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.

James Tributary Summary: A summary of trends in tidal water quality and associated factors, 1985-2021 (Page 1)

James Tributary Summary: A summary of trends in tidal water quality and associated factors, 1985-2021

Sullivan B, Gootman K, Gunnerson A, Johnson C, Mason C, Perry E, Bhatt G, Keisman J, Webber J, Harcum J, Lane M, Devereux O, Zhang Q, Murphy R, Karrh R, Butler T, Van Note V, Wei Z ·
3 November 2023

The James Tributary Summary outlines change over time for a suite of monitored tidal water quality parameters and associated potential drivers of those trends for the period 1985 – 2021 and provides a brief description of the current state of knowledge explaining these observed changes.

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STAC Rising Water Temperatures Report Summary

Batiuk R ·
24 March 2023

The Chesapeake Bay Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) and IAN have partnered to synthesize the contents of their latest publication on Rising Watershed and Bay Water Temperatures— Ecological Implications and Management Responses into a report summary outlining key management and research recommendations, the causes and effects of rising water temperatures, and actions for moving forward. This document also builds on the previous STAC Rising Water Temperatures Workshop newsletter.

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Agricultural best management practices can improve water quality and conditions for fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (Page 1)

Agricultural best management practices can improve water quality and conditions for fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen, Bill Dennison, Lili Badri ·
3 January 2023

This publication serves as a summary of Gordon et al. (2022) and was prepared in collaboration between the USGS and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Integration and Application Network. The summary touches on key findings of the study along with management implications and applications. Please feel free to download the summary here or check it out on the USGS website:

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Middle Potomac Listening Session (Page 1)

Middle Potomac Listening Session

Advancing the Coastal Ocean Assessment for Sustainability and Transformation Project in the Chesapeake Bay

Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen, Sidney Anderson, Lili Badri, and Bill Dennison ·
15 December 2022

IAN Staff and the visiting Global Sustainability Scholars hosted a Middle Potomac Listening Session in July 2022 to begin developing the upcoming Potomac Watershed COAST Card.

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Building Resilience in the Maryland Coastal Bays (Page 1)

Building Resilience in the Maryland Coastal Bays

2022 State of the Bays

Dave Brinker, Bill Dennison, Steve Farr, Steve Doctor, Roman Jesien, Katherine Munson, Judy O’Neil, Kevin Smith, Mitch Tarnowski, Catherine Wazniak, Jeff White, Craig Wheedon, and Rich Mason ·
14 November 2022

Reporting on the State of the Maryland Coastal Bays is an opportunity to step back and reflect on the status and trends of key environmental features in this iconic region. The theme of this State of the Coastal Bays is building ecological resilience in the region. This focus on resilience is due to the convergence of several factors:

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Building Resilience in the Maryland Coastal Bays Storymap

2022 State of the Bays

Dave Brinker, Bill Dennison, Steve Farr, Steve Doctor, Roman Jesien, Katherine Munson, Judy O’Neil, Kevin Smith, Mitch Tarnowski, Catherine Wazniak, Jeff White, Craig Wheedon, and Rich Mason ·
14 November 2022

Every five years, The Maryland Coastal Bays Program publishes its State of the Bays Report, accompanied by the annual Maryland Coastal Bays Report Card. The theme of the 2022 State of the Coastal Bays is building ecological resilience in the region. This focus on resilience is due to the convergence of several factors:

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Enhanced understanding of factors affecting stream condition can improve restoration outcomes (Page 1)

Enhanced understanding of factors affecting stream condition can improve restoration outcomes

Vanessa Vargas-Nguyen, Bill Dennison, Lili Badri ·
14 November 2022

This publication serves as a summary of Fanelli et al. (2022) and was prepared in collaboration between the USGS and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Integration and Application Network. The summary touches on key findings of the study along with management, monitoring, and reseach applications. Please feel free to download the summary here or check it out on the USGS website:

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Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed A Century of Change 1950-2050 (Page 1)

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: A century of change, 1950–2050

Clune JW, Capel PD, Miller MP, Burns DA, Sekellick AJ, Claggett PR, Coupe RH, Fanelli RM, Garcia AM, Raffensperger JP, Terziotti S, Bhatt G, Blomquist JD, Hopkins KG, Keisman JL, Linker, LC Shenk GW, Smith, RA, Soroka AM, Webber JS, Wolock DM, Zhang Q ·
10 November 2021

Nitrogen, a critical element in all forms of life, is continuously being passed from nonliving to living matter and then back again, but an excess of this nutrient can have adverse effects on aquatic environments. An understanding of the past, present, and future sources, movement, and fate of nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed can help inform efforts to bring this cycle back into balance (fig. OV.1).

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