Water Watchers Complete 25th Season

CHATHAM – The Friends of Chatham Waterways Water Watchers recently completed the 25th season of Chatham's Coastal Water Nutrient Monitoring Program.

               At 16 testing sites in the Stage Harbor estuaries, south coastal embayments and Pleasant Bay, volunteers collected water samples and data five times during the summer between 6 and 9 a.m. On testing days volunteers first observed and recorded weather conditions, wind force and direction and water clarity. Next they used a refractometer to determine salinity values, a Secchi disk to measure the testing station depth, and a dissolved oxygen meter to record oxygen saturation. Finally, using a Niskin water sampler, they collected water samples to be tested for nutrient and chlorophyll content.  

The samples and data will be analyzed at the University of Massachusetts School of Marine Science and Technology in Dartmouth.

               The coastal water nutrient monitoring program is organized and supervised by Dr. Robert Duncanson, former director of the town's department of health and natural resources. Duncanson certifies water watchers every season in the use of water testing equipment and water sampling protocols.

               The program continues to provide critical data on general water quality, conditions,and trends in nitrogen loading, and was crucial in developing the town’s wastewater management plan. This year's results, along with past data, will help determine the health of the town's estuaries and embayments and track changes as the plan is implemented.

               FCW thanked the following volunteers who helped out this season: In the Stage Harbor estuaries, Betsy Mosser, Michael Mosser, Noah Fleischman, Lauren Thonus, Allie Thonus, Sandy Giorgetti, Sarah Wilsterman, Randy Fusaro, Douglas Fields, Marianne Nover, Susan Weinz, Nan Rubin, Jeff Mason, Mary Keating, Stuart Deadrick, Courtney Bishop, Brooke Bishop, Cam Koblish, Wendy Koblish, Bill Horrocks, Larry Capodilupo; in the south coastal embayments,  Marcus Hatfield, Lily Hatfield, Sherrie Burson, Ron Holmes, Susan Murray, Kent Murray, Dick Hosmer, Roger Donald, Dave Holden, John Garvey; and in Pleasant Bay, Bob Samuelson, Joe Meeks, Patrick Otten, Bob Wilson, Bryan Semple, Gwen Shipley, Barb Shipley, Karen Shipley Taylor, Carolyn Parker, Dick Hoyt, Anne Sampson, Charley Goheen, Steve Dorus, Patricia MacNaughton, Jake MacNaughton, Carole Ridley, Scott Ridley, Michael Reilly, Elizabeth Reilly, and Natalie Coleman Fuller.

               To become a volunteer Water Watcher for 2025, contact Betsy Mosser at betsymosser@aol.com for the Stage Harbor Estuaries and south coastal embayments, and Bob Samuelson at rjsamuelson@mac.com for Pleasant Bay.