Maps

Over the past 10 years, the majority of sediment concentration trends are non-significant monitoring at sites within the Bay watershed with many sites showing degrading condition and only a few are improving. The trend results indicate that at some monitored locations, short-term trends indicate that management actions, such as efforts to curb erosion and runoff have reduced concentrations of sediment. While these reductions provide evidence of improving conditions in some upstream areas, additional reductions will be needed to have healthier streams and meet water-quality goals for the Bay.

Over the past 10 years, the majority of phosphorus concentration trends are non-significant monitoring at sites within the Bay watershed with many sites showing improving condition and only a few are degrading. The trend results indicate that in many locations, management actions, such as improved wastewater treatment and nonpoint-source pollution controls (i.e. urban stormwater runoff and agricultural runoff controls), have reduced phosphorus concentrations in streams.

Over the past 10 years, the majority of nitrogen concentration trends are non-significant (28 sites), with 19 sites showing improving condition and only 1 site showing degrading conditions. The trend results indicate that in many locations, management actions, such as improved wastewater treatment and nonpoint-source pollution controls (i.e. urban stormwater runoff and agricultural runoff controls), have reduced nitrogen concentrations in streams.

Changes in suspended sediment concentrations have been determined for the period 1985-2011 at 31 stream sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Of these, 14 sites show trends that were not statistically significant, 9 sites show improving trends, and 8 sites show degrading trends.

Changes in phosphorus concentrations have been determined for the period 1985-2011 at 31 stream sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Of these, the majority of the flow-adjusted trends were downward, with 22 sites showing decreasing trends, 4 sites showing increasing trends, and 5 sites showing trends that were not statistically significant.

Changes in nitrogen concentrations have been determined for the period 1985-2011 at 31 stream sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Of these, the majority of the flow-adjusted trends were improving, with 21 sites having improving trends, 3 sites had degrading trends, and 7 sites the trends were not statistically significant.

Long-Term Flow-Adjusted Concentration Trends for Suspended Sediment for 31 Sites in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-2010

Long-Term Flow-Adjusted Trends for Total Phosphorus for 31 Sites in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-2010

Long-Term Flow-Adjusted Trends for Total Nitrogen for 31 Sites in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, 1985-2010

An effective way to measure the health of freshwater streams and rivers is to study the many tiny critters that live in these waters, called “benthic macro-invertebrates.” The abundance and diversity of snails, mussels, insects and other bottom-dwelling organisms are good indicators of the health of streams because they can’t move very far and they respond to pollution and environmental stresses. Benthic macroinvertebrates are generally harmed by direct and indirect effects of pollutants such as metals, acidity, sediment, pesticides, nitrogen and phosphorus. These pollutants come from sources such as mining, agriculture, urban and suburban runoff, automobile and power plant exhaust, and wastewater treatment facilities. Health of streams was evaluated by the Chesapeake Bay Basin-wide Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (or “Chessie B-IBI”), which was developed from benthic macroinvertebrate data collected across the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed from over 20 federal, state, local, and river basin commission monitoring programs throughout the Chesapeake Bay basin. Each sampling event is scored on a standardized quantitative scale that allows scoring across jurisdictional boundaries. B-IBI scores were averaged for each site over all years of sampling (2000-2010) and then qualitatively categorized in one of the following categories – very poor, poor, fair, good or excellent for a total of 15,112 scored sites. An analysis was conducted on a subset of the 15,112 sites to investigate regional variation in the B-IBI scores. The subset of sites (8,871) were chosen where a random sampling design was used. By using only randomly selected sites, BIBI scores can be averaged across the smallest feasible watershed size without introducing bias associated with sampling designs that target areas with known degraded or high quality waters. For more information see: Buchanan, C., K. Foreman, J. Johnson, and A. Griggs. 2011. Development of a Basin-wide Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity for Non-Tidal Streams and Wadeable Rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Final Report to the Chesapeake Bay Program Non- Tidal Water Quality Workgroup. ICPRB Report 11-1. Report prepared for the US Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Program.