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An assessment of the effects of low freshwater inflow conditions on the biota of Chesapeake Bay was conducted through use of data output from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Cheasapeake Bay Hydraulic Model. Phase I of the biota assessment focussed on methodology development and establishment of a baseline for determination of freshwater inflow-induced change. Physical and chemical information, along with salinity tolerance and other habitat related information was collected for a group of over 50 study organisms. In Phase II of the assessment, four sets of hydraulic model test conditions (scenarios) were used which simulated effects of drought and effects of future consumptive water use as deviations from present average flow conditions. Changes in habitat for the selected study organisms were predicted and mapped based on salinity and other variables. Changes in habitat, which were used to delineate the amount of impact from reduced freshwater inflow, were found to include increases and decreases depending on the species, its lifecycle, tolerances, and interactions with other organisms. The magnitude of habitat change was found to generally increase as salinity changes increased.
Chesapeake Bay is a complex estuarine system that is dependent on the freshwater inflow from its tributaries to maintain the salinity regime that characterizes its ecosystem. Increasing population and economic growth in the Bay drainage area is predicted to result in increased water supply demands and attendant increases in the amount of water used consumptively. This will cause a marked reduction in freshwater inflow to the Bay and result in higher salinities throughout the Bay system. In the long term, salinities would be expected to increase by as much as 2 to 4 ppt. The Low Freshwater Inflow Study methodology involved selecting representative species for study, mapping potential habitat under various conditions, using expert scientists to interpret the significance of habitat change, and assessing socio-economic and environmental impacts of the changes. While no specific plan was developed to solve the problems caused by reduced freshwater inflows, several alternatives were identified as most promising. These include reservoir storage, conservation, growth restriction, oyster bed restoration, and fisheries management. The final report recommends that a comprehensive water supply and drought management study be conducted that will identify those measures required to optimize the use of existing water supplies in the Bay drainage basin and minimize reductions in freshwater inflow to the Bay. (Author).
An assessment of the effects of low freshwater inflow conditions on the biota of Chesapeake Bay was conducted through use of data output from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Chesapeake Bay Hydraulic Model. Four sets of test conditions (scenarios) were used which simulated effects of drought and effects of future consumptive water withdrawal and use as deviations from present average flow conditions. Changes in habitat of over 50 biological organisms were predicted and mapped based on salinity and other variables. Changes in habitat, which were used to delineate the amount of impact from low flow, were found to include increases and decreases depending on the species, its lifecyle, tolerances, and interactions with other organisms. The magnitude of habitat change was found to generally increase as salinity changes increased. (Author).
Contents: The Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem: Phytoplankton, Submerged Aquatic Vegetation, Emergent Aquatic Vegetation, Zooplankton, Benthic Organisms, Fish, Wildlife, Biological Interactions; Selection of Study Species; Life History Summaries of Study Species; Glossary; Attachment A--Biological Interaction; Attachment B--Life History Summaries of Study Species.