Chesapeake Bay Program - A Watershed Partnership

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Bay Health

Despite a 6 percent improvement in health since 2008, the Bay continues to have poor water quality, degraded habitats, and low populations of many fish and shellfish species. Based on these three areas, the overall health averaged 45 percent. The modest gain in the health score in 2009 was due to a large increase in the adult blue crab population, expansions of underwater grass beds growing in the Bay’s shallows, and improvements in water clarity and bottom habitat health.

Water Quality: Water quality was again very poor in 2009, meeting just 24 percent of health goals, a 2 percent increase from 2008.
Habitats and Lower Food Web: The Bay’s critical habitats and lower food web showed signs of improvement in 2009, increasing by 7 percent from 2008. However, they remain far below what is needed to support thriving populations of underwater life.
Fish and Shellfish: Most fish and shellfish populations in the Bay remain far below desired levels. Overall, 59 percent of the health goals for fish and shellfish abundance have been met, a 9 percent increase from 2008.

Assessments

Annual Multi-year

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* - Not quantified in relation to a goal

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Importance

The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most extraordinary places in America. The unique estuary and its vast watershed have tremendous ecological, historic, cultural, economic and recreational value to the region and the entire country.

Goal

The Bay’s health is measured with 13 indicators grouped in three areas that represent major components of the Bay ecosystem:

Water Quality
Habitats & Lower Food Web
Fish & Shellfish

Quantitative restoration goals have been set for most of these indicators. When all of the goals for these areas are reached, it should mean a restored Bay.

Trends

Long-term trend

N/A -- data for all component indicators have only been collected for three years.

Short-term trend (10-year trend)

N/A -- data for all component indicators has only been collected for three years:

2006: 37.1 percent
2007: 38.6 percent
2008: 38.8 percent
2009: 45.1 percent

Change from previous year (2008-2009)

The Bay Health Index score increased from 38.8 percent to 45.1 percent of goal achieved.

Additional Information

The most up-to-date monitoring data gathered by Bay Program partners are used to provide a scientifically based assessment of the health of the Bay.

Percent achievement values for each Top Level Index were averaged to create the overarching index score.

Contact

Nita Sylvester at (800) 968-7229 ext. 711

Source of Data

Chesapeake Bay Program Office