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Maryland researchers have a plan to use sensors to monitor the Chesapeake Bay for pollution

Researchers from UMCES and the state's natural resources department won some initial federal funding through challenge.gov. The project is looking to provide data on nutrients that can choke off the ecosystem.

Is the Conowingo dam keeping pollution out of the Bay? (Photo by Flickr user Mr.TinDC, used under a Creative Commons license)

A project to place environmental sensors in the Chesapeake Bay won the first phase of a federal challenge.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and state Department of Natural Resources are working together on the effort to monitor nutrient pollution. The project is one of five nationwide receiving $10,000 through the Nutrient Sensor Action Challenge. Issued through challenge.gov, the EPA program called for projects involving low-cost sensors and partnerships that can use data to influence government decision-making.
https://twitter.com/eyesonthebay/status/943902548716675072
Maryland’s project fits that bill as it looks to monitor nutrients entering the Bay. Along with bringing a new approach and collaboration, the issue at the heart of the challenge is particularly acute here. If too much nitrogen or phosphorous enters the water, it can reach pollution levels that cause too much algae to grow and chokes off the ecosystem. It’s the issue that causes the Chesapeake Bay to have a “dead zone” each year of varying sizes that has little oxygen and can kill aquatic life.
Researchers from UMCES and DNR plan to place a pair of sensors in the upper Chesapeake Bay to collect data. One area of particular interest is the Conowingo Dam, which is located above Havre de Grace at the point where the Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay. The state has been assessing the dam’s ability to keep nutrients from entering the Bay, especially during a large storm event that brings an influx. The sensors present a new way of collecting info.
“Going out in a boat every two weeks to take measurements isn’t going to tell us much about the effect a storm has,” said UMCES researcher Lora Harris. “We can now put automatic sensors out to do that in any weather.”
Harris is joined in the effort by Mark Trice and Bruce Michael from DNR, and Jeremy Testa from UMCES. DNR would deploy the sensors and post data on its Eyes on the Bay water quality monitoring website, while UMCES will analyze the data.
Along with receiving funding through the initial prize, the project will be eligible to enter into a second phase with a share of a $100,000 prize up for grabs.

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