Table 1. Chesapeake Bay— Physical and Biological Characteristics, 

 Selected Usages and Basin Population (Corps of Engineers, 

 1974; Corps of Engineers, 1977; Cronin, W., 1971; Lippson, 

 1973) 



Physical 

 Length: 

 Width: 

 Depth: 



Surface area: 



Shoreline: 

 Volume: 



290 km (180 mi) 



4-48 km (5-30 mi) 



53 m maximum (175 ft) 



8.4 m average open Bay (27.6 ft) 



6.5 m average including tributaries (21 2 ft) 

 6,500 km 2 open Bay (2,500 mi 2 ) 



1 1,500 km 2 with tributaries (4400 mi 2 ) 

 13,000 km (8,100 mi) 

 52 billion m 3 for the open Bay, low tide 

 74 billion m 3 total, low tide 



Biological species: 



>2700 



*Exclusive of Bay and tributaries. 



each, comment on the general state of the Bay and of our present comprehension of it 

 as a system, identify critical research needs for achievement of adequate protection 

 and enhancement of the uses that are desired of this estuarine system, and, 

 fortunately, describe several innovative and important improvements that have 

 occurred during the past decade. 



It is relevant to note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has 

 completed approximately three-fourths of a 5-year, $25 million Chesapeake Bay 

 Program sponsored by Senator Charles McC. Mathias of Maryland. Principal 

 emphasis is on toxic materials, submerged aquatic vegetation, excessive enrichment, 

 and on improved management of water quality. About 60 principal investigators at 

 30 agencies and institutions are involved in about 45 projects. Only a Summary of 

 Projects (Wells etal.. 1 979) and one technical report have been published at this time, 

 although many preliminary data reports are available. Relevant studies will be noted 

 throughout this report and identified as parts of the "Chesapeake Bay Program." 



