Severn Sound & Inland Lakes

There is a long history of monitoring on Severn Sound and the inland lakes in the watershed. Both the Severn Sound Open Water and Inland Lakes Monitoring Programs track indicators of nutrient enrichment along with impacts of multiple stressors like invasive species, land use change and climate change. Some water quality indicators have a range of values that correspond to different levels of nutrient enrichment, or trophic status. Lakes that are oligotrophic have low levels of nutrients and algae, and high bottom water oxygen. Lakes that are eutrophic have high levels of nutrients and algae growth, and if deep enough can have low bottom water oxygen. Lakes that are mesotrophic are somewhere in between. Specific targets were developed through the Severn Sound Remedial Action Plan for Severn Sound, and current conditions are still compared to those targets today.