Tracking Status and Trends in Seven Key Indicators of Stream Health in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Fact Sheet 2023-3003
By: , and 

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Abstract

“The Bay Connects us, the Bay reflects us” writes Tom Horton in the book “Turning the Tide—Saving the Chesapeake Bay”. The Chesapeake Bay watershed contains the largest estuary in the United States. The watershed stretches north to Cooperstown, New York, south to Lynchburg and Virginia Beach, Virginia, west to Pendleton County, West Virginia, and east to Seaford, Delaware, and Scranton, Pennsylvania. The watershed is more than 64,000 square miles that contain 150 major rivers and streams, hereafter referred to collectively as streams, that total more than 100,000 miles in length. The watershed contains thousands of smaller creeks and tributaries, large numbers of plants and animals, and, in 2020, more than 18.4 million people. As changes occur in population, land use, and climate within the watershed, so too do the diversity and health of the Bay's ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

Austin, S.H., Cashman, M.J., Clune, J., Colgin, J.E., Fanelli, R.M., Krause, K.P., Majcher, E.H., Maloney, K.O., Mason, C.A., Moyer, D.L., and Zimmerman, T.M., 2023, Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2023–3003, 6 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20233003.

ISSN: 2327-6932 (online)

ISSN: 2327-6916 (print)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Background
  • Overview
  • The Seven Key Indicators of Stream Health
  • Status and Trend Tracking Techniques
  • Outcomes
  • Accessing Status and Trend Results
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Tracking status and trends in seven key indicators of stream health in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Series title Fact Sheet
Series number 2023-3003
DOI 10.3133/fs20233003
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center, Pennsylvania Water Science Center, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center , Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Description Report: 6 p.
Country United States
Other Geospatial Chesapeake Bay watershed
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details