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.

Over the past 24 years, sediment concentration trends show mixed responses among the monitoring sites with the majority of results being not significant or downward. The trend results indicate that in some locations, management actions, such as erosion and runoff controls have reduced sediment concentrations in streams. The flow-adjusted trends indicator is calculated, and published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a larger effort to determine loads and trends in nutrient and sediment concentrations and streamflow in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A complete description of data analysis methods can be found in Langland, M. J., and others, Changes in streamflow and water quality in selected nontidal basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, 1985-2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5178, 75 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5178/

Over the past 24 years, phosphorus concentration trends are downward at the majority of long-term monitoring sites within the Bay watershed. 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. The flow-adjusted trends indicator is calculated, and published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a larger effort to determine loads and trends in nutrient and sediment concentrations and streamflow in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A complete description of data analysis methods can be found in Langland, M. J., and others, Changes in streamflow and water quality in selected nontidal basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, 1985-2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5178, 75 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5178/

Over the past 24 years, nitrogen concentration trends are downward at the majority of long-term monitoring sites within the Bay watershed. 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. The flow-adjusted trends indicator is calculated, and published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a larger effort to determine loads and trends in nutrient and sediment concentrations and streamflow in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. A complete description of data analysis methods can be found in Langland, M. J., and others, Changes in streamflow and water quality in selected nontidal basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, 1985-2004: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5178, 75 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2006/5178/.

Over the past 10 years, nitrogen concentration trends are downward at about half (16 out of 33) monitoring sites within the Bay watershed. 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. In addition, in the last 5 years, higher yields indicate a tendency to be located in the northern half of the watershed, conversely. lower yields are more numerous in the lower half of the watershed. The short-term flow-adjusted trends and yields indicator is calculated, and results and maps are published annually by the U.S. Geological Survey as part of a larger effort to determine loads and trends in nutrient and sediment concentrations and streamflow in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.