Reporting Region Summary:

Scores & Conceptual Diagram

	Bay Health Index	20% D-
Bottom-ranked grade: D- Similar overall score as 2006 (21); health remained in poor condition. The lowest–ever benthic community score and second consecutive year of aquatic grasses loss.

	Index/Indicator	Score			Index/Indicator	Score
	Chlorophyll a	15%			Aquatic grasses	23%
	Dissolved oxygen	48%			Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity	10%
	Water clarity	4%			Phytoplankton Index of Biotic Integrity	21%
	Water Quality Index	23%			Biotic Index	18%

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 Spreadsheet

Region 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).

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Additional Info

Relevant Websites

Anne Arundel County Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program
Severn River Association
South River Federation
Magothy River Association
Maryland DNR - Tributary Strategies
Chesapeake Bay Program - Tributary Strategies