STATE OF THE ESTUARIES IN THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION OF THE UNITED-STATES

The U.S. EPA has prepared a State of the Region Report for Mid-Atlanti c Estuaries to increase knowledge of environmental condition for impro ved environmental management. Sources of information included the Nati onal Estuary Programs, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the state monitorin g programs in Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, Federal programs such as National Status & Trends, National Shellfish Register, National Wet lands Inventory, the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, and other primary literature sources. The state of the estuarine envir onment was summarized using indicators for water and sediment quality, habitat change, condition of living resources, and aesthetic quality. Each indicator was briefly discussed relative to its importance in un derstanding estuarine condition. Wherever possible, data from multiple programs were used to depict condition. Finally, an overall evaluatio n of estuarine condition in the region was determined. The usefulness of monitoring programs that collect consistent information with a well -defined sampling design cannot be overemphasized.