Chesapeake Bay Watershed Report

Last week the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science released their 19th annual report card on the health of Chesapeake Bay. Overall, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed scored a C+ (57%). This score is made up of indicators in three categories: Ecology, Society, and Economy. The highest‑scoring category was Ecology, with a B‑ (64%). I’m ignoring the Society and Economy categories because they are not related to the Chesapeake Bay Blue Waters Plan.

There are seven indicators that make up the Bay Health Index for the Chesapeake Bay Report Card; total phosphorus, total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, benthic community, chlorophyll and aquatic grasses. Each indicator is compared to scientifically derived thresholds or goals and scored to determine the overall grade.

from UMCES

Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, and aquatic grasses show positive improvements. These improvements are encouraging for water quality and have positive impacts on the ecosystem. Water clarity and chlorophyll have significantly declining trends. Benthic community shows no significant change in health over time.

Overall Chesapeake Bay Health Scores have been variable in the past and bounced around a bit. However, since 2015, Chesapeake Bay Health Scores have consistently been in the C range (50-57). The ecological score seems to be drifting upward. Improving trends can be attributed to management and restoration efforts at the regional, state, and local levels. Regionally, wastewater treatment plants have been upgraded, and programs have been put in place to reduce nutrient and sediment input. State efforts include seagrass restoration, oyster plantings, and watershed planning. Communities play a huge role in improving Bay health through local resource management activities.

2025 marks a critical deadline for Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint established in 2010 as the Watershed Implementation Plan, aims to restore the Bay's water quality by reducing pollution, primarily nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. The Blueprint calls for all Bay jurisdictions to have in place, by 2025, the practices and policies necessary to meet the Bay's pollution reduction goals.

Over the years there have been changes in the methods of evaluation. Going forward, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science plans to improve the Chesapeake Bay Report Card over the next several years. This process will incorporate new indicators for Chesapeake Bay health including some indicators of watershed health.

The new indicators are planned to reflect goals for sustainable fisheries, healthy watersheds, and engaged communities outlined in the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The planned stakeholder-centered approach will hopefully allow for a stronger report card and improved understanding of how ecosystem health interacts with other factors throughout the Chesapeake watershed.