Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program
Long-term benthic monitoring and assessment component. Level 1 comprehensive report.
July 1984-December 1997

Ranasinghe, J.A., L.C. Scott and F.S. Kelley. 1998. Versar, Inc., Columbia, MD.

View the report (109 pp, 5.1 Mb, about PDF)

Abstract

The Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Monitoring Program includes elements to measure water quality, sediment quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic invertebrates. The program includes assessments of biota because the condition of biological indicators integrates temporally variable environmental conditions and the effects of multiple types of environmental stress. In addition, most environmental regulations and contaminant control measures are designed to protect biological resources; therefore, information about the condition of biological resources provides a direct measure of the effectiveness of management actions.

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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