Journal of Emerging Scholarship

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is a critical source of life for many organisms along the East Coast. Its health is significantly affected by its tributaries including the Magothy River. Two creeks border the campus of Anne Arundel Community College (AACC), Mill Creek and Dividing Creek, which flow directly into the Magothy River. A restoration project was completed on a portion of Dividing Creek in 2016, while the portion of Mill Creek along and upstream of AACC has not undergone restoration. Initially this project was conducted to track differences between the creeks at comparable sites, including sites on Dividing Creek upstream and downstream of restoration and having continual flow. Weekly water samples and data were collected during 2023 to compare water quality in these parallel creeks. Parameters that were measured included turbidity, color dissolved organic matter (CDOM), In vivo chlorophyll (IVCH), Enterococcus concentration, salinity, temperature, phosphate, specific conductance, and dissolved oxygen. While the two creeks were similar in many characteristics there were notable differences. One of the sites on Dividing Creek consistently demonstrated significant differences in several parameters when compared to Mill Creek and the other site on Dividing Creek. The cause of the variation at this site is being investigated. It is important to understand the dynamics of these creeks as construction and restoration projects will continue to affect the health of the Magothy River and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.