Published in 2024, the 2023 Severn River Report Card summarizes data collected in the summer of 2023. Overall health of the Severn River rose to a 77% (C+), compared ot a 72% (C-) in 2022. This change is driven by the recovery of Severn River seagrasses. The report card also discusses the progress of oyster restoration in the Severn River. Higher-than-average salinity in 2023 likely contributed to the presence of baby oysters that were found growing outside of restoration areas.

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Published in 2023, the 2022 Severn River Report Card summarizes data collected in the summer of 2022. Overall health of the Severn River improved from 2021 to 2022, rising from a D+ to a C-. This report card focuses on the recovery of Severn River seagrasses, which very nearly received a passing grade. Aerial surveys of submerged aquatic vegetation by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science calculated an 18% in acreage, largely recovering from the 23% decline the previous year.

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Published in 2022, the 2021 Severn River Report Card summarizes data collected in the summer of 2021. It was a troubling year for water quality in the Severn River in 2021. The overall grade for the Severn River dropped to a D+ in 2021, largely due to a decline in underwater grasses. This decline offset improvements seen in dissolved oxygen.

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Published in 2021, the 2020 Severn River Report Card summarizes data collected in the summer of 2020. The Severn River received a C- grade in 2020. All three indicators--water clarity, dissolved oxygen, and underwater grasses--declined from 2019 to 2020. However, more samples were collected in 2020 than in 2019, so comparing the two years is not apples to apples.

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Published in 2020, the 2019 Severn River Report Card summarizes data collected in the summer of 2019. The Severn River earned a B in 2019, in part because of a "banner year" for underwater grasses. The coverage of underwater grasses in the Severn River more than doubled from 2018 to 2019, which is the greatest coverage seen in generations. The report card also provides recommendations for civilian action that can help improve the cleanliness of the river.

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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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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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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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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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The Chesapeake Bay Trust, West/Rhode Riverkeeper, and OpinionWorks have conducted an audience evaluation of tributary report cards, conducted through focus groups. This report provides the findings and recommendations that arise from this research. The report also serves as a best management guide for creating report cards that not only report on water quality, but also engage the public in the work of protecting the Bay and its tributaries.

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