Report: Wicomico River shows improvement in phosphrous and nitrogen levels

In Salisbury, officials are celebrating a report stating the Wicomico River is improving.

At the Salisbury Marina Monday, the Wicomico Creekwatchers report shows water samples collected on a two week interval throughout last year, showed an improvement in water quality of the Wicomico River from 2013.

That includes lower levels of nitrogen and phosphrous, which the EPA says can help the ecosystem on the River. However, the report says there are high levels in bacteria.
Officials say those levels can come from a number of areas including rain

Dr Judith Stribling, Biology and science professor at Salisbury University says,
“We believe this is a combination of human bacteria, goose bacteria, dog and cat bacteria raccoons anything on the land that can wash off”.

Mayor Ireton tells 47 ABC the city isn’t standing by either. He says contributions from Salisbury’s septic system and the city’s storm water system are improving the health of the river.

The city also employs someone to ride up and down the part of the river that runs through downtown to make sure its clean.

“What we want to do as you can see through the upgrades here at the marina is get more people through kayaks and boating recreation get them on the River try to get people to live on the River,” says Mayor Ireton.