Scientists can use estimated streamflow entering the Chesapeake Bay and measurements of pollutant loads and trends to assess the health of the Bay and make ecological forecasts.The current nontidal monitoring network consists of 115 water-quality monitoring stations that are sampled in a coordinated manner by the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. Constituent loads are calculated with at least five years of monitoring data and trends are reported after at least ten years of data collection. URL: Langland, M.J., Blomquist, J.D., Moyer, D.L., Hyer, K.E., and Chanat, J.G., 2013, Total nutrient and sediment loads, trends, yields, and nontidal water-quality indicators for selected nontidal stations, Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-2011: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013-1052, 51 p., URL: Moyer, D.L., Hirsch, R.M., and Hyer, K.E., 2012, Comparison of two regression-based approaches for determining nutrient and sediment fluxes and trends in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2012-5244, 118 p., URL: Phillips, S.W., ed., 2002, The U.S. Geological Survey and the Chesapeake Bay - The role of science in environmental restoration: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1220, 32 p. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2003, Ambient water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll a for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries: EPA 903-R-03-002, 231 p. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004,Establishing a Chesapeake Bay nontidal watershed water-quality network, prepared by the Chesapeake Bay Program's Nontidal Water-quality Monitoring Workgroup, September 2004, 28 p. Yochum, S.E., 2000, A revised Load Estimation Procedure for the Susquehanna, Potomac, Patuxent, and Choptank Rivers: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigation Report 00-4156, 49 p. Zhang, Q., W.P. Water Quality Trading Evaluation; Chesapeake Bay Program Nutrient Trading Fundamental Principles and Guidelines (PDF) Exit (87 pp, 2.1 M, About PDF) Water Quality Trading - World Resources Institute Exit. 5, 5 p. URL: Hirsch, R.M., 2014, Large biases in regression-based constituent flux estimates - Causes and diagnostic tools: Journal of the American Water Resources Association, v. 50, no.
Nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and changes in loads were determined by applying a weighted regression approach calleNitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loads, and changes in loads, in rivers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed have been calculated using monitoring data from the nine Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring (RIM) stations for the period 1985 through 2015. Environmental farm upgrades can be a burden for farmers to install.
The Shallow Water Monitoring Program also conducts water quality mapping cruises, which intensively map water conditions at the surface in shallow and open waters.More information for all water quality monitoring programs, including data results, can be found on the Call toll-free in *Maryland* at 1-877-620-8DNR (8367) MD Tributary Current Conditions (MD-DNR) - Eyes on the Bay
The Team reports to the Management Board and Principals’ Staff Committee. The health of the Chesapeake Bay is largely driven by changes in streamflow and the amount of pollution it contains. All records of water-quality observations are reviewed by the collecting agency to ensure data completeness and accuracy.Concentration data retrieved from the nontidal database and daily streamflow data from NWIS are used for load and trend analyses. Nutrient and suspended-sediment loads and changes in loads were determined by applying a weighted regression approach called WRTDS (Nitrogen, phosphorus, and suspended-sediment loads, and changes in loads, in rivers across the Chesapeake Bay watershed have been calculated using monitoring data from the nine Chesapeake Bay River Input Monitoring (RIM) stations for the period 1985 through 2015. The monitoring program assesses water quality by measuring the levels of nutrients as well as closely related habitat conditions such as dissolved oxygen and water clarity.The Shallow Water Monitoring Program evaluates water quality in the shallow water regions of the Bay. Ball, 2016, Long-Term Changes in Sediment and Nutrient Delivery from Conowingo Dam to Chesapeake Bay: Effects of Reservoir Sedimentation, Environmental Science & Technology, 50(4): 1877-1886, URL: Zhang, Q., D.C. Brady, W.R. Boynton, and W.P. These programs build on historical monitoring efforts and provide some of the most direct linkages to management programs that aim to reduce the impacts of pollution on the Bay.The long-term Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program is a comprehensive water quality and habitat monitoring program.