Riverkeeper

What is a Riverkeeper?

Riverkeepers work to protect the public’s right to clean water by:

Patrolling local waterways
Tracking down sources of pollution
Responding to citizen pollution complaints
Identifying problems that impact water quality
Advocate for environmental laws and regulations to ensure clean water

A Riverkeeper strives to be the voice of the water body that they work to protect, preserve, and restore. Riverkeepers advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen complaints, identify problems which affect their identified bodies of water and devise appropriate remedies to address these problems. Riverkeepers/waterkeepers can be found around the globe. There are currently 17 waterkeepers on the Chesapeake Bay.

Elle Bassett - South, West, and Rhode Riverkeeper

Our South, West, and Rhode Riverkeeper is a member of Waterkeepers Chesapeake on the regional level and Waterkeeper Alliance at the national and global level. Most importantly, Riverkeepers advocate compliance with environmental laws, respond to citizen pollution complaints, identify problems which affect their identified bodies of water and devise appropriate remedies to address these problems.

Riverkeeper Areas of Focus

Environmental Legislation

Tracking River Health

Community Advisors

Report a Problem

Riverkeeper News

October 2025 Riverkeeper Report

October brought nothing but good news for the Riverkeeper Department. Our water quality is significantly improving this month, which is usual and to be expected every October, but even more noticeable this month compared to last year. Our clarity is incredible right now- some of our sites are measuring over 5.5ft of clarity. This site in particular was only measuring 2ft clarity at the same time last year. In addition to great clarity, oxygen levels have also stabilized throu