Effects of Hurricane Agnes on the environment and organisms of Chesapeake Bay early findings and recommendations : a report for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

Coastal Zone
Information COAP, ALZON E
Center
INFORMATION CENTER

THE EFFECTS OF HURRICANE AGNES
ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANISMS
OF CHESAPEAKE BAY
Early Findings and Recommendations

A REPORT TO THE PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

PREPARED BY THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESEARCH COUNCIL

CHESAPEAKE BAY INSTITUTE, THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
CHESAPEAKE BIOLOGICAL IABoRAToRY, THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
9 VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE

January 1973
QC
945
E34
1973

03792

EFFECTS OF HURRICANE AGNES ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND ORGANISMS OF CHESAPEAKE BAY

Early Findings and Recommendations

A report for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Philadelphia District

Contract DACW 61-73-C-9348

THE CHESAPEAKE BAY RESEARCH COUNCIL

Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University
Chesapeake Biological Labortory, Natural Resources Institute, University of Maryland
Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

Compiled and Edited by

Aven M. Andersen (C.B.L.), Coordinator
W. Jackson Davis (V.I.M.S.)
Maurice P. Lynch (V.I.M.S.)
J. R. Schubel (C.B.I.)

JANUARY 1973

C.B.I. Contribution Number 187
N.R.I. Contribution Number 529
V.I.M.S. Special Report in Marine Science and Ocean Engineering, Number 29

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BALTIMORE
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VICINITY MAP

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CHESAPEAKE
SCALE OF MILES NORFOLK
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv

List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xii

Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xvi

Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . xviii

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I

A Brief History of Hurricane Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Rainfall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Riverflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

SALINITY PATTERNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

The Upper Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

The Potomac River Estuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

The Patuxent River Estuary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Virginia Estuaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

The Lower Bay and the Continental Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Present and Future Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

GEOLOGICAL EFFECTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

The Upper Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Virginia Estuaries and the Lower Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Sunlight Penetration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Erosion and Deposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Geological Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Page

OTHER WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Bacteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Nutrients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Dissolved Oxygen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Heavy Metals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Pesticides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

PLANKTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Maryland Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

Virginia Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

FISHERIES . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

The Value of Chesapeake Bay's Fisheries . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Oysters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Soft-shell Clams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Hard Clams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Blue Crabs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Finfish .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

SEA NETTLES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121

Virginia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

FOULING ORGANISMS AND OTHER BENTHOS . . . . o . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Sponges . . . . .. . . . o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Hydroids and Other Coelenterates . . . . . . . . o . . . . . 130

Tunicates . . . . . . . . . . . o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Bryozoans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Other Invertebrates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136

RECREATION AND WILDLIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

HISTORICAL SITES AND ARTIFACTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Page

LIST OF REFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

APPENDICES:

1. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of Chesapeake Bay from 6 June to 30
August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

II. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River from 28 June to
29 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148

III. Frequency of sea nettle polyps and cysts on oyster
shells from selected sampling areas in Chesapeake Bay
from 5 June to 2 November 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156

IV. Frequency of sea nettle polyps on oyster shells from
selected sampling areas in Chesapeake Bay in November
1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

V. Logistic support provided by various agencies to the
Virginia Institute of Marine Science . . . . . . . . . . 170

LIST OF TABLES

Page
1.1 June 1972 flood peaks (in cubic feet per second)
resulting from Hurricane Agnes in selected Virginia
river basins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
1.2 June 1972 flood peaks (in cubic feet per second)
resulting from Hurricane Agnes in selected rivers of
Maryland and the District of Columbia . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.1 Distances from the head of Chesapeake Bay (in nautical
miles) for specific values of salinity, on specified dates. 43

3.1 Turbidities of lower Chesapeake Bay (mg/1 suspended
sediment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

4.1 Counts of bacteria from Patuxent River water collected
from end of C.B.L. pier at Sotomons, Maryland during 1972 58

4.2 History of closings and openings of Virginia shellfish
areas following bacterial contamination from the
Hurricane Agnes floods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

4.3 Pesticides in edible portions of oysters, hard clams,
and blue crabs from Virginia following Hurricane Agnes. 76

5.1 Zooplankton composition, subarea B, August of 1971
and 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

6.1 Pushnet samples of blue crabs at VIMS, York River in
1971 and 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Track of the center of Hurricane Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1.2 Total rainfall from Hurricane Agnes in the drainage basins
of Chesapeake Bay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.3 Percent of the total Agnes flood-water inflow into
Chesapeake Bay for the major drainage basins. . i . . . 8

1.4 Daily average discharge of the Susquehanna River at
Conowingo, Md., 1 January - 31 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . 11

1.5 Ensemble monthly average of the susquehanna riverflow at
Conowingo, Md., over the period 1929-1966, and the
monthly average discharge for January through August 1972 12

1.6 Daily average discharge of the Potomac River near
Washington, D.C., for June 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

1.7 Monthly average discharge of the Potomac River near
Washington, D.C., for January 1971 through June 1972, and
the median monthly average discharge over the past 30 years. 15

2.1 Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the
axis of the Bay from its head at Havre de Grace to the
mouth of the Potomac River estuary on specific dates before,
during, and after Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

2.2 Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along
the axis of the Bay from its head at Havre de Grace to the
mouth of the Potomac River estuary on specific dates
during late July and August following Agnes . . . . . . . . 18

2.3 Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the
axis of the Potomac River estuary on specific dates
following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

2.4 Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the
axis of the Potomac River estuary on specific dates
following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

2.5 Monthly average salinities of the Patuxent River Solomons,
Maryland for 1972, compared to monthly averages for the
years 1960-1971 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

2.6 Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the
axis of the Patuxent River from its mouth to Nottingham
on specific dates following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

2.7 Salinity distribution in the Rappahannock Estuary on
10 July 197.2, 18 days after flood waters from
Tropical Storm Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . 27

2.8 Salinity distribution in the York Estuary on 5 July
1972, 11 days after flood waters from Tropical Storm
Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

2.9 Salinity distribution in the York Estuary on 24 July
1972, 30 days after flood waters from Tropical Storm
Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

2.10 Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 28 June
1972, 5 days after flood waters from Tropical Storm 30
Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.2.11 Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 19 July
1972, 26 days after flood,waters from Tropical Storm 30
Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.12 Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 25 August
1972, 63 days after flood waters. from Tropical Storm
Agnes crested at the fall line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

2.13 Surface salinities of lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore
shelf region based on samples collected on 29, 30 June 33
and 3 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.14 Surface salinities of lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore
shelf region based on samples collected on 10, 11 and 34
14 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.15 Surface salinities of lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore
shelf region based on samples collected on 17, 18 and
19 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
2.16 Salinity distribution along the axis of lower Chesapeake 36
Bay on 13 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.17 Salinity distribution along the axis of lower Chesapeake 37
Bay on 27 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.18 Salinity distribution along the axis of lower Chesapeake
Bay on 31 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

2.19 Chart showing positions and designation of stations
occupied on VIMS Operation Agnes Cruise 1, 7 and 8 July
1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

