Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Chesapeake Bay Mainstem Water Quality Project
Project Summary
Water quality is sampled at 22 stations in Maryland mainstem of the Chesapeak Bay. Sampling frequency is once monthly and twice monthly from March through October for all stations. The entire sampling network is normally covered in three consecutive days. Stations were located to provide a characterization of the Chesapeake Bay segments identified by the EPA Bay Program. Additional factors that were considered were critical areas such as those experiencing anoxic conditions, those located near important fisheries, and those experiencing severe anthropogenic impacts.The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) is conducting the sampling in conjuction with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Baltimore Laboratory, and Chesapeake Bay Laboratory which analyze chemical parameters and chlorophyll.
The following parameters are profiled at each station beginning at a surface depth of 0.5m and ending 1.0m above the bottom. Depth intervals are normally 1.0m.
- Water tempterature
- pH
- Dissolved oxygen
- Specific conductance
- Salinity
Grab samples are collected for analysis of the following parameters at 0.5m and 1.0m above the bottom. At stations where stratification occurs, two additional samples are taken one above the pycnocline and one below the pycnocline.
Additional parameter measured at each station are:
- Ammonium (filtered)
- Nitrate plus nitrite (filtered)
- Nitrite (filtered)
- Particulate phosphorus
- Dsisolved Orthophosphate (filtered)
- Total silica (filtered)
- Particulate organic carbon (filtered)
- Particulate organic nitrogen (filtered)
- Total dissolved nitrogen (filtered)
- Total dissolved phosphorus (filtered)
- Total suspened solids
- Active Chlorophyll-a
- Phaeophytin
- Total depth
- Secchi depth
- Air temperature
- Tide state
- Sea state
- Local weather
Resource Assessment Service.
Copyright © 1997 Department of Natural Resources. All rights reserved.