Water Quality Significantly Impacted by Runoff from
Pocomoke River Rain Event
Data from the Cedar Hall Wharf, Pocomoke River continuous monitoring station show
significant impacts on water quality conditions as runoff from a 15-18 inch rainfall
event in the upper watershed pushed salty waters of the lower tidal river down
into Pocomoke Sound. The mass of freshwater runoff severely reduced salinity levels.
Natural tannic waters from the upper Pocomoke River and its wetlands with naturally
high levels of dissolved organic material, increased turbidity levels, and considerably
decreased dissolved oxygen, pH and chlorophyll levels in the lower tidal river.
After September 6, as runoff impacts begin to abate, estuarine water quality conditions
began to recover as dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH and chlorophyll levels increased
with each tidal rhythm.