|
What is a Wade-in? A Wade-in is a popular, but unscientific check of water clarity. Participants walk into the water until they can no longer see the tops of their sneakers, then measure and record the depth. While Wade-ins provide a one-day snapshot of water clarity, these annual measurements are important because they raise public awareness.
Retired State Senator Bernie Fowler initiated the first Wade-in some 20 years ago to dramatize water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and to get the public involved in efforts to restore the bay. Water clarity is important because it allows the sunlight to penetrate the water, allowing underwater sea grasses - which provide important habitat for fish, crabs and other marine life - to grow and flourish. The Wade-In measurement, also known as the “Sneaker Index,” replicates the scientist’s Secchi disc, a patterned device that is lowered into open waters to measure clarity.
In 2008, there were more than 25 Wade-in events held throughout the state to measure water clarity and celebrate the efforts of the local citizens to clean up the Bay and its tributaries.
-
Mike Bilek
For more information: |
