| Reporting Region Summary:
Scores & Conceptual Diagram
 |
Bay Health Index |
21% D- |
Bottom-ranked grade: D-
 | ||
| Index/Indicator | Score | Index/Indicator | Score | |||
 |
Chlorophyll a | 0% |
 |
Aquatic grasses | 37% |
|
 |
Dissolved oxygen | 49% |
 |
Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity | 14% |
|
 |
Water clarity | 0% |
 |
Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity | ND |
|
 |
Water Quality Index | 16% |
 |
Biotic Index | 25% |
|
Excel Spreadsheet
Editable Vector Diagram (SVG)Maps
This indicator map is already zoomed to the area of this region. You can pan and zoom and also change to another indicator map.
Trends Graph
This graph is dynamic, you can check and uncheck indicators (
checkboxes in legend), select year range (
click and drag), and export as an image (right click).
Editable Vector Version (SVG) Excel SpreadsheetRegion Info
The Lower Western Shore watershed drains approximately 300 square miles of land in Anne Arundel and Calvert Counties. The largest bodies of water in the watershed are the Magothy, Severn, South, Rhode, and West Rivers. Due to low elevation, surface waters often generally flow slowly through winding trails, and sometimes through wetlands before reaching the Bay. The Lower Western Shore is largely forested, with urban development the second largest land use. Major cities in the area include Annapolis, Severna Park, Arnold, and Chesapeake Beach. The census population for 2000 for the basin was 278,000 people. There are seven major wastewater treatment plants in the watershed. (Based on MD DNR Tributary Strategy Report by Aadland et al., 2007 and updated 2000 land use classifications).
Editable Vector Version (SVG)