Science agenda for coastal bays set by committee

by Dr. Roman Jesien. (Roman is the science coordinator for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program.)

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee of the Coastal Bays Program has set a coastal bays science agenda which focuses on nutrient loading, cycling, and budgeting and on upper watershed protection and restoration of forests and other natural lands.

Eutrophication, an overabundance of nutrients, is a major problem in the coastal bays and was given high priority. Also, the potential for eutrophication to continue is high due to the increases in surface water
runoff from more impervious surfaces, decreased groundwater from increased demand, and more nutrients in the water.

Made up of scientists from state and federal agencies, NGO's and universities, the committee envisioned the science agenda to consist of two phases. Phase one would concentrate on chemical parameters such as nutrient and contaminant sources and aquatic indicators. Phase two includes research efforts on the upper watershed indicators such as land use, riparian zones, forest cover, restoration of forest land and marsh habitat.

For example, under phase one, the amount of nitrogen entering the bays from the tributaries, groundwater, ocean and atmosphere would be better quantified. Also, the processes by which nitrogen is released by decaying organisms and taken up by plants in the sediments and water would be investigated. Under phase two the upper watershed component of nitrogen sources indicated by land use would be further investigated. Scientists felt that once a reasonable nutrient budget can be built then the pathway toward clean up would be clearer.

Much like your household budget, you need to know how much and where money is going and where it’s coming from. So too in a nutrient budget, the inputs and outputs and the amount in each category need to be known to be able to understand the system and to predict the outcome of changes in the amount
coming in. So, like your home budget that allows you to buy a new home, pay college tuition costs, or live within a fixed income, the nutrient budget helps the bays’ managers sustain the bays’ resources for the future.

For more information on the science agenda for the coastal bays contact Roman Jesien at science@mdcoastalbays.org.