Media Briefing: Assessing Pollution Trends from Bay’s Rivers

In a conference call on Tuesday, January 15, at 3 p.m., scientists with the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) will discuss current and forthcoming information on Chesapeake Bay pollution trends and current issues. The purpose of the call is to clarify three distinct but connected issues:

• Annual pollution trends in the watershed and loads to the Bay
• New enhancements to existing monitoring of pollution trends and how the new methods are changing what we see in nine major Bay rivers; and,
• Ongoing assessment of sediment management strategies on the lower Susquehanna River.

Monitoring water quality conditions over time tells us how the Bay’s health is changing in response to our land use decisions and management actions. Both the enhancement of our monitoring toolbox and the assessment will serve our ever-improving understanding and evaluation of loads of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reaching the Chesapeake Bay.

WHO:

• Scott Phillips, Chesapeake Bay Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Program, USGS
• Joel Blomquist, Hydrologist, USGS
• Bruce Michael, Director, Resource Assessment Service, Maryland DNR
• Lee Currey, Director of Science Services Administration, MDE
• Rich Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Chesapeake Bay Program, US EPA Gary Shenk, Analysis Coordinator, Chesapeake Bay Program, US EPA

WHEN:

Tuesday, January 15, at 3 p.m.

DETAILS:

Media should dial: 866.299.3188 (Access Code: 410 267 5731)