Full document / COSOC-W-86-002 - the National Sea Grant Library

methodology being proposed - developing the linkage between these major
components of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
The linkage described also serves as a major tenet in the Environmental
Protection Agency's concept of "Phase II" of Its mld-1980's Implemention
Plan to restore the Bay's resources. Although other factors can
strongly affect these estuarine waters, eg., a climatic episode such as
storm Agnea In 1972, these may be uncontrollable by man. In many
respects, "day-by-day" water quality is largely determined by the
activities of humans, however. In the case of Chesapeake Bay, a rapidly
expanding surrounding human population has Indisputably degraded the
waters, and in turn the living resources. Degradation having these
origins can be reduced.
EPA produced in 1981 a valuable
segmentation map, shown at left.
Using historical data and also some
data from its then-ongoing research
phase of Chesapeake Bay Program work
(1977-1983), the agency characterized
In specific ways water quality la the
various segments shown on the map.
Theso baseline data are valuable for
at least two reasons. They can be
used to match up with known
historical and geographical
information about living resources,
in order to determine how the
degraded (or clean) water may be
affecting the organisms In question.
The CIA process mentioned earlier can
assist tn such comparisons and
analyses.
For instance, an EPA segment might be
known from field data to have high
levels of DDT metabolites In its
sediments. This could then be
correlated with lack of breeding
success of osprey, eagles or even
breeding black ducks known to attempt
to reproduce In the area.
In the especially Important area of toxics, knowing which toxicants are
located where, and In what concentration, will be vital Information in
determining both a key organism's "health", and also the strategy or
water quality goal to effect improvements. For heavy metals
EPA has developed toxicity indices for areas of the Bay, and also a
standard sediment "Contaminant Index" which will be useful to this end.
Similar work is needed for organic toxicants.
The second way in which earlier baseline water quality data will be
useful will be in the comparison with the comprehensive Bay monitoring
program set up in 1984 by EPA and the States. The voluminous data now
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