Chesapeake Water Watch: Satellites & Samples
Join us for a special day of water quality data collection!
Event Details
Attention outdoor enthusiasts and volunteer scientists! We need your help to get as many water samples from the Chesapeake Bay as possible on Monday, April 14th.
There will be two high-resolution satellites, Landsat-9 and Sentinel-2a, gracing the skies above the Chesapeake Bay. We can use your water samples to improve the water quality monitoring algorithms for not one but two satellites.
Here's how you can participate:
- Collect a water and/or HydroColor sample from the Bay or from any tidal river that flows into the Bay
- Fill out a quick datasheet
- Drop off your water sample and datasheet at a nearby collection hub
Your small act can make a big impact in monitoring our coastal ecosystems. Don't miss out on the fun!
Time
The drop-off window varies by collection hub, so be sure to check where you would like to drop off your sample.
Samples must be dropped off at the collection hubs by the end time indicated to ensure we have enough time to transport and process the samples.
What You'll Need
An empty plastic water bottle
A smartphone/device to record GPS coordinates
CWW data sheet (or piece of paper to record data)
A rubber band (or something similar) to attach datasheet to sample bottle
Collection Hubs
*Check Collection Hub Details Before Dropping Off Your Sample *
Please note: During collection events, most "self-testing" sites become drop-off locations.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Day-of contact: Ray Terracina (TerracinaR@si.edu).
647 Contees Wharf Road,
Edgewater, MD 21037
Drop-off window: 8AM - 3PM
Press red button above cooler to notify of drop-off.
ShoreRivers' Easton Office
Day-of contact: Ray Terracina (TerracinaR@si.edu).
114 S Washington St. Easton, MD 21601
Drop-off window: 9AM - 3PM
Drop off sample in the cooler at the front entrance.
Marshy Point Nature Center
Day-of contact: Ray Terracina (TerracinaR@si.edu)
7130 Marshy Point Rd,
Middle River, MD 21220
Drop-off window: 9AM - 4:30PM
Enter the classroom on the left, walk to the back corner with cabinets to find the CWW machines and protocol binder. If you need to fill out a datasheet, you can find them in the binder. Rubberband your datasheet to the binder and place sample in the cabinet.
Anne Arundel Community College
Contact: Tammy Domanski (tldomanski@aacc.edu)
101 College Parkway,
Arnold, MD 21012
(443) 994-9236
Drop-off window: 9AM - 3PM
Scan QR code to notify drop-off.
The Ryan Resilience Lab
Day-of contact: Ray Terracina (TerracinaR@si.edu)
4610 Colley Ave.
Norfolk, VA, 23508
Drop-off window: 9AM - 4PM
* Cooler will be near the front door. Scan QR code to notify drop-off.
How To
Click on the image to view the PDF version
CWW Virtual Training: Collecting a Water Sample
For drop-off locations that are not at SERC, you may stop the video at 1:44.
Get GPS Coordinates on Google Maps and Apple Maps
This is very important! Accurate GPS points are required for successful data analysis. No GPS location = We can’t use the data!
Google Maps
Android
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Maps app
.
- Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
- In the search box, you can find the coordinates.
iPhone or iPad
- On your iPhone or iPad, open the Google Maps app
- Touch and hold an area of the map that isn’t labeled to drop a red pin.
- At the bottom, tap Dropped pin to find the coordinates.
Apple Maps
Get GPS Coordinates in Maps on iPhone and iPad
Open Maps on your iPhone or iPad and then follow these steps to get your current location’s GPS coordinates.
- Tap the current location button on the top right.
- When the blue circle for your spot appears on the map, tap it.
- Swipe up from the bottom to view full details for your location and you’ll see the Latitude and Longitude.
Credit: AppleToolBox
Not sure where to go?
Collection Tips
- Your safety is our #1 priority. If weather does not permit for collection, that’s okay! We will have more events and ways to get involved in the future.
- Be sure to write clearly on your data sheet! We need to be able to match up the water sample to the data on your datasheet. Without both, we won’t be able to use your sample!
- Try to take a water sample as far from the shore as possible. If it’s too close to shore, wave action may contaminate the sample and not give us an accurate representation of the overall body of water.
- Transport your water sample in a cooler or thick bag. Some of the measurements we get from water samples can be affected by heat and light.