2.20 Salinity sections of nearshore shelf region showing
effect of flood waters resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes. 41

vii

2.21 Map of surface salinity in the waters overlying the
continental shelf off the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay,
28 June - 2July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
3.1 Longitudinal variations of the surface and mid-depth
concentrations of suspended sediment along the axis of
the upper Chesapeake Bay following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . 49
3.2 Longitudinal variations of the surface and mid-depth
concentrations of suspended sediment along the axis of
the upper Chesapeake Bay following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . 51
3.3 Distribution of total suspended sediment concentration
in mg/l on 24 June 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
4.1 Counts of total bacteria (no./ml) on sea water agar from
samples of Patuxent River water taken at the end of the
C.B.L. pier at Solomons, Maryland . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

4.2 Number of infectious hepatitis cases reported in
Maryland during the summer of 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

4.3 Locations of sampling stations for VIMS' nutrient studies 68
4.4 Levels of total, noncrystallinic zinc in-Rappahannock
River sediments before and after Hurricane Agnes
(HN03 extracted). .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
4.5 Levels of total, noncrystallinic copper in Rappahannock
River sediments before and after Hurricane Agnes
(HN03 extracted) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
5.1 Heterotrophic potential (Vmax glucose) of surface waters
(at 1 met r depth) of the Lower Chesapeake Bay (mg
glucose/@/hr) 24-27 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
5.2 Mean settled volume in ml/m3 of zooplankton in lower
Chesapeake Bay, monthly cruises August 1971-September 1972. 84
5.3 Mean settled volume during cruises of lower Chesapeake 85
Bay immediately before and after Tropical Storm Agnes . . .

6.1 Map showing the areas with major losses of soft-shell
clams and oysters from Hurricane Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . 92

6.2 Temporal variation of the locations of the 1% and 5%
isohalines at the 6 and 20 ft. levels along the axis
of the Bay following Agnes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

viii

PREFACE

Some exceptional natural events occur without warning and some, thanks
to recent scientific progress, are accurately predicted. "Agnes" of 1972
was partially forecast but developed surprising features. It was at
various times a Tropical Disturbance, a Tropical Depression, a Tropical
Storm, a Hurricane, and an Extratropical Storm. The massive downpour
it yielded during 19-23 June, especially on 21 and 22 June, surprised and

troubled most people in the Chesapeake Bay watershed where it fell.

Scientists who have observed the great estuarine system that receives

the fresh water from this watershed have studied the environment and biota

of the Bay with increasing competence. They have learned much about the

dynamic natural pa tterns of salinity, temperature, sediments, nutrient

chemicals, and of the even more complex patterns of response to this

environmental change by large populations of animals and plants.

As the Agnes rains fell, such scientists (as well as engineers and

hundreds of others concerned with the welfare of the public) became aware

that a highly extraordinary event was occurring. By simple coincidence,
the members of the Chesapeake Bay Research Council were together at a

Chesapeake Bay Citizens' Conference in Fredericksburg, Va., where the

meeting room was flooded by the heavy rains. These three scientists,

directing the largest research laboratories on the Bay, almost immediately

initiated surveys and special research designed to comprehend the

effects of a rare and large-scale natural event and, especially, to assist

in measuring and ameliorating the damages to human interests in the Bay

and its tributaries. The Council, informal in structure, has served

effectively in several major programs requiring coordination and

complementary action.

i x

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science mounted a wide variety of

physical, chemical, and biological studies in the southern half of the

Bay and on the Continental Shelf. The Chesapeake Bay Institute rescheduled

boat time and expertise to observe some of the physical and chemical

changes in the Bay and the sediment input from the Susquehanna River.

The Chesapeake Biological Laboratory began extensive observations of

effects on shellfish and other organisms in the northern half of the Bay

and its tributaries. It is appropriate to note that most of these

urgent projects were begun without assurance that financial support would

be provided. The opportunity and emergency existed, and had to be met.

Administrative and even fiscal arrangements would, hopefully, be

straightened out later. The Council began to assist in effective coordina-

tion among its members and with the many other groups obtaining data, and

certain specific joint plans were developed.

The Corps of Engineers also made immediate response. Aside from its

truly heroic work to protect life and minimize property damage along the

Susquehanna and other tributaries, it supported attention to the

partially invisible but profound alterations of the nation's greatest

estuary. Telephone calls by the Corps to the Council assured modest but

immediate financial support for field studies of hydrographic changes

and damage to the rich shellfish beds and other valuable fisheries.

Additional vigorous efforts have been made by the Baltimore District,

the Philadelphia District, the North Atlantic Division, and the Office of

the Chief of Engineers to assure accurate assessment of damage and assist

recovery in the Bay region.

One of the specific elements of the Corps' program is this early

summary. The District Engineers of the Philadelphia District contracted

with the Council, through the University of Maryland as Coordinator, to

provide the best possible estimates of all known effects. We have done

so, with generous and valuable assistance from a large number of private,

state, and federal groups who also observed and recorded with care. These

contributors are specifically identified in the Acknowledgements section
of this report. We hope that they find value in this report to repay

their efforts.

Many sources of support in addition to the Corps have helped to make
this summary possible. The Chesapeake Bay Institute and Chesapeake

Biological Laboratory are receiving partial funding from the State of

Maryland and the National Science Foundation. The Virginia Institute of

Marine Science has been helped by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Agency and the Food and Drug Administration. The timely response of

these agencies to this emergency is greatly appreciated.

We wish to express our commendation to Dr. Aven Andersen, CBL;

Dr. Jackson Davis and Dr. Maurice Lynch, VIMS; and Dr. Jerry Schubel, CBI

for completing the task of extracting a report from dozens of sources.

They have effectively persuaded and coerced many associates inside and

outside of the Council, and then blended the parts into an organized,

responsible report. It is fair to note that much of this work was

accomplished prior to the conclusion of administrative arrangements

assuring financial support. These scientists, too, answered the need and

arranged the details later. We appreciate their efforts and ability.

Finally, we would emphasize that this is indeed an early summary.

Some studies will be continued for a year or more, and many interpretations

must be deferred for various reasons. We believe that these early estimates

will be verified, and we know that valuable additional comprehension of

the coastal estuaries of the nation will emerge from these and other

studies of Hurricane Agnes. This new knowledge will partially offset the

enormous cost of the storm in property damage and human misery.

Chesapeake Bay Research Council

L. Eugene Cronin, CBL, Chai man
William J. Hargis, Jr., VIMS
Donald W. Pritchard, CBI

xii

SUMMARY

1. Hurricane Agnes, the costliest hurricane in the nation's history,

entered Chesapeake Bay on 21 June 1972, bringing record rainfalls and de-

structive floods to most of the Bay's drainage basins, although since the

rains fell mostly to the west and north of the Bay, the rivers on the eastern

shore (Delmarva'Peninsula) were only moderately affected. The Susquehanna

River, for example, discharged a peak flow of 1,130 cfs, the greatest

instantaneous flow recorded in the 185 years that records have been kept.

