Tributary Summaries

Complete

Tributary Summary Reports and geonarratives on trends and analyses for the 12 major tributary basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Description

Using tidal monitoring data from more than 130 stations throughout the mainstem and tidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Program and its partners have produced tributary basin summary reports for each of the Bay’s 12 major tributary basins. These reports use water quality sample data to summarize how tidal water quality (TN, TP, DO, Chlorophyll a, Secchi Depth) has changed over time, how and which factors may influence water quality change over time, and recent research connecting observed changes in aquatic conditions to its drivers.

Choptank

Includes the Choptank, Little Choptank, and Honga rivers.

James

Includes the Appomattox, Chickahominy and Elizabeth tributaries. 

Lower Eastern Shore

Includes the Nanticoke, Manokin, Wicomico, Big Annemessex and Pocomoke rivers, as well as Tangier Sound.

Maryland Lower Western Shore 

Includes the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode and West rivers

Maryland Mainstem

Includes the five Chesapeake Bay mainstem segments within the Maryland state boundary. Drainage basins include the Susquehanna River and upper Chesapeake Bay shorelines.

Maryland Upper Eastern Shore 

Includes the Northeast, Bohemia, Elk, Back Creek, Sassafras and Chester rivers, the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, and Eastern Bay.

Maryland Upper Western Shore

Includes the Bush, Gunpowder, and Middle rivers.

Patapsco and Back Rivers

Patuxent 

Includes the Western Branch tributary.

Potomac

Rappahannock 

Includes the Corrotoman tributary.

Virginia Mainstem

York 

Includes the Mattaponi and Pamunkey tributaries.