A River's Plight, Felt Firsthand

Ex-Politician Keeps an Eye on Patuxent by Putting His Feet in It

Bernie Fowler, center, in overalls, leads waders into the Patuxent River as part of his annual test of the river's clarity. (Photos By Katherine Frey -- The Washington Post)

With a gubernatorial candidate on either side and his worn white sneakers on his feet, C. Bernard "Bernie" Fowler took his annual stroll into the Patuxent River on Sunday afternoon and did not like what he saw. The river's water quality had not improved much since last year, he said, urging those who had waded in with him to keep fighting to make it better next year.

It is a ritual the former state senator has kept for 19 years and counting. Every June, Fowler walks into the river at Broomes Island in Calvert County. He keeps wading until he can no longer see his white athletic shoes.

Although the "Sneaker Index" is an admittedly unscientific way to measure the river's health, the wade-in has become an annual platform on which Fowler can rally environmentalists, public officials and residents to the Patuxent's cause.

In election years, attendance -- especially by politicians -- seems to increase, and Sunday was no exception with appearances by many public officials, candidates and would-be candidates.

Both Democrats seeking the gubernatorial nomination -- Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley and Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan -- showed up for the first time to speak and get their feet wet.

Both vowed that if elected, they would find solutions to the state's environmental woes. Duncan, who showed up ready with water shoes, khaki shorts and a black polo shirt, talked about cleaning up emissions from coal-fired power plants.

O'Malley suggested implementing a statewide weekly measure of the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. "We could use that as a guide for decisions on open space, runoff, investments in sewage treatment plants," he said.

Noticeably absent was Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), who has attended the event in the past. Speaking before the wade-in, state Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert) had harsh words for the governor.

During this year's regular legislative session, Del. Sue Kullen (D-Calvert) and Sen. Roy P. Dyson (D-St. Mary's) sponsored bills to restrict amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus dumped into the Patuxent River by wastewater treatment plants.

An amended version of the bill passed, with much of its regulatory clout curtailed -- a result for which Miller blamed Ehrlich.

The governor, Miller said, had broken his promises during previous wade-ins to help clean up the Patuxent. "Bernie's bill, I promise, will become a reality," Miller said, vowing to help Kullen and Dyson sponsor a version next year.

The promise seemed to encourage Fowler, who said he was frustrated with what he saw as little progress in recent years. As a young man on the Patuxent, he waded into the river chest-deep and still saw his feet, about 63 inches below the surface. Last year, his Sneaker Index measured river clarity at 27 inches.

And Sunday, with measuring tape in hand, he again found the watermark on his overalls 27 inches from his toes. Beside him, Dyson remeasured and suggested the actual depth was 27.5.

"No, no, you're bending it," Fowler said, straightening the tape.

In the end, they settled on 27.25.

"For all his efforts testifying and arguing for that bill, we deserve that quarter this year," Dyson later said. "We just have to keep fighting for the river."

In a speech of his own after the wade-in, Fowler, who once led Southern Maryland counties in a successful lawsuit to limit pollution of the Patuxent, said he is working with environmental lawyers and considering suing the state once again if more isn't done next year to improve the Patuxent's plight.

"We will not relent," he said. "We will not surrender. We will not give up."