As temperatures spike and dissolved oxygen plummets on Knitting Mill Creek, a tributary of the Elizabeth River and centerpiece of a burgeoning EcoDistrict along Norfolk's Colley Ave., we often see waves of a saddening sight: dead fishes, choked by algae on the shores.

Join the Elizabeth River Project in preventing this tragedy for a hands-on event focused on monitoring and protecting Knitting Mill Creek from harmful algal blooms. Utilizing new water quality equipment from Chesapeake Water Watch, we'll engage the community in collecting and analyzing samples to understand and combat these environmental threats. You'll also receive training on how to join Chesapeake Water Watch's community science program, and contribute to a better understanding of the health of the Chesapeake Bay!

Lunch is provided, curtesy of Chesapeake Water Watch, and an optional tour of the building will be available at 2:15pm.

Event Highlights:

Stewardship Presentation: Attend a mini-presentation on responsible stewardship habits like picking up pet waste and reducing fertilizer use to help prevent algal blooms.
Community Sampling Effort: Collect water samples along Knitting Mill Creek and help gather crucial data for the EcoDistrict steering committee.
Environmental Action Kits: Use provided trash grabbers and dog poop bags to clean up the creek area as you sample.
Ryan Resilience Lab Testing: Bring your collected water samples back to the lab for testing and learn how to interpret the data.
Equipment Training: Receive training on using the water quality equipment and understanding the significance of the data collected.

This event is perfect for anyone passionate about protecting our waterways and eager to participate in community science. It’s an excellent opportunity to learn about water quality, contribute to local environmental efforts, and take actionable steps towards a healthier creek. You're also welcome to bring a water sample from anywhere on the Elizabeth River or Chesapeake Bay, collected that day for the Chesapeake Water Watch team to test. This is not required to attend but welcomed!

The event is free, but donations are appreciated to support environmental education programming and restoration projects at the Elizabeth River Project.