Maps

Fish passage is a key component to the restoration of anadromous fish (shad and river herring) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These fish are blocked from much of their historic spawning areas, which included waters over 200 miles from the Bay. Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia have set goals to provide fish passage to make much of those historic spawning areas once again accessible to migratory fish. Other species that benefit from the unblocking of streams include eels, native species such as brook trout and other resident species.

This map shows the locations of riparian forest buffer restoration projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Project locations were provided by Forestry Workgroup representatives from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the West Virginia Division of Forestry, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition.

This map shows the 2012 indicator status of the Benthic Index of Biological Integrity by station.

This map shows the percent of the Index of Biological Integrity indicator goal achieved by segment.

Non- tidal watersheds, under regulatory anti-degradation protection, that exceed minimum applicable water quality criteria and standards. Currently, Tier II streams are identified according to fish and benthic indices of biotic integrity.

Existing Use establishes protection for a waterbody on or after November 28, 1975 whether or not that use is included in the water quality standards (25 Pa. Code §93.1 and 40 CFR §131.3(e)). Existing Use is different from a Designated Use; Designated Use is defined for each waterbody or segment whether or not the use is being attained. Existing Use is the actual use the waterbody is attaining at the time of an evaluation. The Department maintains a publicly accessible list of surface water segments where data has been evaluated which indicates an existing use classification of a waterbody that is more protective than the designated use (including those segments which are HQ or EV). Only an existing use which is more stringent than the designated use in §§ 93.9a - 93.9z for a particular waterbody is placed on the existing use list. This GIS watershed layer (which is not part of the Water Quality Standards) is offered to provide a spatial representation of the Aquatic Life Use Tiers contained in the portion of the Pennsylvania Code referenced above. These spatial representations are intended to supplement the Water Quality Standards but should not be substituted for the official version of the standards found in the Pennsylvania Code.

Existing Use establishes protection for a waterbody on or after November 28, 1975 whether or not that use is included in the water quality standards (25 Pa. Code §93.1 and 40 CFR §131.3(e)). Existing Use is different from a Designated Use; Designated Use is defined for each waterbody or segment whether or not the use is being attained. Existing Use is the actual use the waterbody is attaining at the time of an evaluation. The Department maintains a publicly accessible list of surface water segments where data has been evaluated which indicates an existing use classification of a waterbody that is more protective than the designated use (including those segments which are HQ or EV). Only an existing use which is more stringent than the designated use in §§ 93.9a - 93.9z for a particular waterbody is placed on the existing use list. This GIS watershed layer (which is not part of the Water Quality Standards) is offered to provide a spatial representation of the Aquatic Life Use Tiers contained in the portion of the Pennsylvania Code referenced above. These spatial representations are intended to supplement the Water Quality Standards but should not be substituted for the official version of the standards found in the Pennsylvania Code.

Water quality criteria are used to protect designated water uses, such as fish and aquatic life, recreation, and water supply. Designated uses establish the reason for protection and the water quality criteria define the criteria required to protect that benchmark. Use designations and water quality criteria together, constitute Pennsylvania Water Quality Standards as defined in Title 25 Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Protection, Chapter 93. This GIS watershed layer (which is not part of the Water Quality Standards) is offered to provide a spatial representation of the Aquatic Life Use Tiers contained in the portion of the Pennsylvania Code referenced above. These spatial representations are intended to supplement the Water Quality Standards but should not be substituted for the official version of the standards found in the Pennsylvania Code.

The Waterbody Inventory/Priority Waterbodies List (WI/PWL) is an inventory of the state's surface water quality. The dataset provides a summary of general water quality conditions, tracks the degree to which a water body supports its designated uses, and monitors progress toward the identification and resolution of water quality problems, pollutants, and sources. The category of No Known Impact represents 'segments where monitoring data and information indicate that there are no use restrictions or other water quality impacts/issues.'

Small, non-tidal watersheds with the largest population of rare, threatened and endangered aquatic animals.