Water quality

[Fred C]

Does anyone know of any online resource that has information on the water quality we paddle in on the North Shore? With all that sewerage that went into the water during the last storm, I wonder how long it will take to flush itself out.

[Brian Nystrom]

...stay away from river mouths. Rivers are still very high and many are still at or above flood stage, due to more heavy rain in some locations yesterday. Between the the sheer volume of water, the pollution and the debris, it's too dangerous to be near them until their waters drop to normal levels, which could take weeks.

On a positive note, the waters around Cape Ann should be fine. We were off Marblehead doing Trip Leader training yesterday and there was no evidence of any problems.

[Kevin B (RPS Coach)]

Here's a somwhat informative link from the EPA:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/1...af!OpenDocument

[Dee Hall]

Salem Sound does not have any major rivers emptying into it. Also, the communities which empty treated sewerage into it don't have storm drains connected to their sewer systems overloading them during heavy rains. Gloucester Harbor is another issue.

[eneumeier]

I would stay out of (meaning on top of is okay but no rolling) Gloucester harbor, the Annisquam, the Essex River, rivers in Ipswich, and any waters feeding into them for a couple of weeks.

Liz N.