Baltimore Inner Harbor Water Activities and Conservation

The Baltimore Inner Harbor is a hub for water activities, and for good reason. The harbor is home to the USS Constellation, a historic ship that's now a museum and a popular spot for visitors.

You can also rent kayaks or paddleboats to explore the harbor's waters. The Inner Harbor's calm waters make it an ideal spot for beginners.

The harbor's conservation efforts are also worth noting. The city has implemented a stormwater management system to reduce pollution and protect the harbor's ecosystem.

Visitors can also learn about the harbor's conservation efforts at the National Aquarium, which features exhibits on marine life and conservation.

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The water quality issues in the Baltimore Inner Harbor are pretty concerning. Dead fish and "pistachio green" water are a sign of a bigger problem.

Cool nighttime temperatures can cause a process called thermal inversion, which pushes bottom-dwelling sulfur bacteria to the surface. This exposes them to sunlight, causing them to perform anoxygenic photosynthesis and produce algal blooms.

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These algal blooms can give the water a funky smell and a "pistachio green" color. They also consume dissolved oxygen in the water, causing aquatic animals to suffocate.

Nitrogen and phosphorus runoff into the water can also cause algal blooms, resulting in a mahogany brown color. Several warm and dry days can leave the water undisturbed, allowing these blooms to thrive.

Without enough oxygen in the water, animals like small fish and blue crabs die off.

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The Inner Harbor is safe to swim in, thanks to over a decade of cleanup efforts by the Waterfront Partnership. They've invested over $1 billion in sewer upgrades and passed critical legislation to reduce sanitary sewer overflows.

Swimming in the Inner Harbor is only recommended during scheduled events at designated locations, like the Harbor Splash 2024 event held on June 23. This is because the water quality can be affected by boat traffic, changes in weather, and intermittent pollution concerns.

The Waterfront Partnership collects water samples from 5 sites in the Harbor 5 days a week during the water recreation season, and they meet the Maryland beach standard for swimming. This standard requires daily water monitoring during the swim season, and the results consistently show the Harbor meeting the swimming standard during dry weather.

A personal assessment of risks and benefits is necessary when swimming in an open body of water, and the Waterfront Partnership recommends following the beach swimming standard to greatly reduce but not eliminate risk.

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The National Aquarium's Conservation team has been working tirelessly to restore the Inner Harbor's ecosystem. They installed a 200-square-foot floating wetland in 2010, which was a first in a brackish tidal system in the United States.

This innovative technology was initially used in stormwater retention ponds, but the Aquarium's team refined the design to suit the Inner Harbor's needs. By 2017, they had installed a 400-square-foot wetland, which proved to be highly successful over four years.

The Aquarium's efforts have led to the creation of Harbor Wetland, a large-scale restoration project that mimics the natural salt marsh habitat that once existed in Baltimore City. This green infrastructure promotes healthy water, attracts native species, and teaches visitors about wetland ecosystems.

By reintroducing the salt marsh habitat, the Aquarium is helping to filter pollutants and chemicals from the water, just like the natural process that occurred hundreds of years ago. This is a crucial step in keeping the waterways clean and healthy.

The Aquarium's Conservation team continues to work on refining their design and implementing new technologies to further restore the Inner Harbor's ecosystem. Their dedication and innovative approach are making a real difference in the community.