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Browse History: Patapsco and Back Rivers (2009) | Patuxent River (2009) | Potomac River (2009) | Rappahannock River (2009)

Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



  Estuary Selection Map

Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
49%
C		Rappahannock River: 2009

Moderate ecosystem health. Continued improvement in overall health due to improvements in water clarity and aquatic grasses. Declines in dissolved oxygen and phytoplankton.
  • Water quality: Water clarity deteriorated between 1989 and 2006, but has gradually increased over the past 3 years; going from 2% (very poor condition) in 2006 to 26% (poor condition) in 2009. Chlorophyll a scores also improved in 2009, to 35% up from 24% in 2008. Dissolved oxygen scores remained in good condition (85%).
  • Biotic indicators: 2009 aquatic grasses distribution increased dramatically from 2008 levels, going from 45% to 80%. This is the highest score ever recorded for this region, and indicative of the continuing improvement following a major loss of SAV in 2003. Benthic community condition improved slightly compared to 2008 while phytoplankton community condition worsened. Both scores reflect the variability of these indicators over time.

Score Legend 		Locator Map
  Index/Indicator Score     Index/Indicator Score
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Chlorophyll a
35%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Aquatic grasses
80%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
85%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
28%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
26%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
38%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
49%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
48%
 
Excel Spreadsheet

Dynamic Conceptual Diagram

Editable Vector Diagram (SVG)

Maps

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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).

rappahannock_riverconceptual diagram.png

Editable Vector Version (SVG)