Choptank Riverkeeper

06/23/2026

🌧️ Rain Check: I’m late to the game here, but what was everyone’s recorded rainfall after last night’s super storm? I heard some places in the watershed around the Bay Hundred area in Talbot County got over 5”, while I got just about a half inch in Cambridge. How much rainfall did you get and where do you live?

06/23/2026

Oxford, along with Cambridge and St. Michael’s, are ground zero for flooding impacts from tidal flooding and rain-driven flooding, and they’re all at different stages of trying to figure out how to manage and work with today’s and future flood conditions. And they’re all doing it differently. Having partners like NOAA studying these projects is a significant step towards learning what other coastal Chesapeake Bay towns will likely need to consider as their coastal adaptation strategies.

06/18/2026

CHOPTANK RIVER BACTERIA REPORT – 6/17/26 :We're sharing this week's report a day early before the long weekend ahead.

This week, only 6 of 16 sites passed Maryland's Beach Action standard for Enterococci bacteria. The highest bacteria levels were recorded at Kingston Landing (2,755 CFU), Two Johns Landing (757 CFU), and Oxford - The Strand Beach (359 CFU). The six sites that remained in good shape for recreation include Windy Hill Landing (41 CFU), Easton Point Park (52 CFU), Bill Burton Beach (20 CFU), Sailwinds Park Beach (30 CFU), Willis Street Beach (75 CFU), and Gerry Boyle Park Beach (86 CFU).

By popular request, we've included screenshots of the interactive map from ShoreRivers.org/swim in this week's post. Many of you asked where each monitoring location is, and the interactive map is the best way to explore sites across the Choptank watershed before heading out. You can also click on each location to see the latest results throughout the season.

📍 Visit ShoreRivers.org/swim to explore the interactive map, view current results, and plan your weekend on the water. And download The Swim Guide app on your phone for quick map access.

⚠️ SAFE SWIMMING REMINDERS ⚠️
• Avoid swimming for 24–48 hours after heavy rain.
• Do not swim with open cuts or wounds.
• Rinse off after swimming.
• Watch for algal blooms, rough water, and other hazards.
• Results above 104 CFU/100mL are considered failing under Maryland's Beach Action Value

👉 Reminder: Not all monitoring locations are designated swimming beaches. Please follow posted rules and use caution when entering the water.

A huge thank you to our volunteer SwimTesters and site sponsors for making this program possible each week.

06/12/2026

CHOPTANK RIVER BACTERIA REPORT – 6/11:
This week, only 7 of 16 sites passed Maryland's recreational water quality standard for Enterococci bacteria. Several locations saw significant increases following recent rainfall, with the highest bacteria levels recorded at Easton Point Park (10,462 CFU), Trappe Landing (1,607 CFU), Two Johns Landing (1,459 CFU), and Kingston Landing (1,137 CFU).

That said, several locations continued to post strong results, including Oxford Strand Beach (10 CFU) and Bellevue Beach (10 CFU), along with passing results at Bill Burton Beach, Choptank Marina Beach, Willis Street Beach, Gerry Boyle Park Beach, and Hambrooks Bay Beach.

The contrast with last week's results is striking. After a stretch of dry weather, much of the watershed was in good shape. But recent rain events appear to have generated runoff conditions that transported bacteria into local waterways, pushing many sites above the recreational water quality standard. It's a good reminder that while the river may look inviting, what happens on the landscape after rainfall can have a major impact on water quality.

As we head into another summer weekend, remember that bacteria levels can change rapidly following rainfall. And that's exactly why we monitor, to help you make informed decisions about when and where to safely swim, paddle, fish, and enjoy the .

📲 Swipe through the images for this week's full results.

📍Weekly updates available at:
• Shorerivers.org/swim
• The app
• All + Riverkeeper social media channels ( )

⚠️ SAFE SWIMMING REMINDERS ⚠️
• Avoid swimming for 24–48 hours after heavy rain
• Do not swim with open cuts or wounds
• Rinse off after swimming
• Results above 104 CFU/100mL are considered failing under Maryland's Healthy Beaches criteria.

👉 Reminder: not all testing locations are designated swimming beaches. Please follow all posted rules and use caution when entering the water.

Huge thanks to our volunteer SwimTesters and site sponsors for making this program possible!

06/10/2026

NAVIGATION BY EXCAVATION: On April 17, we documented this barge plowing the bottom of the Tred Avon River and creating a massive mud plume that spread throughout the river. Since then, we've shared videos, photos, and evidence with state and federal agencies. Here's what we've learned:

The mud plume is not in dispute. The video is not in dispute. Instead, agencies are still debating whether anyone has the authority to act. That's the loophole.

Maryland regulates dredging. Maryland regulates erosion control. Maryland spends millions of taxpayer dollars reducing pollution, restoring oysters, and improving water quality. Yet a company can repeatedly and intentionally plow the river bottom, create enormous mud plumes, and agencies are still trying to determine who is responsible. The action is clearly intentional, just look at where the plume starts.

Meanwhile, since the April 17 incident, the barge has continued operating on the Tred Avon River, with documented transit occurring after dark.

The question isn't what to call it. The question is why it's still allowed.

Working with the community and local elected officials, we're continuing to push for answers from MDE, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and EPA.

This is our river. And the rules should apply to everyone. If you think a company shouldn't be allowed to plow the bottom of the Tred Avon River without accountability, share this video.

06/07/2026

There’s no doubt it’s mating season in the Choptank for the Cownose Rays right now. They were all around me when I was paddling out by the Malkus Bridge trying to see how the rock fishing was going. Did you see any cownose ray on the water this weekend? I imagine they’re enjoying the good water clarity this year like the rest of us.

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

What in the Choptank is going on here!? Tidewater Lifts captured this video off of Goose Point of dozens of cownose rays flapping around, with their wing tips breaking the surface and mud plumes popping up all around. Anglers know pretty well that once they spot cownose rays in the area, it’s likely all other fish have moved out as the rays make quite the commotion digging for soft shell clams - their preferred food. And separate from a skate or Atlantic Stingray, cownose rays are common visitors to the Choptank, and usually show up from May to September during their summer migration. Have you ever caught or seen these “flat sharks” in the river before?

Here’s a good article by the Bay Journal highlighting cownose rays, and their close friend the clearnose skate. https://www.bayjournal.com/columns/bay_naturalist/rays-and-skates-fish-that-soar-under-the-waves/article_7aec31b2-0079-11ee-bd85-93f9f5d01009.html

06/05/2026

CHOPTANK RIVER BACTERIA REPORT – 6/4:

If you've been waiting for a great weekend to get out on the Choptank, THIS IS IT! 13 of 16 sites passed with many locations posting some of the lowest bacteria counts we've seen so far this season. Whether you're planning to swim, paddle, fish, boat, or simply cool off along the shoreline, conditions are looking good across much of the river ahead of a hot hot weekend.

The highest bacteria levels were recorded at Hillsboro Landing (193 CFU), Red Bridges (146 CFU), and Two Johns Landing (132 CFU), while all other sites passed, including very low counts at Hambrooks Bay Beach and Oxford Strand Beach (

05/30/2026

We had a great time on our kayak expedition out of Denton this week, cruising up river and paddling around Chapel Branch - a new creek for me to explore. And it was beautiful! All summer long, shoreriversorg is offering free expeditions around the watershed - from kayak trips with your local Riverkeepers, to guided hikes, to tours of local gems. These expeditions are free thanks to a generous grant from the chesapeakebaytrust, and you can sign up at ShoreRivers.org/events