2. The salinity of the Bay, already low because of an unusually wet

winter and spring, was depressed to record lows by the massive input of

freshwater. The 1%. isohaline was displaced downbay to the mouth of the

Little Choptank River two days after the Susquehanna crested. In the

Potomac River the surface salinity remained less than 5%o throughout July

all the way to the mouth.

3. Waters in all the major estuaries responded similarly to the flood:

a) estuarine waters were displaced downstream, b) compensating upstream

flows of more-saline waters along the bottom produced strong vertical

salinity stratifications, c) the waters mixed vertically, d) the vertical
sa linity gradients moderated, and e) the salinity patterns returned toward

normal.

4. The estuaries on the eas tern shore were only moderately flooded.

They acted, therefore, as reservoirs of salt water and helped the Bay's

salinity return toward normal faster than it would have if they had also

been flushed out.

5. The floods dumped record amounts of sediment into Chesapeake Bay.

The Susquehanna River, for example, discharged more sediment between 22

xiii

and 28 June 1972 than the total mass of sediment it had discharged during

the past 10 years, and perhaps during the past 50 years. Sediment levels

in the upper bay remained abnormally high until late July.

6. The important geological effect of Hurricane Agnes on the Bay was

not erosion but the deposition of sediments. If the Agnes sediments remain

as a distinct layer they will aid us in understanding the Bay's past and

in predicting its future.

7. The Agnes floods washed tons of raw and partially treated sewage

into the Bay. As a result, the levels of bacteria in Bay water rose sharply,

as did the levels of nutrients.

8. The high levels of bacteria caused parts of the Bay to be closed to

water-contact sports and shellfish harvesting.

9. The effect of Hurricane Agnes on heavy metals and pesticides in the

Bay is unclear at this time. Many samples were collected but only a few have

been analyzed. In the Rappahannock River the levels of total noncrystallinic

copper were greatly elevated after Agnes; the levels of noncrystallinic zinc,

however, remained normal. Agnes apparently had no effect on the levels of

chlorinated hydrocarbons in the lower bay.

10. The flood waters flushed much of the plankton out of the upper bay,

and from the upper parts of the estuaries of the major rivers. Although many

plankton samples were collected, many remain to be analyzed and interpretation

of the results is difficult because of the paucity of background data.

11. The influx of nutrients stimulated phytoplankton blooms, including

"mahogany tides."

12. The low salinities brought on by Hurricane Agnes killed many of the

Bayls oysters. Potomac River oysters suffered the greatest losses, with more

than half of the marketable oysters dying. High mortalities also occurred to

xiv

oysters living on beds north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and in the upper

ends of the estuaries of the major rivers. Oysters living farther down the

Bay or farther down the rivers survived better. In the James River losses

amounted to 5 or 10%. Losses were even less in the York River, about 2%.

The economic loss to Maryland and Virginia for 1972 comes to about $12

million on an exvessel basis.

13. Oyster reproduction apparently failed in 1972. Low salinities pre-

vented spawning, or killed the larvae, or did both. As of 1 October there

had been an almost complete absence of set in Maryland or Virginia.

14. Many oyster drills, serious predators of oysters, were killed,

but a predatory flatworm survived. If oyster seed were available, new

areas could be put into oyster production.

15. Low salinity killed most of the Bay's adult soft-shell clams.

A few adults and some seed survived, but the fishery for 1972 became a

complete disaster, resulting in a loss of $4 million, exvessel price.

16. Losses of hard clams in Virginia were high, but a total economic

loss has not yet been estimated.

17. Blue crabs apparently sustained little damage. Most juvenile and

adult crabs avoided the unfavorable water, although a few died from low

levels of dissolved oxygen, sediment, or red tide toxins. Results of

early surveys indicate that crabs reproduced successfully in 1972, but a

full evaluation of crab reproduction will not be ready until the spring

of 1973.

18. With the exceptions of their eggs and larvae, finfish apparently

suffered little damage. Most moved downbay and off the shoals. A

tremendous number of eggs and larvae were swept out of the nursery grounds;

their fate mi ght never'be known.

19. Most of the troublesome medusae and many of the polyps of the

stinging sea nettles were destroyed by the low salinities. Some of the

resistant cysts, however, survived. Although Agnes made the sea nettles

disappear for 1972, they can return next year.

20. Low salinities drastically reduced or displaced a number of

sponges and tunicates but caused other fouling organisms, including rope

grass, sea anemones, and bryozoans, to thrive.

21. Hurricane Agnes temporarily disrupted recreational uses of

Chesapeake Bay. Water-contact activities and'shellfish harvesting were

prohibited in parts of the Bay because of sewage pollution. Boating was

seriously hindered by the floating debris. Sport fishing declined because

the fish were displaced from their normal habitats.

22. Wildlife on the Bay was little affected by the storm. Some water-

fowl were displaced because some shallow-water vegetation in the upper Bay

was destroyed. On the other hand, some new islands formed by the flood may

provide new areas for wildlife.

23. The Hurricane and floods apparently caused no damage to historical

sites and artifacts on the tidewater areas of Chesapeake Bay.

xvi

RECOMMENDATIONS

Hurricane Agnes presented scientists with an unprecedented opportunity

to document the effect of a catastrophic flood on the environment and

organisms in a complex estuarine system. Adequate analysis of the conditions

existing before, during, and after the flood would provide us with many new

insights into the nature of the estuary and would aid us in predicting the

effects of future events, natural or man-made and in mini mizing the damage to

human interests.

It is not possible to recapture all of the desirable data about the

effects of the storm sequence on the Bay system, but there are several

specific opportunities for enhancing the value of the considerable number of

studies reported in this early summary. We recommend that the following

program, as well as other pertinent special studies, be completed:

1. Complete the analysis of the samples collected during and after the

storm; make the data available in a readily accessible and usable form.

2. Quantify the repopulation or reinvasion of the species that were

affected by Hurricane Agnes, especially the American oyster and the soft-

shell clam.

3. Conduct an excellent analysis of the hydrography of Chesapeake Bay

until, at least, I July 1973, the anniversary of the hurricane.

4. Conduct, at least until 1 July 1973, a sufficient analysis of the

changes in the sediments of Chesapeake Bay.

5. Undertake and quantitatively evaluate any remedial measures that

are practical to rehabilitate the fisheries decimated by the storm, especially

those in the estuary of the Potomac River.

6. Examine the long-range programs for Chesapeake Bay. Modify these

program on the basis of the new knowledge contained in this report.

xvi i

For example, much of the interpretation of the effects of Agnes on the biota

of the Bay has been hampered by the absence of good baseline data. Under-

take the essential long-term studies to provide baseline data on the dynamics

of animal populations.

Catastrophic changes are important to the environment and organisms of

estuarine systems like the Chesapeake Bay and to man. Studies of the unique

Agnes storm should provide many new insights and practical benefits. Continued

effort and support from all levels is clearly justified.

xviii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Information contained in this report comes from a number of agencies

and individuals. The compilers thank them all.

