Integrating Innovative Technologies to Assess Shallow Water Habitats in Chesapeake Bay Michael, B.D., Trice, T.M., Heyer, C.J., Stankelis, R.M., Preston, S.D. Maryland Department of Natural Resources Resource Assessment Service ERF October 17, 2005 Supported by Funds from: NOAA Coastal Oceans Program (NERR) EPA Chesapeake Bay Program

Presentation Summary Considerations for new Shallow Water Monitoring technologies New Chesapeake Bay water quality criteria Evaluation of new technologies Continuous monitors Water Quality Mapping (DATAFLOW) Expanding new technologies to address open and deep water habitats

Considerations For Incorporating New SWM Technologies in Existing Monitoring Program Must help achieve primary monitoring objectives (assessing water quality criteria) Cost-effective Deployable near-term, sustainable long-term Must help address areas of shallow water habitat in Bay and in tributaries Measurements must be able to be spatially and temporally integrated with other monitoring components in data analyses Must meet needs of partners

The New Bay Agreement Requires Restoration Goals for 5 Designated and 3 Criteria A. Cross Section of Chesapeake Bay or Tidal Tributary B. Oblique View of the “Chesapeake Bay” and its Tidal Tributaries Shallow Water Open Water Deep Water Deep Channel Habitat Migratory Finfish Spawning and Nursery Habitat

Dissolved Oxygen Criteria Minimum Amount of Oxygen (mg/L) Needed to Survive by Species Dissolved Oxygen Criteria 6 Migratory Spawning & Nursery Areas Striped Bass: 5-6 American Shad: 5 5 Shallow and Open Water Areas White Perch: 5 4 Yellow Perch: 5 Hard Clams: 5 Deep Water 3 Alewife: 3.6 2 Crabs: 3 Bay Anchovy: 3 Deep Channel 1 Spot: 2 Worms: 1

Water Clarity Criteria Photo Courtesy of VIMS

Microcystis Bloom in Potomac River Chlorophyll Criteria Microcystis Bloom in Potomac River

Application of Water-Quality Criteria Dissolved Oxygen Chlorophyll a Water Clarity Migratory Spawning and Nursery X Shallow Water Open Water Deep Water Deep Channel

Chesapeake Bay Shallow Water Monitoring Design Consists of 2 Components Continuous Monitors Continuous Monitors All criteria Shallow-water designated use Water Quality Mapping Shallow & open-water designated use Existing Fixed Stations All but shallow-water designated use

Continuous Monitoring Site Selection 2 sites per segment (if resources permit) Purpose Represents upstream and downstream conditions Provides temporal resolution for evaluating WQ criteria Calibration for water quality mapping Event based monitoring – fish kills, algal blooms, hurricane impacts Calibration Weekly to biweekly calibration with full suite of nutrients, light attenuation, chlorophyll and TSS

Continuous Monitors Generally, deployed April – October, over a 3-year period A subset of meters are telemetered real-time to web site Measures water quality parameters every 15 minutes YSI 6600 EDS – Measures Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Chlorophyll, Water Temperature,Salinity, pH

Water Quality Mapping (DATAFLOW) Purpose Provides spatial resolution for evaluating new WQ criteria Targeting SAV restoration activities Determining factors in meeting SAV goals Assessing habitat for fish and other living resources Calibration A minimum of 5 calibration sites/cruise with full suite of nutrients, light attenuation, chlorophyll and TSS Long-term water quality site is one calibration point to foster integration between program

“Water Quality Mapping” Instrumentation Monthly cruises, April – October, over a 3 year period Measures water quality parameters every 4 seconds YSI 6600 EDS – Measures Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Chlorophyll, Water Temperature,Salinity, pH

Maryland Chesapeake and Coastal Bays Monitoring Sites

Corsica River Fish Kill 9/25-29/05 Over 50,000 dead fish, multiple species, over a 5 day period

Corsica River Cedar Point Sycamore Point Water Quality Mapping 9/26/05

CBP Shallow Water Monitoring Integration with IOOS Purpose Provide relevant real-time data to coastal managers Enhance spatial coverage for monitoring results Develop partnerships to leverage resources Pilot Project Implement real-time DO, Chlorophyll, turbidity data at CBOS platforms Develop consistent reporting formats Provide information on regional IOOS web site

Proposed CBOS Sites – Maryland Pilot Project Summer 2005

Shallow Water Monitoring for 2006 Continued expansion in both MD and VA Implement comprehensive Potomac assessment Backing from scientific community (STAC SWM Workshop) Incorporate design modifications to better address objectives Develop new partnerships Identify additional resources

Proposed 2006 Potomac Estuary Water Quality Criteria Monitoring Program Minimum of 18 continuous monitoring sites, 4 water quality mapping teams covering entire tidal tributary over a 3-4 day period, 3 water quality buoys, 1 in each salinity segment to address open and deep water habitats

Developing Partnerships – Maryland DNR EPA Chesapeake Bay Program NOAA National Ocean Service NOAA Chesapeake Bay Program NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR), Patuxent and Bush Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Patuxent and Upper Potomac St. Mary’s College, Lower Potomac Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Rhode Harford County Government, Bush Anne Arundel Government, Severn National Aquarium in Baltimore, Patapsco