NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program - Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The largest estuary in North America, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed covers 64,000 square miles and includes more than 150 rivers and streams that drain into the Bay. More than 300 species of fish, shellfish and crab species and a wide array of other wildlife call the Bay home. With almost 30 percent of area in agricultural production, the region’s over 83,000 farms generate more than $10 billion annually.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed depends on a future that includes an agricultural sector that is not only productive but also protects natural resources. The 2013 CEAP study, “Impacts of Conservation Adoption on Cultivated Acres of Cropland in the Chesapeake Bay Region, 2003-06 to 2011,” shows that there have been significant reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loading from cropland in the region in recent years. However, the report also estimates that nearly 20 percent of cropland acres still have a high level of conservation treatment need. With the CCA designation, USDA will build on existing strong partnerships in the watershed to design and help fund innovative projects that will address these conservation needs, ultimately supporting rural economies, protecting wildlife habitat and improving water quality in the Bay.
This dataset includes a printer-friendly CCA map and shapefiles for GIS.
Resources in this dataset:
Resource Title: Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
File Name: Web Page, url: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs-initiatives/rcpp-regional-conservation-partnership-program/critical-conservation-areas
Information about the project and links to a printer-friendly CCA map (PDF, 1MB) and Shapefiles for GIS (ZIP, 160KB).
Funding
USDA-NRCS
History
Data contact name
Tillman, LeonData contact email
leon.tillman@usda.govPublisher
USDA Natural Resources Conservation ServiceTemporal Extent Start Date
2014-01-01Temporal Extent End Date
2018-12-31Theme
- Not specified
Geographic Coverage
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Chesapeake Bay WatershedISO Topic Category
- biota
- environment
- inlandWaters
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus terms
estuaries; North America; Chesapeake Bay; watersheds; rivers; streams; fish; shellfish; crabs; wildlife; farms; agricultural industry; Conservation Effects Assessment Project; cropland; nitrogen; phosphorus; pollution load; sediment yield; USDA; wildlife habitats; water quality; data collection; geographic information systems; landowners; right of access; conservation programs; Great Lakes; Environmental Quality Incentives Program; flood control; forests; silver; Delaware River; lakes; governmental programs and projects; environmental enrichmentOMB Bureau Code
- 005:53 - Natural Resources Conservation Service
Pending citation
- No
Public Access Level
- Public