Sponsored by both Port Tobacco River Conservancy (PTRC) and the Energetics Technology Center, this site is located off Shirley Blvd. in Port Tobacco, MD. The Port Tobacco River is a tidal tributary of the Potomac River located in Charles County, Maryland in the United States. The river is approximately 4.2 miles (6.8 km) in length. Port Tobacco was the county seat of Charles County from 1658 to 1895.

The Port Tobacco River Conservancy (PTRC) covers this site with PRKN. The PTRC works with businesses, residents, local and state governments, and other conservation groups to restore and protect the river and streams in the watershed. PTRC balances restoration and protection with economic-development concerns and the value of its river and watershed to both the local and state economies.

Reach out to PTRC at https://porttobaccoriver.org/

A “green” rating demonstrates that the level of E. coli at the time of sampling falls beneath Department of Environmental Quality primary contact water quality safety standards.

• E. coli single sample value <= 235 MPN/100mL GREEN

• E. coli single sample value > 235 MPN/100mL RED

A red "special status" update indicates an abnormal situation such as a severe weather event, construction activity, or a combined sewage overflow (CSO) in the past 48 hours. This status means it is extremely likely there are unsafe levels of bacteria in the river, and it is recommended to be extra cautious if you are close to the river or come in contact with the water.

Water quality standards as well as the methods used to determine pass or fail status vary widely across jurisdictions and monitoring programs. We encourage users to explore the sample data in addition to checking the swim guide status. These data can be viewed through the Chesapeake Monitoring Collaborative Data Explorer, https://cmc.vims.edu/#/home

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Port Tobacco River - Shirley Blvd and 8,000 other beaches.