Publications about Baltimore Harbor

IAN is committed to producing practical, user-centered communications that foster a better understanding of science and enable readers to pursue new opportunities in research, education, and environmental problem-solving. Our publications synthesize scientific findings using effective science communication techniques.

Healthy Harbor Report Card 2014 (Page 1)

Healthy Harbor Report Card 2014

12 June 2015

The annual West & Rhode Rivers report card was released on June 12th, 2015. It presents data and information on six different ecological health indicators. It also gives examples of what the public can do to improve health of the rivers.

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Baltimore's Annual Healthy Harbor Report Card: 2013

Caroline Donovan, Alexandra Fries, Heath Kelsey, Bill Dennison ·
28 May 2014

In 2013, Baltimore's streams, river and Harbor scored between 51% and 57%. While this is a failing score, it is an improvement over the 2012 scores, which ranged from 40% to 42%. These modest improvements show that we are headed in the right direction, but there is still a lot of work to be done. Without significant infrastructure repair and environment restoration, areas dominated by urban and suburban development will continue to have poor water quality.

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Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan: Chapter 8 Adaptation (Page 1)

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan: Chapter 8 Adaptation

Caroline Donovan, Marcus Griswold ·
24 July 2013

Climate change will affect Maryland in a variety of ways. More obvious impacts could include an increased risk for extreme events such as drought, storms, flooding, and forest fires; more heat-related stress; the spread of existing or new vector-born disease; and increased erosion and inundation of low-lying areas along the State’s shoreline and coast. Adaptation, together with mitigation, is necessary to address climate change.

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Resiliency and water resources management: Water supply in a changing climate (Page 1)

Resiliency and water resources management: Water supply in a changing climate

Marcus Griswold, Caroline Donovan ·
23 July 2013

Maryland citizens are blessed with an abundant supply of water. However, many water systems are already stressed during droughts, and infrastructure damage and water contamination occurs during floods. Future population growth will combine with increasingly variable weather patterns to place more communities at risk of property damage, regulatory liabilities and uncertain access to drinking water.

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Best Management Practices: Preserving clean water in a changing climate (Page 1)

Best Management Practices: Preserving clean water in a changing climate

Marcus Griswold, Caroline Donovan ·
22 July 2013

Risk management is critical in any restoration project. Risks include those associated with climate patterns, such as more intense storms, as well as those associated with land use change, site selection, and design. Addressing these risks in conjunction with ongoing restoration efforts will prepare communities for greater variability and may result in cost savings and reduced risk. Best Management Practices (BMPs) should be sited and designed with climate change impacts in mind.

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Watershed Management: Conservation in a changing climate (Page 1)

Watershed Management: Conservation in a changing climate

Marcus Griswold, Caroline Donovan ·
12 July 2013

Maryland’s extensive aquatic ecosystems range from freshwater swamps and bogs to freshwater rivers and marshes to coastal bays and salt marshes. These ecosystems are influenced by precipitation, temperature, tropical storms, and human activity. Human development and pollution have degraded their natural resilience, leaving them more vulnerable to climate change and extreme events.

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Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card 2012 (Page 1)

Baltimore Healthy Harbor Report Card 2012

Caroline Donovan, Alexandra Fries ·
3 June 2013

This report card was developed to help lead private citizens, government, and businesses toward a healthy Baltimore Harbor, which is swimmable and fishable by 2020. The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, and Blue Water Baltimore, published this Healthy Harbor Report Card to help work toward clean, safe, and accessible streams and Harbor for everyone.

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Healthy Harbor Report Card (Page 1)

Healthy Harbor Report Card

Caroline Donovan, Alexandra Fries, Heath Kelsey ·
4 October 2012

This report card was developed to help lead private citizens, government, and businesses toward a healthy Baltimore Harbor, which is swimmable and fishable by 2020. The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, and Blue Water Baltimore, published this Healthy Harbor Report Card to help work toward clean, safe, and accessible streams and Harbor for everyone.

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Baltimore Harbor's Ecological and Human Health: 2010

Caroline Donovan, Heath Kelsey, Sara Powell ·
14 December 2011

To help lead private citizens, government, and businesses toward a healthy Baltimore Harbor, the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore needed to know the current health of the Harbor and its watershed. Using six ecological indicators and three human indicators, the current health of Baltimore's Harbor was established. This newsletter provides the overall results of the full report.

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