Current Health

Chesapeake Bay Habitat Health Report Card: 2010

The 2010 Chesapeake Bay Health Report Card provides a scientifically-based, transparent, timely, and geographically detailed annual assessment of Chesapeake Bay. The Health Report Card, released annually since 2007 by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), provides an assessment of the previous year’s conditions. This report card rates 15 reporting regions of the Bay, using six indicators, three water quality and three biotic, that are combined into a single overarching index of health. Health is defined as progress of the six indicators towards established, scientifically derived ecological thresholds or goals. A low score therefore means that very few or no water quality and biological health indicators meet desired levels in the region. Quality of water in these locations tends to be very poor, most often leading to very poor habitat conditions for fish and shellfish. A high score means that all water quality and biological health indicators meet desired levels in the region. Quality of water in these locations tends to be very good, most often leading to very good habitat conditions for fish and shellfish.

The following web site enables you to explore the report card via the 15 Bay regions, by the indicators and indices, and as an overview of 2010 Bay health: http://www.eco-check.org/reportcard/chesapeake/2010/