---
title: "To Heal the Anacostia, Citizen Scientists Wade Into Troubled Waters"
date: 2024-09-09T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/to-heal-the-anacostia-citizen-scientists-wade-into-troubled-waters"
section: Articles
---
# To Heal the Anacostia, Citizen Scientists Wade Into Troubled Waters

*September 9, 2024* — by [Heidi Scott ’09](/author/heidi-scott-09)


> Partnership With Nonprofit Aims to ID, Track Contaminants and Help Improve River’s Health

*Gabe p H test 1920x1080 — Citizen-scientist Gabe Horchler tests salinity and pH on the Anacostia's Quincy Run.*

Early on summer mornings, while mist lingers on the river and great egrets pick their way along the shore, the Anacostia’s beauty rests easy. While the air is still cool, residents of Prince George’s County and D.C. bike, walk and row along a stretch of the Bladensburg waterfront.


*egret near river — A great egret picks its way along the Anacostia shoreline, looking for a breakfast of small fish and reptiles. Egrets are summer visitors to the region and leave in September.*


*six petri dishes glow blue — UV fluorescent light illuminates coliform bacteria colonies on petri dishes collected from river samples in the CONSERVE lab.*


*students in lab coats filter water samples — Undergraduate and graduate students filter river water samples in the CONSERVE lab.*




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [School of Public Health](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-health)