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Environmental Resource Management Majors Guide to the

Chesapeake Bay

Prepared by: Erin Hill

English 202 C 2/10/15

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Table of Contents

Preface 3

Contents 3

Audience 3

Assumption 4

Organization 4

Tips 4

Resources and Links 5

Periodical Literature Index 6

Proquest Environmental Science and Pollution Management

Professional Journal 7

Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications 8

EPA Chesapeake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

Statistical Abstract of the United States 9

Table 353 Water Areas For Selected Major Bodies Of Water

Websites 10

Chesapeake Bay Program 10

Chesapeake Stat 11

EPA Chesapeake Bay 12

Bay Journal 13

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Preface

Contents

The Environmental Resource Management Majors Guide to the Chesapeake Bay is for undergraduate students interested in learning more about the Chesapeake Bay and are looking for resources, platforms and guidance to find accurate information about the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is important environmental topic and case study in the environmental science field. This guide will help you when conducting research or writing papers about the Bay and help to further your understanding about a topic discussed in class. The web links and abstracts in the bulk of this guide will aid you in research and help you to fully comprehend the environmental importance of the Chesapeake Bay. Having increased knowledge on this topic will help you better succeed in classes and stay up to date on this pressing environmental matter.

The resources provided will help you find scholarly journals, research and credible

sources on scientific findings and data about the Bay. It offers ways to find government data as well as statistical abstracts and figures. You may also use this guide to view photos, videos, charts and the latest news to help support your understanding and research. This guide offers resources from a wide range of groups and sectors. Within each resource you may find past, present, or in progress documents and articles. These documents may be from environmental groups, from the local, state, and federal governments or published scientific work. Additionally, this guide is an excellent way to fully grasp and stay up to date on what is occurring and what has occurred in the Chesapeake Bay, either from a scientific perspective, policy perspective or general perspective.

Audience

The audience for this guide is an undergraduate student at Penn State studying Environmental Resource Management (ERM) who is in need of resources to find beneficial information about the Chesapeake Bay .The Chesapeake Bay is a well covered topic that is discussed in a variety of science classes. As an undergrad in ERM it is important to understand the Chesapeake Bay and the environmental issues and processes occurring there. The Bay is of particular importance because Penn State and a majority of Pennsylvania are located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

As an ERM student this guide with help you find all kinds of resources relating to

the Chesapeake Bay. The guide will be particularly useful for students to find accurate and scientific information about the Bay. On the Internet there are various resources about the Bay from advocacy groups, this information may be biased and swayed and would not be appropriate for scientific assignments. This guide will help students gain insight and further understanding to the significant environmental topic, the Chesapeake Bay

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Assumptions As the writer of this guide I assume the reader of this document is an undergraduate student at Penn State majoring in Environmental Resource Management who is looking for information and resources about the Chesapeake Bay. As an ERM student I assume you have a general knowledge of where and what the Chesapeake Bay is and know that it is of great environmental importance and aware that it is facing a lot of environmental degradation from pollution and nutrient runoff. I assume you know that there has been legislation passed to try to restore the bay and there are passionate environmental groups and locals fighting to protect the Bay. Additionally, as a Penn State student I assume you have access to a computer and to the Universities Library website to make use of the links provided with the abstracts.

Organization The organization of this guide makes it is easy to follow and find a particular section you may be looking for. By using the Table Of Contents you can find the exact page number of where an abstract you are interested in is located. The type or category of resource is in regular text and indented under it, in italics is the actual title of the resource. The first four listing under information and resources are best for scientific findings and government documents were as the websites are more helpful to find current news, the latest progress and background information about the Chesapeake Bay. Each section is clearly labeled in larger fonts and bolding for easy finding.

Tips To use this guide most effectively it is best to decide what is it that you want to know about the Chesapeake Bay. Do you need background information? Are you looking for a scientific journal or data and statistics? Do you want charts or videos? Or do you want to find government documents? Having an idea of what you what to know can help you easily find a particular section using the table of contents. Or when reading the abstracts in the guide you can look for the key words you have in mind to best direct you to the most beneficial URL link.

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Resources and Links: This part of the guide provides helpful resources and URLs links with accurate information, scientific findings and data regarding

the Chesapeake Bay.

