Plastic Pollution Workgroup Publications

This preliminary investigation was designed to determine likely sources for microplastics related to land use by collecting surface water samples conveyed by several land use types in the tidal Potomac River watershed.

View document [PDF, 3.1 MB] Microplastic Source Tracking: Preliminary Investigation Data Report

This report includes recommendations for plastic pollution monitoring strategies throughout the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.

View document [PDF, 6.6 MB] Framework for Monitoring Plastic Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay

This preliminary conceptual ecological risk assessment model was designed to identify pathways, sources, effects and unknowns related to microplastics in the tidal portion of the Potomac River.

View document [PDF, 3.1 MB] Conceptual Model for an Ecological Risk Assessment for Microplastics on Striped Bass in the Potomac River Estuary

This strategy presents a starting point to address microplastics across the Chesapeake Bay by engaging in research, monitoring and policy development.

View document [PDF, 3.9 MB] Microplastic Monitoring & Science Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay

This document describes and recommends a uniform size classification and concentration unit terminology for plastics, to be applied to the parallel effort to develop an environmental risk assessment framework and eventual monitoring plan for environmental plastics in the tidal Potomac River.

View document [PDF, 728.9 KB] Uniform Size Classification and Concentration Unit Terminology for Microplastics

This workshop report presents urgent recommendations to the Chesapeake Bay Program for addressing the threat of microplastics across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

View document [PDF, 2.8 MB] Microplastics in the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed: State of the Knowledge, Data Gaps, and Relationship to Management Goals