Leight, A., Trippe III, R., Gonsalves, L., Jacobs, J., McLaughlin, S., Messick, G. 2015. Coastal Ecosystem Assessment of Chesapeake Bay Watersheds: Land Use Patterns and River Conditions. NOAA Technical Memorandum NOS NCCOS 207. NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.

Analysis, Estuary, Eutrophication, Fish, Habitat, Management, Nutrients, Rivers, Streams, Urbanization, Water quality, Watershed, Field assessment, Land use, Sources, Aquatic community, Wildlife, Aquatic ecosystems, Hypoxia, Submerged aquatic vegetation

This report describes a four-year assessment of the impacts of land use on water quality in three subwatersheds of the Chesapeake Bay watershed (U.S.). The assessment evaluated the relationship between land use and the overall health of the aquatic ecosystem. Habitat health was evaluated using water quality metrics and observations of the growth, abundance, diversity, and disease incidence of fish and shellfish in the study areas.