Chesapeake Bay Institute

The field work conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Institute for this

report was supported in part by the Oceanography Section, National Science

Foundation, N.S.F. Grant GA-36091; in part by a project jointly funded by

the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the U. S. Bureau of Sport

Fisheries and Wildlife with Dingell-Johnson Funds, Project F-21-2; and in
part by the U.S. Amy Corps of Engineers (Baltimore and Philadelphia Districts).

Coordinating the C.B.I. efforts was J. R. Schubel. Other individuals

who contributed assistance, information, and evaluations are:

W. B. Cronin: Temperature, salinity, and data reduction

T. W. Kana: Temperature, salinity, and suspended sediments

C. H. Morrow: Temperature, salinity, and suspended sediments

M. Glendening: Suspended sediments, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen

C. F. Zabawa: Suspended sediments, nutrients, and dissolved oxygen

L. Smith: Suspended sediments

V. Grant: Nutrients

I. Hopkins: Nutrients

Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Contributions from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory were supported
by the Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore and Philadelphia Districts), Columbia
Liquid National Gas Corporation, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
and the National Marine Fisheries Service (PL 88-309, PL 89-720). A. M. Andersen,

assisted by M. D. Bilger, K-Y. Chang, J. J. Grasela, and C. D. Keefe,

xix

coordinated the C.B.L. input. C.B.L. staff members who contributed

information are:

D. G. Cargo: Seanettles

C. J. Kucera: Bacteria

E. A. Dunnington: Oysters

D. H. Hamilton: Benthos

C. E. Lewis: Hydrography

R. E. Miller: Blue crabs

H. T. Pfitzenmeyer: Soft-shell clams

D. E. Ritchie: Salinity

S. D. Sulkin: Blue crabs

Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

The field work conducted by the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences

has been a coordinated effort involving essentially all departments and most of

the professional staff at VIMS. Specific support for Agnes work was provided
by the Amy Corps of Engineers (Baltimore and Philadelphia Districts),

Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, National

Marine Fisheries Service (PL 88-309, PL 89-720), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, and the National Science Foundation.

Coordinating the Agnes project at VIMS were W. J. Davis and M. P. Lynch.

Individuals who provided evaluations of data are:

E. P. Ruzecki: Hydrographic summaries

D. Haven: Oyster damages

J. A. Loesch and D. Haven: Hard clam damages

W. A. Van Engel: Crustacean evaluation

W. Hogman: Finfish assessment

J. D. Andrews: Oyster predator and fouling organism assessments

A. Ott, J. L. Wood and M. Rhodes: Bacteriological summary

M. N. Nichols: Sedimentation summary

W. G. MacIntyre and C. L. Smith: Turbidities and nutrient flux
in the southern Bay

P. L. Zubkoff and J. E. Warinner: Primary productivity and
heterotrophy potentials

G. C. Grant: Zooplankton assessment

R. J. Huggett: Hazardous material assessment

R. K. Dias: Economic assessment

0. Haven and R. Morales-Alamo: Stinging nettle assessment

J. Douglas, Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission:
Rehabi 1 i tati on

Appendix V lists the cooperating agencies that furnished VIMS with

logistic support.

Other State Agencies

Several other state agencies contributed data for this report.

The Virginia Department of Health and the Maryland Department of

Health and Mental Hygiene, concerned with health aspects from pollution and

possible high bacterial levels, began intensive sampling efforts, and the

Maryland Department of Natural Resources increased its fishery sampling.

Mr. Frank L. Hamons, Jr. (MDNR) provided much of the ftformation on soft-

shell clams. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission provided facilities

and equipment.

Federal Agencies

Several federal agencies and departments, namely the National Marine

Fisheries Service (Biological Laboratories in Oxford, Maryland; Sandy Hook,
New Jersey; and Woods Hole, Massachusetts), NASA, the Coast Guard, and the

U. S. Navy agreed to collect samples and make observations in the Bay and

xxi

around the Bay mouth. Mr. David B. Townsend of the NMF5 Laboratory at

Oxford provided information on soft-shell clams. The Environmental Data

Service, of course, provided the meteorological observations, and the

Geological Survey provided the hydrological data. Facilities, including

manned vessels, aircraft, and instruments, were provided by the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Navy, the Coast Guard, the Amy

Transportation Corps, the Corps of Engineers, the National Aeronautics and

Space Advinistration, and the U.S. Geological Survey (Division of Water
Resources). NASA and the Navy agreed to provide remote sensing from high

flying aircraft and satellites. The Annapolis Field Office of EPA provided

summaries of data on water quality.

Other Sources

Mr. William D. Clarke of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Ocean

Research Laboratory at Annapolis provided information on soft-shell clams.

Mr. Crosby Forrest of Poquoson, Virginia provided samples of oysters

for pesticide analyses.

Mr. Peter H. Smith of the National Trust for Historical Preservation

furnished information concerning damage to historical artifacts.

The Virginia Pilots' Association provided use of its pilot vessel as a

sampling station.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 A Brief History of Hurricane Agnes 1

Hurricane Agnes, the costliest hurricane in the nation's history,

entered Chesapeake Bay on 21 June 1972; months later its effects are

still evident. Agnes killed 122 Americans and destroyed an estimated

$3.5 billion worth of property. Reduced to a tropical storm when it reached

Chesapeake Bay, its winds did little damage (gusts reached 32 miles per hour

(mph) at Richmond, Va., 49 mph at Dulles International Airport, Va., and

39 mph at Baltimore, Md.). Not so its rainfall. Flood damage is estimated

at $222 million for Virginia and $110 million for Maryland and the District

of Columbia. For Chesapeake Bay proper, the disastrous effects of Agnes

came entirely from the flooding of the Bay with fresh water, debris,

sediments, and sewage.

The massive amounts of fresh water released into the drainage basins

of Chesapeake Bay caused record flood levels in most of the Bay's rivers and

streams, especially the James, Rappahannock, Potomac, Patuxent, and Susquehanna

Rivers. Virginia's James River crested at 36.51 feet on 23 June; a comparable

level was recorded only once before--in 1771. The Susquehanna River at

Conowingo, Maryland, crested at 36.83 feet on 24 June with a flow of 1,130,000

cubic feet per second--the greatest height and instantaneous flow ever

recorded for the Susquehanna in the 185 years that records have been kept.

Not only was the rainfall causing these conditions unusually heavy, but the

heavy rains persisted for several days.
Agnes began as a depression near Cozumel off the Yucatan Coast on 15 June
1972 (Figure 1.1). By 16 June, the system intensified to a tropical storm
with unusually large circulation which, by 17 June, began moving northward.

