Water Watchers Conclude 26th Season

CHATHAM – The Friends of Chatham Waterways (FCW) Water Watchers recently completed the 26th season of collecting water samples and data for Chatham's Coastal Water Nutrient Monitoring Program.

At 16 sites in the Stage Harbor estuaries, south coastal embayments and Pleasant Bay, 47 volunteers sampled water five times during the summer. 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, used a Secchi disk to measure 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 Chatham'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 2025 volunteers: In the Stage Harbor estuaries, Betsy Mosser, Noah Fleischman, Allie Thonus, Nan Rubin, Lindsey Ford, Sandy Giorgetti, Sarah Wilsterman, Randy Fusaro, Mike Carroll, Douglas Fields, Marianne Nover, Mary Keating, Stuart Deadrick, Courtney Bishop, Brooke Bishop, Cam Koblish, Wendy Koblish, Bill Harrocks, 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, Patrick Otten, Bob Wilson, Bryan Semple, Gwen Shipley, Barb Shipley, Karen Shipley Taylor, Carolyn Parker, Dick Hoyt, Charley Goheen, Patricia MacNaughton, Steve Dorus, Jake MacNaughton, Carole Ridley, Scott Ridley, Natalie Coleman Fuller, Michael Reilly and Elizabeth Reilly.

To become a volunteer Water Watcher for 2026, 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.