2007 Annual Bay Health and Restoration Report Update

Katie Foreman CBP MASC NT WG

Non-tidal Water Quality Workgroup MeetingFeb. 13, 2008

Watershed Indicator Development Process

• Watershed Health Indicator Review (Benthic macroinvertebrate impairment map and bar chart)

– NTWG meetings (2007-08) – MASC indicator workshop (Dec. 18-19th,

2007)– IC meeting (Jan. 24th, 2008)

Chapter 4: Health of Freshwater Streams & Rivers

52%of Goal Achieved

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Health

0

20

40

60

80

100

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Percent of Non-tidal Tributaries with Healthy Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities

Goal

Data and Methods: www.chesapeakebay.net/TBD

Chapter 4: Health of Freshwater Streams & Rivers

Introduction to Annual Report

0 20 40 60 80 100

Not Assessed

Assessed - Impaired

Assessed - Not Impaired

Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Health

52%of

Goal Achieved

Summary: 2007 Health of Freshwater Streams & Rivers Assessment

Data and Methods: www.chesapeakebay.net/TBD

Percent

Summary: The health of benthic macroinvertebrate (BMI) communities, or bottom-dwelling communities, in rivers and streams suffers with increases in pollution, sedimentation and decreasing oxygen levels. The presence and diversity of snails, mussels, insects, and other freshwater BMI organisms are good indicators of stream health because of their limited mobility and their known responses to environmental pollutants and stressors. In the most recent reporting cycle, over half of the BMI communities were deemed healthy within the entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Twelve percent of the BMI communities were impaired, however much is unknown about the health of these communities as close to one-third of the total stream miles in the watershed have not been assessed for these populations.

Next Steps

NTWG Action:

Review, edit and finalize supporting materials: text and tables.– Final changes due Feb. 15th.

Report TimelineFeb

1 Deadline for subcommittees submit 2007 data for all of their reporting-level indicators11 Draft distributed for one-week review by IC, Subcommittees and Workgroups15 Comments on draft due back to Communications Office29 Deadline for providing any last minute updates to 2007 data

Mar 4 Final document for 3-day fatal flaws review by Signatory Representatives 6 Fatal flaws review comments due back to Communications Office10 Final document to printer and to web team for final incorporation into website31 Public release