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Browse History: Dissolved Oxygen (2006) | Dissolved Oxygen (2007) | Rappahannock River (2006) | Rappahannock River (2008)

Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



  Estuary Selection Map

Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
40%
C-		Rappahannock River: 2008

Moderate-poor ecosystem health. Best water clarity score in ten years. Aquatic grasses rapidly recovering after major loss in 2003.
  • Water quality: Water clarity gradually deteriorated between 1989 and 2006, after which conditions improved slightly, but are still well below the goal. Chlorophyll a also declined over the same period, and has not shown signs of improving.
  • Biotic indicators: Aquatic grass distribution is recovering after major loss in 2003. However, distribution is well below the goal and below the maximum score recorded (72% in 2002). In 2008, benthic condition improved and phytoplankton community condition worsened slightly compared to 2007. Benthic and phytoplankton community condition tends to be highly variable between years.

Score Legend 		Locator Map
  Index/Indicator Score     Index/Indicator Score
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Chlorophyll a
24%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Aquatic grasses
45%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
87%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
24%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
16%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
45%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
42%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
38%
 
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Dynamic Conceptual Diagram

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Region Info

The Rappahannock River watershed drains approximately 2,700 square miles of land. The river itself begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains and flows for 185 miles, becoming tidal near Fredericksburg. Major bodies of water include the Rapidan, the Robinson, and the Corrotoman Rivers. The majority of the Rappahannock watershed is forested, with agriculture/farming accounting for a third of the land use. Major cities in the watershed include Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Falmouth, Orange, and Tappahannock. The census population for 2000 in the watershed was 241,000. (Based on information in Dauer, et al., 2005).(http://www.deq.virginia.gov/bay/)

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