Student Showcase at Regional Conference

On November 7, 2025, WMRGISC intern Kathryn Logsdon attended the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s 20th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum. Joined by WMRGISC staff members Antonia Zais and Hannah Seddon, Kathryn had the opportunity to present her work on PFAS pollution at this year’s poster session.

PFAS refer to per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in nature and can accumulate in soil, water, and wildlife. PFAS accumulation poses a serious threat to ecological and human health, but monitoring, filtration, and testing of PFAS are largely inaccessible and uncommon for most water sources.

Kathryn has been working with the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) to visualize potential PFAS pollution sources in the Potomac and Shenandoah River Watersheds in ArcGIS Pro. Brent Walls (Potomac Riverkeeper) featured her maps throughout his presentation, “Strategies on PFAS Pollution in Biosolids.” Her maps are helping educate conservationists of the dangers of PFAS and communicate the impacts they are having in the Chesapeake Watershed.

To learn more about PFAS or the Potomac Riverkeepers, visit https://potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/