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Conceptual diagram depicting the summer conditions discussed on the website.
2010 Chesapeake Bay summer conditions better than average 
Summer conditions for 2010 were influenced by above-average winter river flow and below-average late spring and summer flow into the Bay. The timing of flow was important this year, in comparison to 2009, when the spatial pattern of flow into the Bay was important. Additionally, summer air temperatures in 2010 were above average, and combined with flow, can affect phytoplankton and fish in the Bay. 2010 summer conditions included below-average fish kills, less abundant sea nettles, and a smaller volume of low dissolved oxygen.
Summer conditions for 2010 were influenced by above-average winter river flow and below-average late spring and summer flow into the Bay. The timing of flow was important this year, in comparison to 2009, when the spatial pattern of flow into the Bay was important. Additionally, summer air temperatures in 2010 were above average, and combined with flow, can affect phytoplankton and fish in the Bay. 2010 summer conditions included below-average fish kills, less abundant sea nettles, and a smaller volume of low dissolved oxygen.
Poster presented at the 2010 Maryland Water Monitoring Council (MWMC) conference in North Linthicum, Maryland.
Expanding the diversity of the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition
Since the 2006 release of the first EcoCheck Chesapeake Bay report card, environmental report cards have gained increasing popularity and recognition as a public-friendly and scientifically sound method for reporting the health of a waterway. Recently, a number of watershed organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region have begun producing their own tributary-specific report cards. In 2009, the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (MTAC) was formed to foster collaboration among watershed organizations and to fully develop the potential of region-specific environmental report cards. This can be accomplished through the standardization of indicators, monitoring and sampling protocols, data analysis methods, and science communication techniques.
Since the 2006 release of the first EcoCheck Chesapeake Bay report card, environmental report cards have gained increasing popularity and recognition as a public-friendly and scientifically sound method for reporting the health of a waterway. Recently, a number of watershed organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region have begun producing their own tributary-specific report cards. In 2009, the Mid-Atlantic Tributary Assessment Coalition (MTAC) was formed to foster collaboration among watershed organizations and to fully develop the potential of region-specific environmental report cards. This can be accomplished through the standardization of indicators, monitoring and sampling protocols, data analysis methods, and science communication techniques.
Total Maximum Daily Loads newsletter.
Total Maximum Daily Loads: A citizen's guide to the Chesapeake Bay TMDL
Residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed depend upon a healthy Bay for food, recreation, and commercial enterprises. But the ways in which we use the watershed's lands—from driving our cars to spreading fertilizers—impact the health of the Bay's waters. Wastewater treatment plants, agricultural operations, and urban runoff are major sources of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that threaten the Bay's health. The Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is designed to restore the health of the Bay's waters by reducing the pollution from these and other sources.
Residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed depend upon a healthy Bay for food, recreation, and commercial enterprises. But the ways in which we use the watershed's lands—from driving our cars to spreading fertilizers—impact the health of the Bay's waters. Wastewater treatment plants, agricultural operations, and urban runoff are major sources of the nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that threaten the Bay's health. The Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) is designed to restore the health of the Bay's waters by reducing the pollution from these and other sources.
2011 map of dissolved oxygen in late July.
Chesapeake Bay Summer Review
EcoCheck (NOAA-UMCES partnership) has released the 2011 summer review. This year's summer conditions were influenced by high spring river flow, hot summer air temperatures, and late summer storms. Dissolved oxygen conditions were poor this summer, with the second largest volume of anoxic waters during late July in the last 25 years. Strong winds during Hurricane Irene mixed oxygen from the surface to the bottom waters during August and the volume of anoxic waters shrunk dramatically. Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rains to an already saturated watershed, resulting in flooding of many rivers and washing tons of dirt and debris into the system. When compared to the forecast, the anoxic volume was greater than predicted for the early summer. The late summer anoxia forecast was for larger than the observed volume, which decreased due to the hurricane-driven mixing.
EcoCheck (NOAA-UMCES partnership) has released the 2011 summer review. This year's summer conditions were influenced by high spring river flow, hot summer air temperatures, and late summer storms. Dissolved oxygen conditions were poor this summer, with the second largest volume of anoxic waters during late July in the last 25 years. Strong winds during Hurricane Irene mixed oxygen from the surface to the bottom waters during August and the volume of anoxic waters shrunk dramatically. Tropical Storm Lee brought heavy rains to an already saturated watershed, resulting in flooding of many rivers and washing tons of dirt and debris into the system. When compared to the forecast, the anoxic volume was greater than predicted for the early summer. The late summer anoxia forecast was for larger than the observed volume, which decreased due to the hurricane-driven mixing.
Do you have great photos from around the Bay? We want to see them! Your photo could be on the cover of the 2011 Chesapeake Bay Report Card and become the icon of 2011 Bay health. Deadline for submissions is March 15.
Cover of 2011 Chesapeake Bay Report Card.
2011 Chesapeake Bay Report Card
This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of Chesapeake Bay. The overall health of Chesapeake Bay, determined using water quality and biotic indicators, declined slightly in 2011. The overall grade of D+ was a decrease for the second year in a row, down from a C- in 2010. Only two reporting regions, the Patapsco and Back Rivers, and the Lower Western Shore (MD), had improved grades in 2011. The highest-ranked region for the second year in a row was the Upper Bay, with a grade of C. For further details, visit the Report Card website.
