Dissolved Oxygen Trends in the Chesapeake Bay (1984-1990

Published:

September 1, 2015

Originator:

Chesapeake Bay Program

Low dissolved oxygen is one of the most important problems facing managers and scientists in the restoration of Chesapeake Bay. Oxygen is critical to the health and survival of tje Bay's aquatic life. Faced with decreasing levels of dissolved oxygen associated with rising nutrient levels (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus) managers adopted a basinwide nutrient reduction goal in 1987, to achieve at least a 40 percent reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus entering the mainstem Chesapeake by the year 2000.