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Browse History: Elizabeth River (2009) | James River (2009) | Lower Bay (2009) | Lower Western Shore (MD) (2009)





Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



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Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
23%
D-		Lower Western Shore (MD): 2009

Poor ecosystem health. Improved dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a conditions. Although benthic community condition improved, overall biotic health continues to be poor.
  • Water quality: Water clarity has been consistently very poor in this region and in 2009 scored a 0% for the second year in a row, and for the 8th year out of the past ten. Chlorophyll a increased from 0% in 2008 to 16% in 2009, but still fell in the very poor to poor range that has characterized this region over the period of record. Dissolved oxygen conditions improved by 13% from 2008 to 2009.
  • Biotic indicators: For the third year in a row, all biotic indicators remained in poor to very poor condition, however, benthic community conditions did improve to the highest level seen since 2005 (33%). Aquatic grasses scores continued to decrease as they have since 2005.

Score Legend 		Locator Map
  Index/Indicator Score     Index/Indicator Score
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Chlorophyll a
16%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Aquatic grasses
12%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
62%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
33%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
0%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
17%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
26%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
21%
 
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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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