This report card provides a transparent, timely, and geographically detailed assessment of Chesapeake Bay. The overall health of Chesapeake Bay, determined using water quality and biotic indicators, declined slightly in 2011. The overall grade of D+ was a decrease for the second year in a row, down from a C- in 2010. Only two reporting regions, the Patapsco and Back Rivers, and the Lower Western Shore (MD), had improved grades in 2011. The highest-ranked region for the second year in a row was the Upper Bay, with a grade of C. For further details, visit the Report Card website.
Region of Potomac River where harmful algal blooms (Microcytsis aeruginosa) are expected to occur this summer (Forecast conducted by MD DNR).
Summer ecological forecast
The EcoCheck Project (NOAA-UMCES partnership) has been working closely with the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and some of its partners to forecast summer ecological conditions. Forecasts of dissolved oxygen in the Bay's mainstem, harmful algal blooms in the Potomac River, and changes in aquatic grass cover were produced this year. The forecast is part of a new communication program being implemented by the Chesapeake Bay Program. IAN and the Chesapeake Bay Program hope to collaborate with interested parties to improve forecasting capacity in coming years. For further information visit: Integration & Application Network (www.ian.umces.edu) and Chesapeake Bay Program (www.chesapeakebay.net/bayforecast.htm).
The EcoCheck Project (NOAA-UMCES partnership) has been working closely with the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and some of its partners to forecast summer ecological conditions. Forecasts of dissolved oxygen in the Bay's mainstem, harmful algal blooms in the Potomac River, and changes in aquatic grass cover were produced this year. The forecast is part of a new communication program being implemented by the Chesapeake Bay Program. IAN and the Chesapeake Bay Program hope to collaborate with interested parties to improve forecasting capacity in coming years. For further information visit: Integration & Application Network (www.ian.umces.edu) and Chesapeake Bay Program (www.chesapeakebay.net/bayforecast.htm).
Chesapeake Update Newsletter Issue 4.
Summer water quality and aquatic grass wrap-up
The EcoCheck Project (NOAA-UMCES partnership) in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and some of its partners has released the latest edition of the Chesapeake Update newsletter. This edition provides an overview of water quality and aquatic grass conditions over the summer of 2005. An explanation as to why these conditions occurred is provided – largely a combination of a wet spring followed by a dry, calm, and relatively warm summer. The observed conditions are compared to those forecast to occur before the summer, and explanations for any differences are provided. The main events this summer can be summarized as severe dissolved oxygen conditions, localized harmful algal blooms, and aquatic grasses flourish in the Northern Bay.
The EcoCheck Project (NOAA-UMCES partnership) in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and some of its partners has released the latest edition of the Chesapeake Update newsletter. This edition provides an overview of water quality and aquatic grass conditions over the summer of 2005. An explanation as to why these conditions occurred is provided – largely a combination of a wet spring followed by a dry, calm, and relatively warm summer. The observed conditions are compared to those forecast to occur before the summer, and explanations for any differences are provided. The main events this summer can be summarized as severe dissolved oxygen conditions, localized harmful algal blooms, and aquatic grasses flourish in the Northern Bay.
Early summer rain event newsletter.
Early summer rain event newsletter
EcoCheck (UMCES-NOAA Partnership) in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Program has produced a newsletter, Early summer rain event: impact on the Bay, describing some of the monitoring data and the response from the Chesapeake Bay community to the high rainfall event that hit the Bay watershed from June 24th to June 28th 2006. In some areas of the watershed, up to 15 inches of rain fell, and much of the area received 7 inches or more. The Chesapeake Bay Program quickly organized an effort to monitor and analyze dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll a and aquatic grass in the Bay.
EcoCheck (UMCES-NOAA Partnership) in collaboration with the Chesapeake Bay Program has produced a newsletter, Early summer rain event: impact on the Bay, describing some of the monitoring data and the response from the Chesapeake Bay community to the high rainfall event that hit the Bay watershed from June 24th to June 28th 2006. In some areas of the watershed, up to 15 inches of rain fell, and much of the area received 7 inches or more. The Chesapeake Bay Program quickly organized an effort to monitor and analyze dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll a and aquatic grass in the Bay.
2006 Chesapeake Bay Habitat Health Index.
2006 Chesapeake Bay Report Card
IAN and EcoCheck (a NOAA-UMCES partnership) recently released the 2006 Chesapeake Bay Report Card. The report card provides a scientifically robust — and geographically detailed — annual assessment of Chesapeake Bay habitat health. This report card rates 15 reporting regions of the Bay using six indicators that are combined into a single overarching index of habitat health. Habitat health is defined as progress of the six indicators towards established scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. The report card was produced in partnership with many Chesapeake Bay scientific and management organizations and individuals. The report card and supporting material can be downloaded from the EcoCheck website.
IAN and EcoCheck (a NOAA-UMCES partnership) recently released the 2006 Chesapeake Bay Report Card. The report card provides a scientifically robust — and geographically detailed — annual assessment of Chesapeake Bay habitat health. This report card rates 15 reporting regions of the Bay using six indicators that are combined into a single overarching index of habitat health. Habitat health is defined as progress of the six indicators towards established scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. The report card was produced in partnership with many Chesapeake Bay scientific and management organizations and individuals. The report card and supporting material can be downloaded from the EcoCheck website.
The Integration & Application Network is an initiative of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
Further information: www.ian.umces.edu
Further information: www.ian.umces.edu
