Freshwater streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are home to numerous aquatic organisms (like fish, amphibians, mussels, and insects) and provide drinking water and recreational opportunities to people living in or visiting the watershed. Land-use changes, such as urban development and increased activities in certain agricultural sectors, have degraded water quality and altered conditions in these streams, thereby affecting their health and function.

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The recent tragic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge has highlighted the critical importance of Baltimore Harbor to the region’s infrastructure, environment, and economy. In response, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), through its Chesapeake Global Collaboratory (CGC), hosted “Baltimore Harbor in Context” on October 10, 2024. The event gathered diverse stakeholders and featured plenary talks, panel discussions, and interactive breakout sessions.

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This document describes the scoring processes for the 27 indicators used in the Charles County Coastal Adaptation Report Card.

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This symposium and report were sponsored by the State of Maryland and convened and produced … by University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES). Lead organizers were Dr. Elizabeth North and Dr. Matthew Gray of UMCES Horn Point Laboratory. The symposium team also … included David Nemazie, Conor Keitzer, Roshni Nair, Monica Fabra, and Kurt Florez. Graphic design … and logistical support were provided by the UMCES Integration and Application Network (IAN).

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Birds are vital to our economy, ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Investing in bird conservation benefits communities, businesses, and working lands while reinforcing our nation’s legacy of stewardship and biodiversity. By valuing birds, we ensure a richer, healthier, and more vibrant future for all Americans.

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Coastal environments face unique challenges that profoundly affect human well-being. Stressors such as pollution, rising temperatures, flooding, harmful algal blooms (HABs), and emerging contaminants threaten ecosystems and disproportionately impact vulnerable communities. This report presents the findings from the Fall 2024 Coastal Environment and Community Health course, by graduate students in the Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Science program at the University System of Maryland.

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This 24-page strategic plan highlights IAN's impact so far, along with the mission, vision, and values by which IAN conducts itself. This document details IAN's objectives for the next five years.

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This document describes the methods and development process for the Southeast Michigan Report Card, and the five associated watershed report cards: the Clinton River Report Card, Detroit River Report Card, Huron River Report Card, River Raisin Report Card, and Rouge River Report Card.

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The partners of the Chesapeake Bay are investing billions of dollars in the restoration of critical habitats to improve conditions for people and living resources throughout the Bay and its watershed. However, the recent proliferation of invasive Ictalurus furcatus (blue catfish) in the Chesapeake Bay’s major rivers has the potential to disrupt these restoration efforts and limit the full potential improvement of the ecosystem.

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The Chesapeake Bay Partnership is implementing conservation practices (CPs) throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed to reduce nutrient and sediment delivery to the Bay. This study intends to provide an integrated and detailed understanding of how local streams respond to these CP-driven management efforts. The publication can also be found on the USGS website here.

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