Tributary Summaries

In Progress

This project reports on the trends and analyses for the 12 major tributary basins in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Products include Tributary Summary Reports and Geonarratives. 

Description

The Chesapeake Bay Program and its partners produce tributary basin summary reports for the Bay’s 12 major tributaries using tidal monitoring data from more than 130 monitoring stations throughout the mainstem and tidal portions of the Bay. These reports use water quality sample data to summarize 1) How tidal water quality (TN, TP, DO, Chlorophyll a, Secchi Depth) has changed over time, 2) How and which factors may influence water quality change over time, and 3) Recent research connecting observed changes in aquatic conditions to its drivers. The available products for each basin are listed below, and the corresponding documents are attached.

  • Choptank (includes the Choptank, Little Choptank, and Honga) Summary, Appendix
  • James (includes the Appomattox, Chickahominy, and Elizabeth Tributaries) Summary and Appendix in one document, Story Map
  • Lower E. Shore (includes the Nanticoke, Manokin, Wicomico, Big Annemessex, and Pocomoke Rivers, and Tangier Sound) Summary, Appendix, Story Map
  • Maryland Lower Western Shore (includes the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and West rivers) Summary, Appendix
  • 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) Summary, Appendix
  • Maryland Upper Eastern Shore (includes the Northeast, Bohemia, Elk, Back Creek, Sassafras, and Chester Rivers, the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal, and Eastern Bay) Summary, Appendix
  • Maryland Upper Western Shore (includes the Bush, Gunpowder, and Middle rivers) Summary, Appendix
  • Patapsco and Back Summary, Appendix
  • Patuxent (includes the Western Branch tributary) Summary, Appendix
  • Potomac: Summary, Appendix, Story Map
  • Rappahannock (includes the Corrotoman tributary) Summary, Appendix, Story Map
  • Virginia Mainstem: Summary not available, Appendix
  • York (includes the Mattaponi and Pamunkey tributaries) Summary, Appendix

Project Resources