Water Quality Monitoring

The SVCA has been monitoring river water quality at multiple sites on the river above Sheepscot Village since 1992. Results from this volunteer program have been used to illustrate the effects of contamination from several overboard discharges that have since been removed. In addition, data from this highly successful volunteer effort have been used to identify areas with elevated water temperature and depressed dissolved oxygen levels, both of which can have serious impacts on salmon and other anadromous fish populations.

From the Executive Summary of the 2012 Water Quality Report

This report is a summary of the 19th sampling season of the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association's Water Quality Monitoring Program. This year SVCA monitored the same 9 sites as last year. The sites sampled were:

DY001-E (Dyer River, Sheepscot)
S007-E (Sheepscot River, Head Tide)
CHABK001-F (Chamberlain Brook, Kings Mills)
S013-F (Sheepscot River, Whitefield)
CHBK001-F (Choate Brook, Windsor)
MEBK001-F (Meadow Brook, China)
WB001-F (West Branch, Whitefield)
WB002-F (West Branch, Windsor)
WB005-F (West Branch, China)

Water samples were tested for bacteria and dissolved oxygen. Water temperature at all sites and salinity at one estuarine site were measured. The data are provided to the Maine DEP and they continue to be used by the MDEP for water quality assessment.

2012 Report

Download the full 2012 report