I Much of this section is based on a 1972 report by Richard M. DeAngelis
and William T. Hodge for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

S
HURRICANE AGNE
JUNE 14-23, 1972

;5!,

(Td) TROPICAL DISTURBANCE
14 (Tc) TROPICAL DEPRESSION (Winds less than 39 m.p.h.)
15 16 17 (T) TROPICAL STORM (Winds 39 through 73 m.p.h.)
(H) HURRICANE (Winds ?4 m p.h. or highe*r)

A A AA A A Tropicol D is turba rice
........ Tropical Depression (development stage)
- - - - - - Tropical Storm stage
Hurricane stage
+++++ Extratropical stage
Depression dissipation stage
0 Position at [email protected]. E.S.T.
0 Position at [email protected]@ E.S.T.
U.S. DVAM@ff CV COAVA81a

Figure 1.1. Track of the center of Hurricane Agnes. Rains and winds extended
out from the stom center over long disantances. From DeAngelis
and Hodge, 1972.

- 3 -

By 18 June, hurricane-force winds developed. Agnes moved ashore across the

Florida panhandle on 19 June as a tropical storm. By 20 June, the storm had

weakened to a depress ion and continued moving northward across Georgia into

South Carolina. As the system moved northeastward across the Carolinas on the

21st and approached closer to the Atlantic Coast it intensified,and by the

evening of 21 June,as it reached Virginia, it was a rejuvenated tropical storm.

On 22 June, the storm moved off the Virginia Capes, up the east coast, across

the western Long Island, and inland near New York City. By late evening of 22

June, the system entered its extratropical stage and on 23 June moved further inland and

swung southwestward bringing more heavy rain into Pennsylvania. By 25 June, the

system had looped to the east-north east and moved into Canada.
2
1.2 Rainfall

During the week preceeding Agnes, frontal activity brought soaking rain

to the region from Virginia to New England. Totals over Maryland

and Eastern Virginia ranged from 0.5 to 2 inches although local amounts were

reported in excess of 4 inches in Virginia and 6 inches in Maryland. Two to

three inch rainfalls were common in Central Pennsylvania while through the rest

of the state and over central New York, averages were near three inches. Then

Agnes brought her deluge (Figure 1.2)

In Virginia, showers on the 17 and 18 June dumped up to three inches of rain

over upper and central James River sub-basins. The main Agnes rainshield reached

southern Virginia by 20 June. Heaviest rainfall fell on 21 and early 22 June.

Rains totaled 4 to 10 inches and quickly filled small tributaries in the upper

James and central Virginia counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The

average for the James River drainage basin was 6.12 inches from 19-23 June. The

heaviest rainfall during this 4-day period averaged 8 inches on the upper

Appomattox.

2Based on DeAngelis and Hodge, 1972.

80*00, 79*00" 78*00' 77 00' 76 00' 75*00,
. .......... ..... ................
...... ...... ....... ......
...... .... ........
........... ....... ........
........... .... ...
X X

...... ....

. . . . . . . yjl.
.. . . . . . . . .

..........

............
420 ..... . 424
Do'

..... ................
.X
..............
.... ......... . . . . . .

...... .........

..............
......... ...........

. . . . . . . ......
X 4:. . . . . . .
41- ...... ... ......
00. .......
41.
00
.. ..... .. . . .......
. . . . .... ..........

................ ...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .............. ....... ....
.......... . . . . .
........ ..................
...... ........
...... .......
x..

Do"::::: ...
00
............. . .... ..
.............

........... .........
......... .....
............
. ... ........ .. .......
391 ......
00 .......
....... 39-
V1 Do'

.............
DEL.

.......... ...

...... 38*
Do'

...........
..........
..........
..............

37'::"
................
00' - ..............
........... . -x.
....... ............ 37*
...... ......
00

KI METERS
1 0 D 30 40 50
0 2@O 30 !,0
% . .....
TATUTE MILES
ftx:
RAINFAL
0 nches)

... .............
........... ...
......................
@.'.@HURRICANE A G N E S
....... . ....... ..... 36*
........ ........
........ .......
..................
. ... . ....
.............. Do'
Kx TR...

80boo,
00
79 0' ?800(Y 7 TOW 76000' 75*00'

Figure 1.2. Total rainfall from Hurricane Agnes in the drainage basins
of Chesapeake Bay (V.I.M.S.).

In Maryland, heavy rains in less than 24 hours, on 21 and 22 June,

broke records. Maryland's heaviest rains fell in the north central part of

the state where totals set all-time records. Westminster, in Carroll County,

received the highest total of 14.68 inches. Woodstock, in Howard County, was

second with 13.85 inches. Rainfalls of 11.55 inches at Westvinster and 11.35

inches at Woodstock on 21 June are among the greatest one-day rainfalls in

Maryland's history.

The District of Columbia (National Airport) reported rainfall totaling

7.19 inches for 21-22 June.
1.3 River Flows 3

These heavy rains caused disastrous flash floodings and record or

near-record discharges of the streams and rivers flowing into Chesapeakp Bay.

The Agnes flood-waters damaged or destroyed many stream gauging stations,

therefor indirect methods and computations were employed at many stations

to estimate the peak discharges that occurred. Nevertheless, it is clear

that the flooding resulting from the passage of tropical storm Agnes was of

record or near record proportions throughout the drainage basin of Chesapeake

Bay. According to preliminary estimates by the Water Resources Division of

the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) the peak discharges of many

of the streams in the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin were of a magnitude that

is likely to occur on the average only once in more than 100 years.

In Virginia, record flood waters reached the fall line in most of the

major river basins (Table 1.1). The James crested at 36.5 feet at the

Richmond City Locks on 23 June, topping the previous record high of 30.0

feet recorded in 1771. In the Appomattox, a 16-foot floodcrest at MS No. 1

bridge near the confluence with the James matched the 1940 record of 16 feet.

3Much of this section is based on a 1972 report by J.C. Kammerer, et al.
for the U.S. Geological Survey.

Table 1.1. June 1972 flood peaks (in cubic feet per second) resulting from
Hurricane Agnes in selected Virginia river basins.

Station June 721 June 70 mean 2. Maximum recorded 2
(date)

James River Basin
James River-Richmond 319,000 1,184 222,000 August 21, 19693
Appomattox River- 23,000 161 (no historical data)
Matoaca

Chickakhominy River- 1,740 34.9 7,710 August 15, 1955
Providence Forge

York River Basin
Mattaponi River- 17,000 125 12,300 August 23, 1969 3
Beulahville
Pamunkey River- 28,000 223 40,300 August 23, 1969 3
Hanover

Rapeahannock River
Basin

Rappahannock River- 114,000 521 140,000 October 16, 1942
Fredericksburg

1Provided by Water Resources Division, Geological Survey, U.S. Dept. of
Interior, 200 West Grace Street, Richmond, Virginia 23220
2From 1970 Water Resources Data for Virginia, U.S. Dept. of Interior,
Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, 1971.
3Hurricane Camille floods.

Throughout the Virginia region, highest flows of record occurred at 40

stations and peak flows at some 25 stations have equalled or exceeded those

of once in 100 year floods. In the James alone it was estimated that .134

times the normal amount of freshwater entered during the flood period.

