Using Multiple Indicators to Assess Stream Condition in the Chesapeake Bay
USGS is working with federal, state and local partners to develop multiple assessments of stream and river conditions in non-tidal areas of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These assessments will help managers preserve stream health and improve biological conditions in impaired streams as the human population and climate continue to change in this region.
What is the issue?
Streams and rivers are strongly influenced by conditions in the surrounding landscape. Urban development and intensification of agriculture practices have resulted in altered habitat, degraded water quality, and poor biological conditions in many streams within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Managers need assessments of stream habitat, water quality, and biological conditions to estimate watershed-wide conditions and to identify areas of alteration and potential sites for conservation or restoration. Furthermore, managers need scientific studies to determine the effectiveness of best management practices for restoring streams and the biological communities they support to promote healthy habitats, wildlife and people in the bay.
What is at stake?
Over 18 million people call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home and that number is expected to increase to 20 million by 2030. The Chesapeake Bay Program, a regional partnership with representatives across the watershed, has highlighted the need to assess stream habitat, water quality, and biological health conditions to help meet the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, reduce pollution and restore the bay.
Recent analyses by USGS and partners suggest that anticipated changes in climate and land use patterns in the near future may have dramatic consequences to Chesapeake Bay streams, and thus the fish and wildlife that depend on them— potentially endangering the culture and socioeconomic fabric of the region.
What is our approach?
Over the past several decades, many programs have collected data on stream conditions, such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen; physical habitat characteristics; and biological communities including aquatic insects and fish. Recent advances in modeling, remote sensing, and data availability now provide an opportunity to assess potential change in stream conditions due to land use, climate, invasive species, and management actions.
A team of USGS scientists has compiled large data sets on key stream health variables (e.g., salinity, temperature, physical habitat, and streambank erosion) and biological communities (benthic macroinvertebrates and fish). USGS is using these indicators to assess stream conditions for non-tidal streams throughout the watershed using advanced statistical and mapping techniques. Additionally, USGS is evaluating how management activities implemented across the watershed might be reducing negative effects of land use change on receiving streams and the bay. Finally, the team is examining how future land use and climate may affect future stream conditions.
An overarching objective of this work is to integrate findings into management tools that can not only track changes in stream condition, but also identify which stream stressors should be addressed and identify areas optimal for conservation or restoration.
What are the benefits?
Restoring the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem requires understanding of current and future stressors on rivers and streams. Land use and climate are ever changing and assessments of stream condition in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are enhanced when factoring in these changes. Evaluating how changes in land use and climate may affect future stream habitat and biological condition will enable Chesapeake Bay Program partners to better target their management actions for current and future conditions.
USGS is working with federal, state and local partners to develop multiple assessments of stream and river conditions in non-tidal areas of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These assessments will help managers preserve stream health and improve biological conditions in impaired streams as the human population and climate continue to change in this region.
What is the issue?
Streams and rivers are strongly influenced by conditions in the surrounding landscape. Urban development and intensification of agriculture practices have resulted in altered habitat, degraded water quality, and poor biological conditions in many streams within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Managers need assessments of stream habitat, water quality, and biological conditions to estimate watershed-wide conditions and to identify areas of alteration and potential sites for conservation or restoration. Furthermore, managers need scientific studies to determine the effectiveness of best management practices for restoring streams and the biological communities they support to promote healthy habitats, wildlife and people in the bay.
What is at stake?
Over 18 million people call the Chesapeake Bay watershed home and that number is expected to increase to 20 million by 2030. The Chesapeake Bay Program, a regional partnership with representatives across the watershed, has highlighted the need to assess stream habitat, water quality, and biological health conditions to help meet the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, reduce pollution and restore the bay.
Recent analyses by USGS and partners suggest that anticipated changes in climate and land use patterns in the near future may have dramatic consequences to Chesapeake Bay streams, and thus the fish and wildlife that depend on them— potentially endangering the culture and socioeconomic fabric of the region.
What is our approach?
Over the past several decades, many programs have collected data on stream conditions, such as salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen; physical habitat characteristics; and biological communities including aquatic insects and fish. Recent advances in modeling, remote sensing, and data availability now provide an opportunity to assess potential change in stream conditions due to land use, climate, invasive species, and management actions.
A team of USGS scientists has compiled large data sets on key stream health variables (e.g., salinity, temperature, physical habitat, and streambank erosion) and biological communities (benthic macroinvertebrates and fish). USGS is using these indicators to assess stream conditions for non-tidal streams throughout the watershed using advanced statistical and mapping techniques. Additionally, USGS is evaluating how management activities implemented across the watershed might be reducing negative effects of land use change on receiving streams and the bay. Finally, the team is examining how future land use and climate may affect future stream conditions.
An overarching objective of this work is to integrate findings into management tools that can not only track changes in stream condition, but also identify which stream stressors should be addressed and identify areas optimal for conservation or restoration.
What are the benefits?
Restoring the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem requires understanding of current and future stressors on rivers and streams. Land use and climate are ever changing and assessments of stream condition in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are enhanced when factoring in these changes. Evaluating how changes in land use and climate may affect future stream habitat and biological condition will enable Chesapeake Bay Program partners to better target their management actions for current and future conditions.