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Periodical Literature Index

Proquest: Environmental Science and Pollution Management Web link: http://search.proquest.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/espm?accountid=13158 Abstract: Proquest database is a search index that allows you to access scholar journals, publications and documents. Through the Penn State library you can access the Proquest

Database: Environmental Science and Pollution Management. This database allows you to search all kinds of documents such as books, papers, thesis, government publications, reports and scholarly journals focused on Environmental Science and Pollution Management. The search engine allows you to enter terms and sub terms. You can also specify dates, sources, types of documents, and languages. This site is creditable and offers peer reviewed material. As a student looking for scientific journals and scholarly material regarding the Chesapeake Bay ProQuest: Environmental Science and Pollution Management is an excellent resource to use. The Chesapeake Bay is a current case study for environmental issues such a nutrient pollution so this database is very fitting. Tips: To narrow your search, use the date drop down menu and other drop down options.

You can also select one or multiple subcategory under the categories of source type, document type and language to obtain your most desired search.

Look to the blue titled column “search subject area” for other subject categories if you feel your search term(s) could fit better in another category.

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Professional Journal

Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education Web Link: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1936-704X Abstract: The Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education is and environmental science journal that contains articles focusing on water research and education. Through the Penn State Library, you can access the journal on line where it allows you to search within the journal for articles based on your search term(s). This journal focuses on research related to water, water protection, water resources, hydrology, and education. This is a fairly contemporary journal with its oldest issues from 2004; therefore the information is up to date and relevant. This journal is appropriate for finding information about the Chesapeake Bay because water research is of the highest priority to assist understanding the condition of the Bay and the nutrients entering into its waters. Tips: Under the search box, you can click advance search to enter more than one term as

well as narrow or specify date(s). You can export a citation for the article you chose by clicking export citation in the

“Article Tool” box in on the right hand side.

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Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

EPA Chesapeake TMDL Catalog link: http://catalog.gpo.gov/ Web link: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wapd/tmdl/ChesapeakeBay/tmdlexec.html Abstract: The Catalog of U.S. Government Publications is a search engine to help you find government documents related to a search topic. Theses can be mandates, laws, regulations, acts, executive orders or any literature produced by the US Government. The catalog allows you to enter a keyword or phrase or multiple keywords. You can also narrow your search by dates. The scope of this tool is huge and over hundreds of document can be found relating to your entered term and can date back to the 1920s if desired. This catalog will be of particular use to find policies and regulations relating to the Chesapeake Bay. For example when entering the term Chesapeake Bay one document that is identified is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Final Chesapeake Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)1. This document is the EPA’s final plan and guideline for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. This is a compressive document that sets a pollution diet for nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment that is allowed to enter the bay. The goals and plans detailed in the TMDL hope to fully restore the Bay and its watershed network of streams and rivers by 2025. Tips:

At the blue ribbon near the top of the page, click refine to add more search terms to help specify.

Under the blue ribbon you may also change the sorting of the results such as by SuDoc number, date or title.

1. "Final Bay TMDL Report." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 29 Dec. 2010. Web. 02 Feb. 2015.

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Statistical Abstract of the United States Table 353 Water Areas For Selected Major Bodies Of Water Statistical Abstract Link: http://statabs.proquest.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/sa/?id=58e33fca-e01d-4ac3-b0c1-ef270724eef3 Table Link: http://statabs.proquest.com.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/sa/?id=761d1926-4931-4ded-b707-e30f7c8c10e1# Abstract: The Statistical Abstract of the United States is a database of numerous abstracts with information and statistical data collect about the United States. The online tool allows you to search term(s) to find relevant statics, often displayed as charts and tables, relevant to your search term(s). The type of statistics and charts vary greatly depending what you search and the amount and type of data that was collected. You can search the most current addition, all additions or a particular year’s addition you prefer. The abstract is split into 30 sections or categories of abstracts. Some examples are agriculture, population, transportation, and geography and environment. You can click on the categories to search within them or use the general search bar to search through all the sections. This tool is very useful for finding credible statistics and data to back up and support research in the environmental science field. For example when entering the term Chesapeake Bay under all editions one can find a Table 353: Water Areas For Selected Major Bodies Of Water, 2000.1In this table you can find the area in square miles of the Chesapeake Bay and compare it to other bodies of water. Tips: Use the adjustable bar on the left side to narrow and adjust the date of your search. When searching look at the listed subcategories in the left column to filter you search

even further.

