How Does DNR Use Water Quality Data?
Eyes on the Bay is far more than a tool for the public to access monitoring data; it is also used to make important decisions regarding placement of habitat restoration projects, management of harmful algal blooms and development of long-term Chesapeake Bay management plans. Ultimately, Eyes on the Bay monitoring programs address four important objectives: they characterize existing conditions; detect changes and trends in key water quality variables in response to management actions; explain the processes of Bay ecosystem functions as they relate to anthropogenic and natural stresses; and determine the relationships between water quality and living resources. For more information on our Bay monitoring programs, see http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/monitoring/index.html. Visit Eyes on the Bay (www.eyesonthebay.net) for current Maryland water quality information and data throughout the year. Mark Trice… is a Research Statistician and GIS specialist in DNRs Tidewater Ecosystem Assessment
