Coastal Services Center

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Case Study

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Note: This is a fictitious case study, although the facts as presented are true, and the outcome of the case study could very well occur for an organization such as Friends of the Watershed.

Background

Chesapeake Bay's watershed stretches from New York State to Virginia and encompasses one-sixth of the Eastern Seaboard. The Bay accounts for almost half the fresh water entering estuaries in the Middle Atlantic Region. Five major tributary systems--the Potomac, Susquehanna, Rappahannock, York, and James Rivers--as well as dozens of smaller rivers supply fresh water to Chesapeake Bay. This freshwater inflow (85,800 cubic feet per second) significantly affects estuarine circulation and combines with tides to create complex circulation patterns that contribute to Chesapeake Bay's vitality. (Source: EPA)