Conservation Practices are Working: Responses from Local Creeks to Chesapeake Bay
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1 Conservation Practices are Working: Responses from Local Creeks to Chesapeake Bay Katherine Antos Water Quality Team Leader Chesapeake Bay Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency December 4, 2012
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Conservation Practices are Working: Responses from Local Creeks to Chesapeake Bay. Katherine Antos Water Quality Team Leader Chesapeake Bay Program U.S. Environmental Protection Agency December 4, 2012. Watershed population has more than doubled since 1950. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Conservation Practices are Working: Responses from Local Creeks to Chesapeake Bay
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Conservation Practices are Working:
Responses from Local Creeks to Chesapeake Bay
Katherine AntosWater Quality Team LeaderChesapeake Bay Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
December 4, 2012
Watershed population has more than doubled since 1950
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Monitoring Network
• 120 stations in 2012
• Started with 31
Long-term (1985-2010) water quality
monitoring stations in the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed
• 9 River Input Stations
• 22 Upstream Stations
Flow-adjusted Total Nitrogen Trends at 31
sites—1985-2010
•21 (68%) down
• 2 up (6%)
• 8 not significant (26%)
Flow-adjusted Total Phosphorus Trends at 31 sites—1985-2010
• 22 (71%) down
• 4 up (13%)
• 5 not significant (16%)
• 13 down sites exceed 50% reduction
Flow-adjusted Total Sediment Trends at 31
sites—1985-2010
•10 down (32%)
• 7 up (23%; 5>50%)
• 14 not sig. (45%)
Approximately 455 million pounds of nitrogen during the 2011 water year.
2025 Planning
Target
Approximately 48 million pounds in the 2011 water year.
2025 Planning
Target
Modeling Information Using Average Hydrology
Approximately 267 million pounds nitrogen delivered to Bay in 2011
Modeling Information Using Average Hydrology
Approximately 18.3 million pounds phosphorus delivered to Bay in 2011
13%
12%
18%
15%
42%
Excellent Good
Fair Poor
Very Poor
Between 2000-2010, more than 15,000 sites were sampled and rated for biological integrity.
Average stream health scores indicated 57% of sites in very poor or poor condition.
Data summarized by sub-watersheds indicate almost half of sub-watersheds are in fair condition. Degradation can be very localized
15%
47%
25%
5%
6%3% GOOD FAIR
POOR VERY POOR
NO RATING NO DATA
Chesapeake Bay
Tidal Water Quality
Monitoring Station
Network
• 178 Stations• 92 Segments
TNAnnual Trends
60%
4%
35%
Total NitrogenNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
TP
73%
4%
23%
Total PhosphorusNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
Annual Trends
Chlorophyll-a
62%
24%
14%
Chlorophyll-aNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
Annual Trends
TSS
66%4%
30%
Total Suspended SolidsNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
Annual Trends
Water Clarity
45%
50%
5%
Water ClarityNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
Annual Trends
Bottom DO
73%
17%
10%
Dissolved OxygenNO TREND DEGRADING IMPROVING
Summer Trends
JHU and UMCES: Mid-late summer dead zones in deep channel leveled off and declining since 1980s due to management actions
Decreasing trends in water clarity have our Bay scientists questioning the causes
Long term increases in Bay grasses keep hitting glass ceiling—lack of improving clarity, hotter summers
This and previous adult abundance indicator show crab populations responding to good, baywide fishery management decisions since 2009 though annual variation
Overall population numbers solid; individuals show signs of less than quality habitats, food
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Chesapeake Bay TMDL Based on 7 Watershed Implementation Plans
Katherine Antos410-295-1358
www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl
www.chesapeakebay.net
