Publications

The data in Bay Barometer reflect the Chesapeake Bay’s health over the course of many years and, in some cases, decades. The publication offers a snapshot of the best available information from 2015 and 2016 on ecological health and our efforts to protect and restore the nation’s largest estuary, as well as our progress toward achieving the goals and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

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This rack card provides an at-a-glance look at the indicators highlighted in the 2015-2016 Bay Barometer.

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This plan guides the communications efforts of the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership.

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Climate Change and Fisheries Research in the Chesapeake Bay

A compilation of fisheries-based climate
research and tools compiled by the
NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
January 2017

This compilation of fisheries-based climate research and tools was compiled by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. The contents of this document were compiled based on a review of both peer-reviewed and grey literature as related to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement Goal to “increase the resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, including its living resources, habitats, public infrastructure and communities, to withstand adverse impacts from changing environmental and climate conditions.” This document is not intended to be an exhaustive list; recognizing that there are additional research and tool development under way within the region. This document will be updated on an annual basis.

Please contact Zoë Johnson (zoe.johnson@noaa.gov) to suggest content for the next edition of this publication.

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Beck, Marcus W, and Rebecca R Murphy. “Numerical and qualitative contrasts of two statistical models for water quality change in tidal waters.” Journal of the American Water Resources Association vol. 53,1 (2017): 197-219.

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Weather and water-quality data from 1980 to 1989 were correlated with fluctustions in submersed macrophyte populations in the tidal Potomac River near Washington, D.C., to elucidate causal relationships and explain population dynamics. Submersed macrophyte populations are highly dynamic in terms of spatial and temporal variability and species composition.

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One of the Chesapeake Bay's most significant natural resources is its bay grasses, or submerged aquaitc vegetation (SAV). SAV provides food and habitat for fish, numerous other aquatic organisms, and waterfowl. In addition, the presence of SAV indicates good water quality and general ecological health in any section of the Bay and its tributaries. How to use this guide-cikkect a small sample from the plant you wish to identify. One or two stems should be plenty. Compare your sample with the illustrations in this guide. Prominent identification features have been indicated on each illustration.

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Since the early 1970's, many people interested in Cheapeake Bay-water-fowl hunters, fishermen, oystermen, ecologists, researchers, and waterfront residents-have been concerned about the apparent decline of aquatic grass beds iiin the Bay. Many people fear that this decline will force, or has already forced, some species of waterfowl to change their feeding habits and to move out of this region in searhc of more suitable habitats. Others speculate that the decline of these aquatic plants is an indication of serious deterioration in the "health" of the Chesapeake.

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Historical black and white format photographs at scales of approximately 1:20,000, dating from 1952 to 1956 were used to delineate the maximum coverage of SAV in the study region. Coverage of photography from decades before and after this period were found to generally to be of poorer quality and show less SAV [resence. Photo-interpretation of the aerial photographs was accomplished using a head-up, on-screen digitizing system at fixed image scale:12,000 and followed as closely as possible the methods currently used to delineate SAV beds throughout the Chesapeake Bay as well as the delineation of historical SAV coverage for other regions. Losses of vegetation have been much more extensive in the Rappahannock than the York. In 1999, in the lower York River (YRKPH) approximately 23% of the historical SAV coverage remained while on 1% remained in the lower Rappahannock (RPPMH). Areas along the bay shoreline had the highest proportion of remaining beds with baysegments CB6PH and MOBPH exceeding 50% of historical coverage.

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The Chesapeake Bay Commission leader int he restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. As a tri-state legislative assembly representing Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, it was created to coordinate Bay-related policy across state lines and to develop shared solutions. The Commission is now focused on two broad miissions; ensuring that policies, regulation laws are inn place to implement Chesapeake 2000 and finding the funds to get the job done.

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