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| USGS Chesapeake Bay Activities |
The health of the Chesapeake Bay is largely driven by changes in streamflow and the amount of pollution it contains. Runoff in the Chesapeake Bay watershed carries pollutants, such as nutrients and sediments, to rivers and streams that drain to the Bay. Scientists use the estimated streamflow entering the Chesapeake Bay to assess the health of the Bay and make ecological forecasts.
Estimated streamflow entering the Chesapeake Bay is calculated monthly based on index stations on the Susquehanna River, Potomac River, and James River. The data is presented based on the current water year (WY), the natural, annual water cycle from October through September that is used by hydrologists.
The estimated mean monthly flow to the Chesapeake Bay for July was 26,370 cfs (cubic feet per second) or about 68% percent of the long-term mean for July. Average July flow is 38,730 cfs.
The monthly estimate of freshwater inflow to Chesapeake Bay is designed to aid those concerned with studying and managing the Bay's resources. Flow to the Chesapeake Bay is based on a method developed by Bue, which uses index streamgages on three major rivers: Susquehanna, Potomac, and the James. The map shows the drainage areas for these rivers, the approximate location of the streamgage, and five sections (A-E) of the Chesapeake Bay. Calculations for each of the five sections are made monthly and the data are presented in the table below. The percent flow from each section is also presented.
Monthly streamflow estimations based on:
Bue, C.D., 1968, Monthly surface-water inflow to Chesapeake Bay: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, Arlington, Va., November 1968, 45 p.
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