Although the flood reached record heights in the James, its relative

contribution on a percentage basis for the Chesapeake as a whole was only
13%, or 5% less than average (Figure 1.3).

The largest input from the storm, 64%, came from the Susquehanna, the

river with the largest basin and the one receiving the heaviest rainfall.

Many other rivers also reached record flows. Table 1.2 contains the peak

recorded flows for selected rivers in Maryland and the District of Columbia,

and for comparison includes the highest flows previously recorded for those

rivers.

The preliminary reports of the Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) Office of

the U.S.G.S. indicate record flooding of the Susquehanna River. This river

is the long-term supplier of approximately 50% of the total fresh water

input to the entire Chesapeake Bay estuarine system, and the source of more
than 85% of the total fresh water input to the Bay above the mouth of the

Potomac. The Susquehanna has a long-term average discharge of about 35,000

cubic feet per second (cfs) into the Chesapeake Bay. Its average annual

flow pattern is typical of mid-latitude rivers--high flow in early spring

produced by snow-melt and rain-fall, then tapering off during summer and

early fall.. The June 1972 monthly average discharge of the Susquehanna at

Harrisburg of about 165,000 cfs was the highest average discharge of record

for any month, and was more than 9 times the average June discharge over
this same interval. The average daily discharge of the Susquehanna on 24

June 1972 of 918,000 cfs was the highest average daily flow ever recorded

N. Y.

AG
PERCENr INFL OW

L--------
7t J
N. J.

L M4 OR

ArLA NrIC

OCEAN

CHESAPEAKE
DRAINAGE BAS N NO OL

Figure 1.3. Percent of the total Agnes flood-water inflow into Chesapeake
Bay for the major drainage basins (M.M.S.).

Table 1.2. June 1972 flood peaks (in cubic feet per second) resulting from
Hurricane Agnss in selected rivers of Maryland and the District
of Columbia.

Station Maximum during June 1972 Previous Maximum

Susquehanna River Basin
Susquehann, at
Conowingo, Md. 1,130,000 434,000 (1970)

Gunpowder River Basin
Western Run, at Western
Run, Md. 38,000 5,590 (1956)

Patapso River Basin
PatapscoT-.,at
Hollofield, Md. 80,600 19,000 (19561

Patuxent River Basin
Patuxent R., near Laurel, Md. 26,000 11,800 (1971)
Little Patuxent R., near Savage,
Md. 35,400 6,280 (1952)

Potomac River Basin
T.-
Monocacy Yiear Frederick, Md. 82,400 56,000 (1889)
Potomac R., near
Washington, D.C. 360,000 484,000 (1936)
N.W. Branch Anacostia R.,
near Hyattsville, Md. 16,600 7,000 (1966)

aFrom: Taylor, K.R., 1972.

- 10

at that gaging station (185 years of record) and exceeded the previous high

by approximately 33 percent. The instantaneous peak flow of 1,130,000 cfs

reported at 05:45 a.m. on 24 June 1972 was the highest instantaneous flow

ever reported for the Susquehanna. Whereas the Susquehanna normally contributes

about 50% of the total fresh water going into Chesapeake Bay, during the

Agnes flood it contributed 64%, exceeding the normal input by about 14%.

Figure 1.4 shows the daily average discharge of the Susquehanna at the

Conowingo Hydroelectric Plant near the mouth of the River for the period

I January 1972 through 31 August 1972. Although Conowingo is not an official

U.S.G.S. gaging station, its proximity to the head of the Chesapeake Bay and

the continuity of its record even under flood conditions makes this station

highly useful in any analysis of fresh water inflow to the Bay. Figure 1.5

shows the ensemble average by month of the Susquehanna River flow at

Conowingo over the period 1929-1966, and the monthly average discharge for

January through August of 1972. The ensemble average reveals the average

seasonal flow pattern of the Susquehanna, and the compari'son of the two

curves clearly shows the departure of the flow during 1972 from the long-term

average. Even after above-average flows during the three preceding months,

the flows during June and July stand out remarkably.

The Potomac is the second largest river debouching into the Bay,

normally accounting for approximately 19% of the total fresh water input.
The Potomac also carried very high flows following Agnes. On the day the

river crested, 24 June 1972, some lowland park and industrial areas of

Washington, D.C. were flooded. The daily average discharge of the Potomac

near Washington, D.C. on 24 June 1972 reached approximately 356,600 cfs--the

fourth highest daily average discharge in the 83 years of record. It was

exceeded only by the floods of 2 June 1889, 19 March 1936 (484,000 cfs), and

280- 1000
975
270- 950
260- 925
900
250- 875
240- 850
230- 825
800
220- - 775
210- - 750
- 725
200- - 700
190- - 675
- 650
180- - 625
170- - 600
- 575
160-
550
150- - 525
ro
E 140- - 500
C\j - 475
0 130- - 450 0
x 120- - 425 -x
i 10 400
37
100- 350
90- 325
300
80- - 275
70- - 250
60- - 225
- 200
50- - 175
40- - 1 50
- 125
30- - 100
20- 75
50
25
0 0
LD'EC
'-LLLJ -L'-L' JLLU'N OV
JAN FEB' MAR APR MAY JUL' AUG' SEP1OCT1 N
1972

Figure 1.4. Daily average discharge of the Susquehanna River at Conowingo,
Md., 1 January - 31 August 1972 (C.B.I.).

6000
Ensemble Monthly Average 1929-1966- -200,000
Monthly Average Jan.-Aug 1972 ------ - 180,000
5000-

-160,000
4000- -140,000 T
-120,000
3000-
100,000

E . 80,000
2000-
- 60,000
------- - 40,000
1000-

20,000
01 0
JAN FEB r MAR APR ';AY JUN 'JUL AU6 A7EP OCT"Z@V DEC

Figure 1.5. Ensemble monthly average of the Susquehanna riverflow at
Conowingo, Md., over the period 1929-1966, and the monthly
average discharge for January through August of 1972. (C.B.I.)
.............................I...........................

- 13 -

17 October 1942 (447,000 cfs). The monthly average flow of the Potomac

River at Washington, D.C. for June 1972 of 47,000 cfs was more than 6 times

the median flow for June during the past 30 years. Figure 1.6 is a graph

of the daily average discharge of the Potomac River near Washington, D.C.

for June 1972. Figure 1.7 shows the monthly discharge of the Potomac River

near Washington, D.C. for January 1971 through June 1972, and the median

monthly average discharge over the past 30 years.

In contrast to the rivers on the western side of the Bay, Agnes

caused little severe flooding of the rivers on the Delmarva Peninsula
(the Chester, Choptank, Nanticoke, Pokomoke, and Wicomico, to name the

major ones). Not only are the drainage basins of these rivers small, but

most of the rain fell miles to the west of them (Figure 1.2).

In summary, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the total

combined fresh water input to the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system during

June 1972 resulted in an average discharge over the month of 325,000 cfs--the

highest combined monthly discharge for any month during at least the past
21 years. Of this total, the Susquehanna contributed an estimated average

of approximately 186,000 cfs, or more than 57 percent of the total.

