Synthesis of Nutrient and Sediment Data for Watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay Drainage Basin

Authors

• Michael J. Langland
• Patricia L. Lietman
• Scott Hoffman

Description

Excess nutrients and sediment entering the Chesapeake Bay from agricultural, urban and forested nonpoint sources have been shown to cause degradation of both water quality and living resources. While many studies have determined concentrations of nutrients and sediment in streams draining watersheds throughout the Chesapeake Bay basin, and a small number of these studies have used the concentration data to estimate nutrient and sediment loads, concentration and load information have never been compiled into a single database or analyzed with respect to the primary factors affecting nutrient and sediment loading to the Chesapeake Bay. Factors such as land use, physiographic province, rock type and hydrologic characteristics vary widely throughout the Chesapeake Bay drainage, but more needs to be known about the relative importance of these individual factors and how they interact synergistically to affect water quality. Compilation of nutrient and sediment load data and basin characteristics will provide water managers with the data needed to evaluate existing monitoring networks, estimate the effectiveness of water quality management strategies and determine future monitoring needs.

This report:

1. Documents the compilation of nontidal nutrient and sediment water quality data collected from 1972 through 1992; nutrient and sediment load and yield data; spatial Geographic Information System data sets, including land use, physiographic province and rock type; and selected supplemental information for the Chesapeake Bay basin for all available data sources that met the minimum requirements;
2. Relates nutrient and sediment loads and yields to land use, physiographic province, rock type and hydrologic characteristics;
3. Identifies spatial and temporal deficiencies in nutrient and sediment load data collection within the Chesapeake Bay basin; and
4. Presents a discussion of potential applications of the database.