Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund

Monitoring, data collection, and interpretation

The Maryland Biological Stream Survey has several tasks related to Trust Fund projects.

• Document baseline conditions and monitor for Best Management Practice (BMP) effectiveness
• Provide data to Trust Fund managers and applicants for new Trust Fund funding
• Maintain and update a database of information related to Trust Fund projects
• Coordinate with other monitoring agencies (federal, state, municipal, and private) for data sharing and upkeep of the Trust Fund Database
• Maintain the Maryland StreamHealth website, which allows MBSS and MD Stream Wader volunteer data to be accessed by Trust Fund Managers and applicants
• Use collected data to compare various BMPs for effectiveness
• Work with other Trust Fund managers to support the Trust Fund Advisory Panel and other BayStat agencies

For more information about the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, go to the DNR Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund Website

 

MBSS Data for Trust Fund Managers and Applicants

The Maryland Biological Stream Survey collects chemical, biological, and physical data from sites around the State, while the MD Stream Wader volunteers collect biological data each spring. Maryland DNR maintains the StreamHealth website as an easy method of viewing these data. It's easy to look up the health of the stream in your backyard, or anywhere else in Maryland. MBSS sites often have photos and a list of species found at each site. Trust Fund applicants can utilize this tool to find areas to restore or preserve with BMPs. If you have questions about data, or would like to request more detailed information, please contact our data manager from our Data Requests page.

Collecting Data for the Trust Fund Database

The MBSS maintains a database of information pertaining to projects in targeted watersheds. If you are a monitoring agency investigating Trust Fund project(s), please contact Luke Roberson to initiate data sharing with the MBSS. Your data will be used to evaulate BMP effectiveness as well as provide a valuable resource to Trust Fund managers and applicants.

A list of other organizations that monitor the waters of Maryland can be found on the links page under the Maryland Water Monitoring Council. Go there now.