130 -450

120- -

-400
110-

100- -350

90
-300
80-

T -250
70-

rIO
E 60-
200 0
C%j
0 50- x

x
40- 1 50

30- 100

50
10-

0 L 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
June (1972-)

Figure 1.6. Daily average discharge of the Potomac River near Washington,
D. C., for June 1972 (C.B.I.).

15 -

Potomac River near Washington, D.C.
Drainage or 11, 560 sq. mi.
(0 0 80 T-177
0 F5 .1 1 1 11111 11111
z U 50-
U.1

D
C) ir 0
x w
0-
10

W u- 5-
CC L)
ca
=) 2-
L)
Cf) U-
EO
DJFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND
1971 1972

Figure 1.7. Monthly average discharge of the Potomac River near Washington,
D. C., for January 1971 through June 1972 (-), and the median
monthly average discharge over the past 30 years

- 16 -

SECTION 2. SALINITY PATTERNS

2.1 General

The late winter of 1971 and the early spring of 1972 was an unusually

"wet" period with river inflow to the Bay well above average. In fact,

the discharge of fresh water from the two major rivers, the Susquehanna and

Potomac, for the 10-month period August 1971 through May 1972 had exceeded the

long-term mean flow for that same 10-month period by over 50%. Consequently,

the salinities in the Chesapeake Bay and in its tributaries were already

well below the normal values for early summer before tropical storm Agnes

passed across the watershed of the Bay.

2.2 The Upper Bay

With the flooding from Agnes, salinities in the upper Chesapeake Bay fell

sharply, such that at any given position the salinity reached values less

than any previously recorded for that position. The lag between the time of

maximum fresh water discharge and the time of minimum salinity varied with

position and depth. The fact that the fresh water discharges from all five of

the major rivers and from many of the minor streams were long-term record highs

resulted in minimum salinities being reached almost everywhere in the surface

layers of the upper Chesapeake Bay (defined for purposes of this report as
the portion of the Bay above the mouth of the Potomac River) within the
period 26 to 29 June. In some reaches of the upper Bay minimum salinities
in the near bottom waters were not attained, however, until about 15 July.

Figures 2.1 and 2.2 show the variation in salinity along the axis of
the Chesapeake Bay from the head of the Bay at Havre de Grace to the mouth
of the Potomac River, on specific dates after Agnes. Figure 2.1 gives curves
for the longitudinal salinity variation of the surface and bottom waters as
observed on four surveys: three weeks before the storm (6-7 June), just after
the inflow of fresh water into the Bay crested (26-29 June), early July (6-7
July) , and the mi ddl e of July (14-15 July) .

SALINITY Mo)

0 U 0 Ln 0 0 Ln
0
m
r-j o co Cc -92
0 C:
c W x - SF
m 0
(ADO0 0 0 -92
0 0--h cm X LW
=C+ 0 0. rn
m0C+
91,
=r 00
Mir+
ca -A -K 0, 9113
l< 0
CD -4 ;0 c
Ln
MZ 0 90i
<
0) -90
-n 0
-0-5 ma
tn
00 Q,* C+ (n
C+ C+ C: o (Bo)
(n -85
,<s =r C: OD
(D (A (D --+i rno
0) M
>
Z o 84
C+ z
(D >
< (Po
CD
O*M C+ >
C+ < 0
CL M 6+
0) m a rn -83
ar C+ W
0 0 0 --4
a m
C+ Jw --a
CIO -J. C)
C+ 0
sw =r;;h >
C+ C+ 0 -
o -@. rn
(D
C+ C+ r,
z C- -4
mca cr) -81
cn rQ
-10 ro C-

03 -1 Lo C+

-4
m 4- IN
t-0 0)0m --I @z -4
m 0
--h -4
-41 N
C+ x (n I I t I I k I a 1 1 IJ80
0-h (D
IC+
(Dm
s

STATIONS

96
0 0
0 r) >,OD OD -a CD Iq
C\j LL cli 0 0 C9 L0 'j-0 ff) 0
a) cn a) o) o) o) a) -OD OD CD OD CD
15 1 1 1 1 . I I I I I I I
SURFACE 9 Aug. 68

10-
-16-17 Aug.72 -

5- 5 Au,

24 July 72
0-

BOTTOM 5 Aug. 72
-z 20- 9 Aug. 68
-i

15- /16-17 Aug. 72

Z2-24 July 72
10-
z
.7

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
DISTANCE FROM MOUTH OF SUSQUEHANNA (HAVRE DE GRACE) IN KILOMETERS

Figure 2.2. Variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the axis of
the Bay from its head at Havre de Grace to the mouth of the
Potomac River estuary on specific dates during late July and August
following Agnes. Data from a more typical year are also shown for
comparison. (C.B.I.) 22-

19 -

the middle of July (14-15 July), for the surface and the bottom.

Also shown on this figure is the longitudinal salinity variation during

a more normal year, as depicted by the curve marked 11 July 1968.

Figure 2.2 covers the period 22 July through 17 August 1972. For

comparison with these curves the data for 9 August 1968 are also given.

Note that by the 26 June 1972, two days after the Susquehanna crested,

the Bay was fresh (less than 0.5Q from top to bottom all the way south to

Love Point at the northern end of Kent Island. The salinities of the surface

waters of the Bay were 1Y. or less from the head of the Bay to the mouth of

the Little Choptank. About 3 weeks earlier, on 6-7 June 1972, the zone with

surface salinities less than M extended only to Tolchester, and the surface

salinity at the mouth of the Little Choptank was about 8.5%.

Longitudinal-vertical sections of the salinity distribution along the
axis of the Bay constructed from data collected on a series of surveys made

from three weeks prior to Agnes to about 10 weeks after Agnes are included

in Appendix 1.

2.3 The Potomac River Estuary

As was the case for the Susquehanna, fresh water flow in the Potomac

had been well above the normal seasonal flow regime for some 10 months prior

to Agnes. Thus the sharp decline in salinities resulting from the flooding

of the Potomac following Agnes were from a base line already depressed below

normal salinity values.

Figures2.3 and 2.4 give the variations in salinity along the axis of

the Potomac for the specified dates following the passage of Agnes, for the

surface and bottom waters. The Potomac normally has salinities suitable for

oyster production in the lower 40 miles of the estuary. On the 28th of June,

- 20

just 4 days after the inflow of fresh water crested at Little Falls above

Washington, D. C., salinities everywhere in the estuary above a depth
of about 16 feet were less than 5%. At the mouth of the estuary the salinity

of the upper 15 feet was between Mand 4Y.& Surface water with salinities

less than 1Yoextended downstream to within 11 nautical miles of the mouth

of the estuary.

This condition of having salinities less than 5%othroughout the upper
10 to 15 feet of the estuary all the way to the mouth extended through most

of the month of July. On the lst of August 1972 the salinities in the surface

layers at the mouth of the estuary were between Mand 6%., and surface waters

having salinities of less than Mextended to within 4 miles of the mouth

of the river.

