this partnership, local water quality information from the Wicomico River watershed becomes part of a regional dataset used by scientists and managers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In other words, what our volunteers collect here locally helps shape understanding and decisions far beyond our local streams.

From local classrooms to regional conservation plans, Creekwatchers data have ripple effects that reach far and wide. We hope you’ve enjoyed this three-part series, From the Stream to Your Screen, and if you missed earlier installments, you can find them from our blog homepage.

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