Photo of the Day: Sunset on the South River

A Patch reader captured a picture of an Edgewater sunset.

Patch reader John Koontz, who is always capturing local images, took this photo of the sunset over the South River on Wednesday. "For a just a few moments this evening at sunset the South River was so still you could see reflections," Koontz wrote in an email. "What a privilege and responsibility it is to live on the river." To view more pictures of local sunrises and sunsets, click here. If you have a photo you would like to share with Patch, email the picture along with a description and your name to edgewater@patch.com.

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South River High Students Win National Mobile App Design Competition

A team of high school students from South River is one of 10 winners of a national competition.

Photos: Moon Shines Over South River

Edgewater-Davidsonville Patch reader John W. Koontz shared this photo with Patch.

Patch reader John Koontz shared this photo of the moon glowing on the South River.  If you have a photo you would to share with Patch, email the picture along with a description and your name to edgewater@patch.com.

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PHOTO: Annapolis Rowing Club in Action

A Patch reader shared this photo of the Annapolis Junior Rowing Association on the South River.

A sign that warmer weather is on its way was spotted on the South River on Monday afternoon. Patch reader John Koontz snapped this picture of the Annapolis Junior Rowing Association out for a run on the South River. If you have a photo you would to share with Patch, email the picture along with a description and your name to edgewater@patch.com.   CORRECTION: This story was updated to correct the name of the group in the photo to the Annapolis Junior Rowing Association. Patch regrets the error.

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SRF Seeks Volunteers to Put 'Spat' Into River

Local residents can help the South River Federation (SRF) place baby oysters into local waterways to help increase the population.

The following post was submitted by staff from the South River Federation. The arrival of fall means the arrival of spat (baby oysters) here along the South River. We have a pallet full of tiny spat waiting to be placed into the protective flood bucket cages for the next year. The year old spat, currently filling over 400 flood buckets, are eagerly awaiting the move to the Harness Creek sanctuary where they will continue to expand the reef.  But, they can't get there without your help! Volunteer with the South River Federation on Sunday at 10 a.m. and help us take these oyster babies to their new home. Bring your friends, neighbors, or kids—just make sure you wear closed-toed shoes and bring a water bottle. Please RSVP to jennfer@…

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Diagnosing the South River: Fish Kills

Scientists discovered 15 dead fish last week while surveying the South River. The deaths are possibly due to warm temperatures and low dissolved-oxygen levels, they said.

Fish don't need air to survive, but they certainly need oxygen—something that's hard to come by in certain spots of the South River.  There's something taking place in the local waterway known as "hypoxic squeezing," where fish are forced to occupy smaller and smaller living spaces as water becomes increasingly difficult to survive in. Naval Academy professor Andrew Muller, husband of South River Riverkeeper Diana Muller, said two main factors are forcing fish to live in concentrated depths and in a way, squeezing the fish out of livable spaces. High temperatures in surface waters and spreading algae blooms that "hog oxygen" at the bottom are decreasing the amount of areas fish can actually survive, he said. "The area of liveable depth is …

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Diagnosing the South River: Internal Problems

Even if the Chesapeake Bay is fully restored, the South River still faces substantial problems that are exclusive to its waters, local scientists say.

At the start of July, Gov. Martin O’Malley applauded the Watershed Implementation Plan and declared that Maryland met two-year milestones in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. But following the announcement, South River Riverkeeper Diana Muller showed hesitance to celebrate alongside the governor due to what she called “internal problems.” Many may assume that as the Chesapeake Bay improves, it will naturally benefit its tributaries, but it’s an assumption that’s far from the truth, Muller said. During their analysis of the South River, Muller, her husband and Naval Academy professor Andrew Muller and intern David Nematollahi gathered evidence that the South River actually gets worse the further it is from the Chesapeake Bay. In fact, the bay’s…

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Diagnosing the South River: A Scientist's Quest

In part one of a three-part video series, Patch takes an inside look at the South River's condition and how scientists are hoping to cure its problems.

A crew of environmental scientists charted out onto the South River's quiet waters last Tuesday around 7 a.m. to beat the brutal July heat and to diagnose the local waterway's condition.  With a heat index headed for triple digits, South River Riverkeeper Diana Muller, her husband and Naval Academy professor Andrew Muller and South River Federation intern David Nematollahi packed into the South River Riverkeeper boat and headed out onto the water for their weekly scientific quest. Patch was on hand as the scientists and their young intern analyzed, measured and calculated findings throughout almost a dozen “testing” stations on the river. Using a variety of techniques, from a simple black and white disc to a $14,000 piece of equipment, the…

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Riverkeeper Calls South River Conditions 'Deplorable'

The South River Federation hosted its State of the South River meeting this week to discuss what more needs to be done for the local body of water.

Natural Bodies of Water and Raw Shellfish Pose Health Risk

The Anne Arundel Department of Health provides tips on avoiding Disease-causing microorganisms.

The Anne Arundel County Department of Health sent out a news release on Friday reminding county residents about the health risks associated with natural bodies of water and with eating raw shellfish. According to the press release, natural bodies of water can contain bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. Swimmer’s ear, an infection of the outer ear, is the most common problem, but other water-related illnesses can be acquired. Disease-causing microorganisms, such as various forms of Vibrio, can enter the body through open cuts and sores. Eating raw shellfish can also cause Vibrio-related illnesses, according to the Department of Health. Each summer as water use and temperatures rise, cases of Vibrio-related illnesses are reported in …

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