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Browse History: Elizabeth River (2008) | James River (2008) | Lower Bay (2008) | Lower Western Shore (MD) (2008)
Detailed Report Cards

2008 Severn River Report Card






Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



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Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
19%
F		Lower Western Shore (MD): 2008

Poor ecosystem health-lowest ranked region in the Bay. Benthic community condition has worsened over the past 15 years. Water clarity and chlorophyll a scores have remained poor.
  • Water quality: Both water clarity and chlorophyll a scored a 0% (conditions over the year never exceeded threshold levels) in 2008. These scores are consistent with the poor to very poor water clarity and chlorophyll a scores received over the past 20 years. The dissolved oxygen score in 2008 was 49%, the lowest score in the bay.
  • Biotic indicators: All biotic indicators remained in poor to very poor condition in 2008. Benthic community condition did improve slightly compared to 2007, but still has a declining long-term trend.

Score Legend 		Locator Map
  Index/Indicator Score     Index/Indicator Score
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Chlorophyll a
0%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Aquatic grasses
22%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
49%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
17%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
0%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
26%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
16%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
22%
 
Excel Spreadsheet

Dynamic Conceptual Diagram

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Region Info

The Lower Western Shore watershed drains approximately 300 square miles of land in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties. The largest bodies of water in the watershed are the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and West Rivers. Due to low elevation, surface waters often generally flow slowly through winding trails, and sometimes through wetlands before reaching the Bay. The Lower Western Shore is largely forested, with urban development the second largest land use. Major cities in the area include Annapolis, Severna Park, Arnold, and Chesapeake Beach. The census population for 2000 for the basin was 278,000 people. There are seven major wastewater treatment plants in the watershed. (Based on MD DNR Tributary Strategy Report by Karrh et al., 2007 and updated 2000 land use classifications).

lower_western_shoreconceptual diagram.png

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