Who are Maryland Stream Waders?
What do they do?

Maryland Stream Waders is a statewide volunteer stream sampling program that uses the state’s largest corps of citizen scientists. Sponsored each year by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, about 200 Stream Waders volunteers sample freshwater streams for aquatic invertebrates – excellent indicators of stream health. While volunteers get to explore the depths and mysteries of freshwater streams, they also provide DNR with valuable information on the health of about 500 streams each year. The goals of this program are to:

1. increase the density of sampling sites for use in stream quality assessments;

2. educate the local community about the relationship between land use and stream quality;

3. provide information on stream quality to environmental organizations and other government agencies; and

4. improve stream stewardship ethics and encourage local action to improve watershed management.

Stream Waders fits seamlessly within the Maryland Biological Stream Survey, DNR’s professionally-staffed stream sampling program. Since both programs use the same methods and quality assurance procedures, results from both can be used side-by-side in watershed report cards and stream protection and restoration efforts. Since we all know that the health of the Chesapeake Bay depends to a great extent on the health of its streams and rivers, Stream Waders results can be used to track the effectiveness of Bay restoration efforts. For more information on Stream Waders, visit

- Dan Boward
Resource Assessment Service
Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Photos courtesy of Dan Broward

For more information:
http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/streams/mbss/mbss_volun.html

Maryland's Stream Waders:
Enhancing Understanding of our Waterways One Stream at a Time

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