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#           Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay watershed—A century of change, 1950–2050      

      November 10, 2021    

### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

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Foreword

Sustaining the quality of the Nation’s water resources and the health of our diverse ecosystems depends on the availability of sound water-resources data and information to develop effective, science-based policies. Effective management of water resources also brings more certainty and efficiency to important economic sectors. Taken together, these actions lead to immediate and long-term economic, social, and environmental benefits that will make a difference to the lives of the almost 400 million people projected to live in the United States by 2050.

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest and most productive estuary in the United States and is a vital environmental and economic resource. Approximately half of the water volume of the Chesapeake Bay originates from streams and rivers that drain the 64,243 mi2 Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Bay and its tributaries have been degraded by excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen, from contributing watersheds. Inputs of nitrogen to the Bay lead to increased algal growth, decreased dissolved oxygen, and declining fisheries. In 2000, the Chesapeake Bay was listed as impaired under the Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) for nutrients and sediment have been established to assist with management actions aimed at nutrient reductions. Effective nutrient management requires an understanding of past, present, and future nutrient sources, fate, and transport in the watershed.

The Chesapeake Bay community has been a pioneer in science, management, and regulation to improve water quality. Factors like climate, hydrology, source inputs, and management controls play a vital role in determining the delivery and magnitude of nitrogen inputs to the Bay. Science in the form of monitoring data, predictive tools, and interpretive reports can help inform decisions to better balance the use and control of nitrogen in coastal areas. The findings in this report can contribute to effective management of the Bay and its watershed by providing a synthesis of the understanding of how human activities and environmental change in the watershed in the past, present, and future will influence the export of nitrogen to the Bay.

We hope this publication will provide you with insights and information to meet your water resource needs and will foster increased civilian awareness and involvement in the protection and restoration of our Nation’s waters. The information in this report is intended primarily for those interested or involved in resource management and protection, conservation, regulation, and policymaking at the regional and national levels.

## Citation Information

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Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

February 10, 2022

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

February 10, 2022

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

####                 Pennsylvania Water Science Center              

215 Limekiln RoadNew Cumberland, PA17070United States

717-730-6900 

#### John Clune, PhD

##### Research Hydrologist

Pennsylvania Water Science Center

jclune@usgs.gov

717-317-7226

#### Matthew Miller

##### Research Hydrologist 

Water Resources Mission Area

mamiller@usgs.gov

303-541-3048

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##### Coordinator, Delaware River Basin Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)

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pclaggett@usgs.gov

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#### Rosemary M Fanelli, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist

South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

rfanelli@usgs.gov

919-571-4036

#### Jeff P Raffensperger, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist/Groundwater Specialist

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

jpraffen@usgs.gov

443-498-5542

#### Silvia Terziotti

##### Hydrography Science Applications Lead | Geographer

3D Hydrography Program

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#### Kristina Hopkins

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Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

gshenk@usgs.gov

#### Alexander Soroka

##### Physical Scientist

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

asoroka@usgs.gov

302-734-2506

#### James Webber

##### Hydrologist

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

jwebber@usgs.gov

804-261-2621

#### David M Wolock, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist (Research)

Water Resources Mission Area

dwolock@usgs.gov

785-832-3528

## Related Content

link

August 4, 2023

####                 Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed              

Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

link

August 4, 2023

####   Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Learn More

link

April 18, 2022

####                 USGS Chesapeake Publication Receives National Award for Superior Communication Product              

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April 18, 2022

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Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

February 10, 2022

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

February 10, 2022

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

#### Nitrogen in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: A Century of Change

link

Narrated presentation that provides a unique, long-term perspective (1950-2050) of the major drivers of nitrogen change up to the present, and forecasts how they may affect nitrogen into the future for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Information is based off of U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1486.

Water Resources Mission Area, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Pennsylvania Water Science Center

####                 Pennsylvania Water Science Center              

215 Limekiln RoadNew Cumberland, PA17070United States

717-730-6900 

#### John Clune, PhD

##### Research Hydrologist

Pennsylvania Water Science Center

jclune@usgs.gov

717-317-7226

#### Matthew Miller

##### Research Hydrologist 

Water Resources Mission Area

mamiller@usgs.gov

303-541-3048

####             Douglas A Burns (Former Employee)          

##### Coordinator, Delaware River Basin Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS)

New York Water Science Center

#### Andrew Sekellick

##### Physical Scientist

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

ajsekell@usgs.gov

443-498-5580

#### Peter Claggett

##### Research Geographer

Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center

pclaggett@usgs.gov

443-370-5724

#### Rosemary M Fanelli, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist

South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

rfanelli@usgs.gov

919-571-4036

#### Jeff P Raffensperger, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist/Groundwater Specialist

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

jpraffen@usgs.gov

443-498-5542

#### Silvia Terziotti

##### Hydrography Science Applications Lead | Geographer

3D Hydrography Program

National Hydrography

seterzio@usgs.gov

919-818-5278

#### Kristina Hopkins

##### Research Physical Scientist

South Atlantic Water Science Center (SAWSC)

khopkins@usgs.gov

919-571-4042

#### Jeni Keisman, Ph.D.

##### Chief, Hydrologic Impacts Branch

Water Resources Mission Area

jkeisman@usgs.gov

#### Gary Shenk

##### Hydrologist

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

gshenk@usgs.gov

#### Alexander Soroka

##### Physical Scientist

Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center

asoroka@usgs.gov

302-734-2506

#### James Webber

##### Hydrologist

Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

jwebber@usgs.gov

804-261-2621

#### David M Wolock, Ph.D.

##### Hydrologist (Research)

Water Resources Mission Area

dwolock@usgs.gov

785-832-3528

### Study Area

### Contact

####               New York Water Science Center          

425 Jordan RoadTroy, NY12180-8349United States

dc_ny@usgs.gov

(518) 285-5695 

(518) 285-5601

####               Pennsylvania Water Science Center          

215 Limekiln RoadNew Cumberland, PA17070United States

717-730-6900 

####               Salt Lake City Main Office          

2329 West Orton CircleWest Valley City, UT84119-2047United States

doleary@usgs.gov

(801) 908-5014

(801) 908-5001

####             Water Resources Mission Area - Headquarters        

USGS Headquarters12201 Sunrise Valley DriveReston, VA20192United States

#### Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center

1730 East Parham RoadRichmond, VA23228United States

(804) 261-2600

(804) 261-2657

                        -  -             Pennsylvania and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed           
 

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