Annapolis River Guardians

They are members of the communities within the Annapolis River Watershed who are interested in the quality of their environment. Their ranks include engineers, business people, homemakers, craftsmen, teachers and students. Annapolis River and it's Tributaries.

What are the objectives of the Annapolis River Guardians Project? There are four main objectives: -To establish and support a regular observation system which will provide an early warning of environmental problems; -To provide a long term record of the river's health; -To develop interest in the Annapolis River and community stewardship to ensure a viable resource for future generations; and -To provide a knowledgeable group of local individuals who can promote the preservation, rehabilitation, and use of these estuarine resources in the future.

The parameters monitored by the Annapolis River Guardians have varied throughout the years. The following parameters have been monitored continuously since the start of the program: fecal coliform bacteria, dissolved oxygen, air and water temperature, and weather conditions. Additional parameters that have been sampled periodically include: nitrate, chlorophyll a, chloride, sulphate, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, total suspended solids, colour and transparency.

Sampling takes place from April to December. During January through March, sampling is discontinued due to freeze up.