Our Rivers

The Arundel Rivers Federation uses science, restoration, and community action to make the South, West, and Rhode Rivers cleaner and healthier.

We envision clean, fishable, swimmable waterways for our local communities.

Learn More About Our Rivers

Our Favorite Places

South River

From its headwaters in Crofton, the River enters the Chesapeake Bay south of the City of Annapolis, hence the name South River. The iconic Thomas Point Lighthouse marks the River’s entrance. Learn more about the South River.
Rhode River

The Rhode River is a 3-mile-long (5 km) tidal tributary of the West River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Locals refer to the main anchorage as “Behind the Islands”, considered one of the best anchorages in the entire Bay. Learn more about the Rhode River.
West River

The West River Watershed is situated in the southeastern portion of Anne Arundel County. Boaters
find the array of marinas and marine services helpful and enjoy boating and dining at the riverside restaurants or stretching their legs in the small town of Galesville. Learn more about the West River.

State of Our Rivers

Since 2007, the Federation has compiled an annual river health scorecards. We report data on key indicators of river health, such as water clarity, dissolved oxygen, underwater grasses, and the abundance of aquatic life. Much of the data in the scorecard has been collected by our Riverkeeper, but the report also utilizes data from a variety of respected sources such as the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. After combining with the West Rhode Riverkeeper in 2019, the Federation is including the West and Rhode Rivers in its data collection.