River Input

Objectives

1. Monitor nutrient and sediment concentrations at four (4) major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in downstream areas of the rivers above the tidal zone.

2. Estimate nuitrient and sediment loads for the four (4) monitored main tributaries.

3. Provide nutrient and sediment data for calibration of the CB Watershed Model (WSM) and the CB Water-Quality (WQ) Model.

4. Work with CB Resource Managers to integrate nutrient and sediment data to gain a better understand of factors affecting trends.

Statement of Problem

Excess nutrients and sediment from the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay has contributed to problems with water quality in the estuary over the last several decades. In an effort to improve the water quality of the Bay, Federal, State, and local governments have initiated point and non-point source nutrient reduction programs within the tributary basins discharging to the Bay. Monitoring at key sites can help to quantify improvements in water quality, verify the effectiveness of nutrientcontrol measures, and enhance the knowledge needed to strengthen other components of the Chesapeake Bay waterquality monitoring program.

Strategy and Approach

Four (4) sites within the MD-DE-DC Water Science Center were chosen to estimate loading into the CB from the non-tidal portion of the watershed. These sites are monitored for WQ and loads are estimated using WQ values and mean daily discharge measurements.