EcoCheck banner

Browse History: Rappahannock River (2009) | Upper Bay (2009) | Upper Western Shore (2009) | York River (2009)

Chesapeake Bay - Reporting Region Summary:



  Estuary Selection Map

Scores & Conceptual Diagram


Bay Health Index
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon
30%
D		York River: 2009

Poor ecosystem health. Overall health is slightly better for second year in a row. Water quality indicators continue to be poor, while benthic community condition improved significantly.
  • Water quality: Water clarity has been consistently poor over the past 20+ years, with 2009 (4%) being no exception. Dissolved oxygen tends to vary more significantly between years, but generally scores in the moderate to good range. In 2009 dissolved oxygen improved from 2008 levels (63%) to 71%. Chlorophyll a scores have been declining since 2003 (40%), and after a slight uptick in 2008, the 2009 score fell to 22%.
  • Biotic indicators: All indicators increased in 2009 from 2008 levels. However, phytoplankton community condition is still very poor (7%). Benthic community condition improved to moderate poor (48%) and aquatic grasses also increased slightly from 22% to 25%.

Score Legend 		Locator Map
  Index/Indicator Score     Index/Indicator Score
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Chlorophyll a
22%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Aquatic grasses
25%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Dissolved oxygen
71%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity
48%
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water clarity
4%
   Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity
7%
 
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity Icon Water Quality Index
32%
   Biotic Index Icon Biotic Index
27%
 
Excel Spreadsheet

Dynamic Conceptual Diagram

Editable Vector Diagram (SVG)

Maps

This indicator map is already zoomed to the area of this region. You can pan and zoom and also change to another indicator map.


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 and The York River and Small Coastal Basins Roundtable.

york_riverconceptual diagram.png

Editable Vector Version (SVG)