This report details the findings of the Scientific and Technical Working Group, comprised of experts representing six sectors—human health, agriculture, forests and terrestrial ecosystems, bay and aquatic ecosystems, water resources, and population growth and infrastructure. Each sector assessed climate change vulnerabilities, and recommended adaptation strategies for the State of Maryland.

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Beryllium-7 is a potentially powerful tracer of atmospheric deposition and recent sediment transport, but the quantity and distribution of Be-7 on arid landscapes have not been described. We measured Be-7 in soil, vegetation, and dust in Owens Valley, California, and describe its distribution in aridisols and mollisols to evaluate its potential as a sediment tracer in desert environments.

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Improving watershed nutrient budgets, ecosystem models, and our understanding of the impact of land-use management on ecosystem functioning depends on the development of remote sensing methods that can predict aspects of the nitrogen (N) cycle. This is particularly true for temperate managed grasslands, which constitute a large portion of agricultural land and, at times, export a significant amount of N to aquatic systems and the atmosphere.

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The Integrated Ocean Observing System (100S (R)) Regional Associations and Interagency Partners hosted a water quality workshop in January 2010 to discuss issues of nutrient enrichment and dissolved oxygen depletion (hypoxia), harmful algal blooms (HABs), and beach water quality.

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The challenge of making conservation economically attractive is a critical hurdle for the creation and effective management of marine managed areas. This document describes three approaches to shaping incentives, project design and tool selection, and provides 27 case studies worldwide where incentives were employed in changing behavior.

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This is the first annual Sassafras River Report Card. The report card summarizes ecosystem health of the tidal (estuary) and non-tidal (creeks) areas within the Sassafras watershed during 2009. It also introduces readers to the special qualities of the Sassafras and offers information on how to get involved and help maintain the health and beauty of the river.

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As a 200,000-acre natural oasis in the densely populated mid-Atlantic region, Shenandoah National Park is a refuge for both wildlife and people. This booklet illustrates the unique natural resources in the park and demonstrates the need for natural resource monitoring. It also explores the natural processes and human-caused activities that pose a threat to park ecosystems, and investigates the selection of vital signs—indicators of natural resource conditions.

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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.

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The fragile natural and cultural resources such as anchianline pools, fishponds, and the nearshore marine areas are reliant to varying degrees on the groundwater that filters into Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Excessive withdrawal of groundwater by development wells upslope and outside the park may threaten those resources with drying out and saltwater intrusion, thereby putting native plant and animals that live in those environments at risk. This brochure outlines these issues.

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The first comprehensive Nanticoke River Report Card shows good news, giving overall health of the river a "B-minus." The report card, based on data collected by volunteer Nanticoke Creekwatchers, is designed to help local residents better understand the health of the Nanticoke River. From April through November, more than 30 volunteers monitor water quality at 37 sites across the 725,000-acre watershed.

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