Goose Creek Association Partners with George Mason University for Comprehensive Water Quality Monitoring Program

LOUDOUN COUNTY — The Goose Creek Association (GCA) is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with George Mason University’s Potomac Environmental Research & Education Center (GMU-PEREC) to conduct a pilot program of water quality monitoring for the Goose Creek watershed beginning July 25, 2024. This initiative marks a significant step forward in their efforts to protect and preserve the water quality and ecological health of this vital area. “This partnership with George Mason University will allow us to document and evaluate the water quality of Goose Creek over time, and more importantly, provide this information to the community so we can all use it to gauge the impact of our preservation and protection efforts,” said Ted Lewis, GCA board chair.

While GCA has been conducting water quality monitoring on Goose Creek for many years, this collaboration with GMU-PEREC will review, retool, and restart GCA’s water quality monitoring program, parts of which have been on hold since September 2023. GMU-PEREC brings robust laboratory resources, academic talent, and student resources to the table, making them an ideal partner for this initiative. The program will run as a one-year pilot, leveraging existing data and new inputs from key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive proposal for a long-term water quality monitoring strategy.

As part of the pilot program, GMU will analyze 20 years of benthic data and 5 years of chemical data collected by GCA. Using advanced statistical tools and water quality modeling application, GMU will consolidate and evaluate this data. A part of this analysis will result in a proposed grading system for water quality parameters throughout the watershed, informing both public and legislative audiences. “Goose Creek is a treasured natural resource, and this partnership will inform best practices to protect this habitat in the face of expanding local development.” said GCA board member Karl Kelley, chair of the Water Quality Monitoring Committee. “The GMU program is a meaningful expansion, adding to over 20 years of benthic data gathered by GCA volunteers. As Loudoun works to expand pubic access to the creek, these efforts will further inform public safety and recreational activities.”

In coordination with the Water Quality Monitoring Committee led by Kelley, GCA Administrative Director Alyson Borowczyk, and River Steward Kyle Smith, GMU will collect and perform bimonthly analyses of water samples from eight sites across the Goose Creek watershed. This expands GCA’s site count from six to eight and includes both on-site monitoring and laboratory analysis. “GMU’s team will conduct water sampling throughout the watershed, analyzing several parameters, including suspended solids, nutrients, and fecal bacteria,” said Dr. Benoit Van Aken, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at George Mason University. Additionally, GMU will conduct biennial benthic macroinvertebrates (BMI) analysis at the same eight sites, leveraging water samples for laboratory-level benthic analysis to enhance GCA’s field findings.

Deliverables for this pilot program include regular bimonthly meetings with GCA to discuss program findings and design evolution, a detailed report on GCA’s historical data to inform the pilot program, and an annual report outlining the findings, implications, and recommendations based on chemical and benthic monitoring. Ultimately, GMU will develop a proposal for a robust water quality monitoring and assessment program aligned with GCA’s resources and stakeholder needs for the next five years.

For more information, visit goosecreek.org or contact Alyson Borowczyk at [email protected].

Photo by Alyson Borowczyk.

Posted on: August 28, 2024