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Chesapeake Bay Report Card
Overall the Bay received a grade of D+
 Chesapeake Bay Habitat Health Report Card: 2007

The 2007 Chesapeake Bay Habitat Health Report Card provides a scientifically-based, transparent, timely, and geographically detailed annual assessment of Chesapeake Bay habitat health. This report card complements the Bay-wide, long-term trend assessment produced by the Chesapeake Bay Program. The Habitat Health Report Card, released annually by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), provides an assessment of the previous year’s conditions. Begun in 2007, this report card rates 15 reporting regions of the Bay using six indicators that are combined into a single overarching index of habitat health. Habitat health is defined as progress of the six indicators towards established scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. A low score therefore means that region rarely meets the ecological threshold levels. A high score means that the region often meets the threshold levels. The following web site enables you to explore the report card via the 15 Bay regions, by the indicators and indices, and as an overview of 2007 Bay habitat health: http://www.eco-check.org/reportcard/chesapeake/

Water quality chart

“There are many more specific measures of Chesapeake Bay health, all of which are of varying levels of importance dependent on your interest and location. The states of Maryland and Virginia track all of these and utilize them in directing our collective Bay restoration efforts. Six of the more important indicators are presented below. Dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll a (a measure of the amount of algae in the water) all are important measures of water quality that impact the Bay’s living resources. Bay grasses, blue crabs, and striped bass are important habitats and living resources that are of interest to many Marylanders. Click on the thumbnail for a larger graphic. The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program annually compiles these results and publishes them on its website at http://www.chesapeakebay.net/indicators.htm, which can be viewed to provide more details and other indicators.”

Chart showing disolved oxygen
Dissolved Oxygen Annual Assessment
Chart showing Water Clarity
Water Clarity Annual Assessment
Chart showing Chlorophyll a
Chlorophyll a Annual Assessment
Chart showing Bay Grass abundance
Bay Grass Abundance Annual Assessment
Chart showing Blue Crab abundance
Blue Crab Abundance Annual Assessment
Chart showing Striped Bass Recovery
Striped Bass Abundance Annual Assessment

More information at www.chesapeakebay.net

Martin O'Malley, Governor
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Maryland State Portal University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Dept of Planning Dept of the Environment Dept of Natural Resources Dept of Agriculture
Martin O'Malley, Governor