Benchmarks for Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Chlorophyll and Suspended Sediments in Chesapeake Bay 2003
- Published:
- March 17, 2003
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
When this oroject was conceived, there was no a priori plan of how to analyze the historical data to identify parameter concentrations that might qualify as benchmark levels. The historical water quality data at the CBP is a heterogeneous assemblage from diverse sources, times and places. They are not integrated with living resources data, and there is no reliable way to associate "good" or "healthy" levels of water quality parameters with known healthy biological communities. Ultimately, the authro adapted a method for calculating relative status developed as an assessment tool for the current monitoring daa to assist in the process.