Proposed Chesapeake Bay Tidal Waters Designated Uses

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Proposed Chesapeake Bay Tidal Waters Designated
Uses

• Rich Batiuk
• U.S. EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office
• Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Steering Committee
• March 26, 2001

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Chesapeake 2000 AgreementWater Quality
Commitment

• By 2010, correct the nutrient- and
• sediment-related problems in Chesapeake Bay and
  its tidal tributaries sufficiently to remove the
  Bay and tidal portions of its tributaries from
  the list of impaired waters under the Clean Water
  Act.

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Chesapeake 2000 AgreementWater Quality
Commitments
2001 ? Define required water quality conditions ?
Assign load reductions to each major
tributary 2002 ? Revise Tributary Strategies to
achieve and maintain the assigned loading
goals 2003 ? MD, VA, DE and DC adopt new or
revised water quality standards consistent with
Bay criteria/uses
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Refined Designated Uses for Chesapeake Bay and
Tidal Tributary Waters
A. Cross Section of Chesapeake Bay or Tidal
Tributary
Shallow Water
Open Water
Deep Water
Deep Channel
B. Oblique View of the Chesapeake Bay and its
Tidal Tributaries
Migratory Finfish Spawning and Nursery Habitat
Open Water Habitat
Shallow Water Habitat
Deep Water
Deep Channel
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Migratory Spawning and Nursery Habitat
Spawning and Nursery Habitat
Source Funderburk et al. 1992. Habitat
Requirements for Chesapeake Bay Living Resources
Revised Edition. Chesapeake Bay Program,
Annapolis, MD.
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Migratory Spawning and Nursery
Designated Use propagation and growth of
balanced indigenous populations of ecologically,
recreationally, and commercially important
anadromous and semi-anadromous fish species
inhabiting spawning and nursery grounds from
mid-February to early June. Applicable Bay
Criteria dissolved oxygen (migratory
spawning/nursery criteria apply from mid-February
to early June), chlorophyll a, and water clarity.
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Shallow Water Habitat
Shallow Water Habitat
Two Meter Bathymetry Contour
Source Batiuk et al. 1992. Chesapeake Bay
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Habitat Requirements
and Restoration Targets A Technical Synthesis.
Chesapeake Bay Program, Annapolis, MD.
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Shallow Water
Designated Use propagation and growth of
balanced indigenous populations of ecologically,
recreationally, and commercially important fish,
shellfish, and underwater grasses inhabiting
shallow water habitats. Applicable Bay Criteria
dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, and water
clarity.
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Open Water Habitat
Open Water Habitat
Source Funderburk et al. 1992. Habitat
Requirements for Chesapeake Bay Living Resources
Revised Edition. Chesapeake Bay Program,
Annapolis, MD.
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Open Water
Designated Use propagation and growth of
balanced indigenous populations of ecologically,
recreationally, and commercially important fish
and shellfish species inhabiting open water
habitats. Applicable Bay Criteria dissolved
oxygen, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.
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Draft Illustrations of Deep Water and Deep
Channel Habitats
Deep Water Habitat
Deep Channel Habitat
Source NOAA hydrographic soundings processed by
the Chesapeake Bay Program office.
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Deep Water
Designated Use propagation and growth of
balanced indigenous populations of ecologically,
recreationally, and commercially important fish
and shellfish species inhabiting deep water
habitats. Applicable Bay Criteria dissolved
oxygen (deep water criteria apply from May
through September open water criteria apply from
October through April).
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Deep Channel
Designated Use refuge for balanced, indigenous
populations of ecologically, recreationally, and
commercially important fish species that depend
on deep channel habitats for over-wintering
during the months of October through April and
propagation and growth of benthic infaunal and
epifaunal worms and clams that provide food for
bottom feeding fish and crabs during the months
of May through September. Applicable Bay
Criteria dissolved oxygen (deep channel criteria
apply from May through Sept. open water criteria
apply from Oct through April).
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Uses - Next Steps

• Apply results of intensive Bay WQ monitoring data
  analysis/Bay WQ model ranging scenarios to
  confirm details of Bay criteria application to
  the designated uses (June-September)
• Depths of deep water and deep channel designated
  use boundaries
• Water clarity criteria depth of application
• Produce detailed documentation of the underlying
  technical basis for the designated uses (June)