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Websites

Chesapeake Bay Program Website: http://www.chesapeakebay.net Abstract: The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that heads the restoration efforts and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. Their website is an excellent source to find a variety of information about the Chesapeake Bay. This website will be most useful to get accurate background knowledge of what and where the Chesapeake Bay is and the main environmental issues associate with the Bay. The home page offers links to a wide range of categories such as issues, news, progress, the Chesapeake, library, take action and about they Bay Program. Under these categories are subcategories with more information. You can learn about the history of the bay and the Bay basics and investigate further to the main issues such as agriculture, nutrients, sediments, wildlife and climate change. There are plenty of videos, maps and images to explore further and aid in understanding. The information on the website is very useful for gaining background information about the Bay but can also help those looking to find out more specifics about the progress and improvements happening in the Bay. When looking at the subcategories you can easily navigate to news, data, maps, important publications and tracking tools to gather key scientific data, facts and findings. Over all, the Chesapeake Bay Program website is a great starting point for all things related to the Chesapeake Bay. Tips: If you scroll down to the very bottom of the page, all the subcategories are listed

neatly for easy finding. If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can also use the search bar in the upper right hand corner.

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Chesapeake Stat Website: http://stat.chesapeakebay.net/ Abstract: Chesapeake Stat is an interactive web page to find the most up to date and transparent information about the progress the Bay is making towards reducing pollution and restoring habitat and species. Chesapeake Stat promotes coordination and sharing of information on goals, indicators, strategies and funding by bringing this important data to one platform. Through this web page you can view real time graphs, maps, data and percentages on everything from habitat restoration, to pollution loads, water quality and even the amount of funding for projects that support the bay. You can easily find the TMDL status for the entire bay or with drop down boxes choose an individual state to look at more closely. Here you can view graphs that show the progress made from previous years and also predictions on loading for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. The webpage provides PDFs for Best Management Practices (BMP) protocols and visual charts of the two-year milestones since the TMDL was in place. Chesapeake Stat is useful to help visualize and conceptualize the progress being made in the bay and also shows where there are possible setbacks and areas to better focus on. Additionally, the website gives you the option to make your own map where you can chose what layers and data you want to appear on a map. Downloads of all maps, charts and data are available to either save or print. Tips: If you are unsure how to read or interpret a graph, click on the question mark in the

corner of the graph for further explanation. In the various text among the graphs are words highlighted in blue. Theses are

clickable hyperlinks to define the work of provide another page with more information about that topic.

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EPA Chesapeake Bay Website: http://www.epa.gov/chesapeakebaytmdl/ Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) is heavily involved in the restoration of the Bay through policies and programs. The EPA’s webpage on the Chesapeake Bay is the best way to access government documents and policy information about the Chesapeake Bay and the TMDL. It most importantly provides links to the full TMDL document as well as the executive summary. It provides links to the individual watershed implementation plans for the six Bay states; Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia. It also shows the key framework on the percent reduction plans for the whole Bay by 2017 and 2025. By clicking on the interactive map provided you are guided to further information and links about each state and their own TMDL plans, regulations and the EPA’s recommendations on how the state can improve the Bay. It provides past information and documents regarding the TMDL as well as current news. Topics can be found from the local to the state government, up to the federal level. This website will be the best resource to find actuate information about the policies and federal mandates for the Chesapeake Bay. It is helpful because it has the full documents as well as summary pages, this will help you better understand the regulations and complex parts of the TMDL, watershed implementation plans and other polices for the Bay. Tips: If desired you can change the language in the upper right hand corner. The boxes located in the right hand column provide even more resources to news,

FAQs, national legislation and more general information about the Chesapeake Bay.

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Bay Journal Website: http://www.bayjournal.com/ Abstract: The Bay Journal is and non-profit online media source that aims to inform the public about issues and news that affects the Chesapeake Bay. The site has news stories updated daily and provides the lasted developments and rising issues regarding the bay. The articles range from local success stories, to scientific findings as well as political updates. On the home page you can also access an opinion section, events page, travel section, blogs and archives. If you are looking for a specific article you can search through a range of topics to best find a match. This website offers more perspective to the view to the issues and controversies about the bay. Most of the articles are current and up to date by you can search the archive to find past relevant articles. Bay Journal offers users of this guide perhaps a more local and community perspective of what is happing in the Bay and what is of pressing importance. Tips: One can subscribe to the Bay Journal and have them sent to your email. You can enter

you email by scrolling down the very bottom of the page. Click on the Topics heading to search specific term in which you are interested in

finding articles on.