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EUTROPHICATION

Eutrophication is the degredation of water quality in aquatic systems primarily from human activities. Collectively, anthropogenic effects on nutrient inputs and trophic structures are referrred to as “cultural eutrophication”. Large basins with large human populations or intense human activities such as agriculture lead to large exports of nutrients into estuarine and coastal areas, algal blooms, and oxygen deficits in bottom waters. Understanding land usage is an important component in determining ways to help curb further eutrophication in some aquatic systems.

With support from NASA's Land Cover/Land Use Change program, the HPL GIS group has compiled a 350 year history of land use (1660-2000) for the Choptank basin (left figure). Using a socio-economic model, historical maps, aerial photographs, and satellite imagery, the land cover trajectories for agriculture and forest have been developed for the Choptank River basin (Benitez 2002, Benitez and Fisher in press, sub.). These data sources showed that the primary deforestation of the basin was complete by 1800, and that cropland has been the dominant land cover for the last 200 years. After 1850, a slow rate of urbanization has reduced the amount of cropland from its high of 70-80% in ~1900 to the current level of ~60% (right figure).

Benitez, J. A. 2002. Historical land cover changes (1665-2000) and impact on N and P export from the Choptank watershed. PhD dissertation, University of Maryland

Benitez, J. A. and T. R. Fisher. 2004. Historical land cover conversion (1665-1850) in the Choptank watershed, Eastern USA. Ecosystems in press

Benitez, J. A. and T. R. Fisher. sub. Land cover history (1850-2000) and its effect on current landscape patterns in the Choptank watershed, Eastern USA. sub. Ecosystems
(UMCES PIs: Tom Fisher)

The Mid-Shore Data Bank

http://www.midshoredatabank.org/

The Mid-Shore Data Bank is a project designed to make local water quality data publicly available on the web. It provides access to data and maps of water quality for the Choptank and Miles River. The project is funded by grants from the Clayton Fund, the Integration and Application Network, and NASA’s Land Use Land Cover Change program. The Data Bank is presented through the combined effort and agreement of the Data Development Plan Group which is made up of representatives from the: Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Department of the Environment, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Talbot County Creekwatchers, Talbot County Engineer, Talbot River Protection Association, and the University of Maryland, Horn Point Laboratory

DNR Bioassay Project

Since 1990 we have been investigating nutrient and light limitation of phytoplankton populations. Funded by Maryland DNR, this applied project provides information to the Chesapeake Bay Program Office concerning how to manage adjacent watersheds to reduce phytoplankton in tributaries and the main stem of the Chesapeake Bay.