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Browse History: Mid Bay (2008) | Upper Bay (2008) | Lower Bay (2008) | York River (2008)

Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



  Estuary Selection Map

Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
32%
D		York River: 2010

Poor ecosystem health. Overall health is slightly better for the third year in a row. This region is one of only two regions to improve in 2010. Water clarity score improved, but is still very poor.
  • Water quality: Water clarity has been consistently very poor in this region over the past 20+ years. Even though it is an improved score from 2009, water clarity scored only a 12% in 2010. Dissolved oxygen tends to vary between years, but has scored in the moderate to moderately good range for the last ten years. In 2010, the dissolved oxygen score remained the same from the year before (71%). Chlorophyll a scores increased by 2% from 2009, remaining in poor condition (24%).
  • Biotic indicators: Aquatic grasses scores improved for the third year in a row, but are still in poor condition (27%). Phytoplankton community scores also improved in 2010 (12%, up from 7% in 2009), but are still in very poor condition. Although the benthic community score declined (44% down from 48% in 2009), this indicator is still in better condition (moderately poor) than aquatic grasses and the phytoplankton community. 

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
27%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
71%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
44%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
12%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
12%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
36%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
28%
 
Excel Spreadsheet

Dynamic Conceptual Diagram

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Region Info

The York River watershed drains approximately 2,600 square miles of land. The York River watershed includes all of the area flowing into the Pamunkey and Mattaponi Rivers and their many tributaries. The Pamunkey and Mattaponi rivers begin in the Blue Ridge Mountains and meander through the Piedmont. Major cities in the watershed include Ashland, Gloucester Point, Hampton, and West Point. The census population for 2000 in the watershed was 372,488. Based on information in Dauer, et al., 2005 (http://www.deq.virginia.gov/bay/) and The York River and Small Coastal Basins Roundtable.

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