By the 29th of August intrusion of more saline water along the bottom

and subsequent vertical mixing had increased surface salinities such that

water having salinities greater than Mwere found in the lower 27 miles

of the estuary at the surface, and in the lower 42 miles at the bottom.

Though by this date the surface salinities no longer have values lying

outside the expected range when considering the whole year, they are lower

than is usually found in late August-early September. Furthermore, the

large vertical variation in salinity is more typical of late spring than

of early fall.

It is of interest to note the mechanism of recovery of the Bay involves

up-estuary flow of more saline water in the deeper layers of the Bay, and

thence into tributaries such as the Potomac, with subsequent slow vertical

mixing of the salt into the low salinity surface waters. As a result the

vertical gradients in salinity (i.e., the differences between the more

saline deeper waters and the surface waters) were larger than any
previously recorded throughout much of the Chesapeake Bay and the Potomac

-n SALINITY Mo)

0
00
cn
__4 -
> 0 - CO c') (Alex
z 0
0 N --I
rn 0 - I -n
0
-n
0 S X w m m
E3 = _J* _% P 78
-0 (D V) -a. 0

0 C+
h _J. P72
0 :E
0 r-j C+ :3 >
(n
X 0 P66
z
C-) _h 0 G) P62
6-S C+ C+
C) 0 = --I
a a m 0
Z
P54
0 CD
_s 0
fD M 0 P48
0 (D
m 0-
CA >
C+ P 41
r_ Z8-
sw k (Mor
-1 0
C+ CD P36

rD
s C) IV rZ, P 30
m 0
(D
rD 0 Cb -
c- 1:@
p 21
C+ Cb
Ra
0 m 7K 0 (D P 16
0. (A - c
(A cu r- 5- -
C+ 0 0 ro
(D OD
0 K - N
C_ OD
m cn- C_ P08
E_ C_
C+ m C
-s -4- CD
-4 Pol
W

SALINITY

-n cn 0 cn 0 cn
-0. 0 0 cn

0 W
z 0 c (Alexandria)
0 N_
rn 0
0
0
rn
X Qj 0 - P78

-0 rD (A
Oj W a) 0
- P 72 (Ind ionhead

V)
0 =1 c+ (D 0
:2 a) =r ILA P66
c+ rD
0) -.0
:3 Z 0
C-) 0 G) P 62
;0 C+ I* --i
o =r 0-4
a (D z 0
W
(A
C GD_- P54 (Maryland PO
% i7) 0
0
(D rD n P48
I CD
C+ 0
'< (D 0) m -
(A = N
> 0 - P41
C+ 0. 0 44
( Morgantown)
z V
P36
cc+ ai
1< C+. m
'D
, 0
W
00 P30 (Cobb Is.)
ILA CA 0 N IZ11
0.0-0 W rn -4 N h.
-S (D W > rz
rD 0 40 c
0, -1. to
-4 P 21
C+ z N (D
'A n -1. 0 ( Ro ged Pt.)
0 (D P I
(A A U, >
C:I_ - c
(A 0) .0
= C+ Q.; F 0 >
0 CD - 0- c \ \-4
CA 0 go)-
= M 0 P08 (Yeocomico Rive
--I N
rn ::@ -
;D 0 V\ .\
0 rD W - POI (Point Lookout
OD - -4
01 111111111111111 1 1-1

- 23

River. For example, on the 31st of July at a point in theBay just north

of Point Lookout the surface salinity was 2.96%.while at the bottom some

55 feet below the surface the salinity was 22.22%.

Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity along the

axis of the Potomac River estuary following Agnes are shown in

Appendix 11.

2.4 The Patuxent River Estuary

The Patuxent River estuary responded to the flood waters of Agnes

much the same way as the Potomac did.
By 5 July the salinity was depressed far below normal (Figure 2.5).

Whereas the average surface salinity at Solomons, Maryland in July is
near 12%.(Beavan, 1960), the highest daily salinity reading for July 1972

was 4.8%.on 24 July, the lowest was 3.1% on 1 July. The salinity.throughout

the river, from Nottingham to the mouth, remained below 7%.,throughout July
(Figure 2.6).

Most of the salinity data for the Patuxent still needs to be analyzed.

But Judging from the salinities taken at Solomons, the salinity started

climbing upward in August and by October was only 1 or 2%.below normal.

2.5 Virginia's Estuaries

Flood waters resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes crested at the fall

line on 22 June in the Rappahannock River, on 23 June in the James River,

and on 23, 25,and 26 June in the York River System. The flood waters

affected the salinity structure of the estuaries associated with these

rivers in similar fashions but to varying degrees.

A cursory examination of available data indicates that each estuary

was subjected to an initial surge and rebound period similar to that

resulting from passage of a solitary wave. This surge/rebound

condition lasted a total of two to three days with the initial surge

0
**p
AVERAGE (1960-1971) 00000'

moo
'0100@
z 10
4@b

5 19 7 2

0
F M A M A S 0 N D

MONTHS

Figure 2.5. Monthly average salinities of the Patuxent River Solomons, Maryland
for 1972, compared to monthly averages for the years 1960-1971. (C.B.L.)

25 -
SOLOMONS BENEDICT4 NOTTINGHAM

Surface -0-10,11july 1959

W 5 July 1972

24JUIY19,72

10 j u I y 19 72
0
0
0

Bottom

10 10,11 July 1959---.-1-

5 J u I y 19 7 2

24 July1972

10 July 1972
0 A
5 10 is 20 25 30 35 40 45 so
mq""s

Distance from mouth in kilometers

Figure 2.6. variations in the surface and bottom salinities along the
axis of the Patuxent River from its mouth to Nottingham
on specific dates following Agnes. Date from July 1959
are shown for comparison. (C.B.L.)

- 26

translating fresh water (with salinities less than IQ downstream to a

point where channel depths were approximately 10 meters in the James and

Rappahannock and 6 to 7 meters in the York. This resulted in salinities

of Mor less 46 km (25 nautical miles) upstream from the river mouth in the

Rappahannock, and York Rivers and 55 km (30 nautical miles) in the James.

Approximately 20 days prior to the flood, salinities at these locations

averaged 8Y.., 3.5Y.,and 4%.respectively in the three estuaries.

The initial flood surge resulted in a downstream displacement of the

1Y. isohaline of approximately 4 km in the James and Rappahannock rivers

and 9 km in the York. The initial displacement occurred two days after the

flood crest passed the fall line in the James and Rappahannock Rivers and

approximately 8 days after crest passage in the York. Times of trans-

lation and position of the Misohaline provide sufficient information

to calculate the celerity (speed) of the flood crest in each estuary; they

are: 55 km per day in the James, 16 km per day in the York and 62 km per

day in the Rappahannock. The calculated speeds are reasonably consistent

with observations in the rivers because "chocolate" colored, debris-laden

water was observed in the vicinity of deep water shoals on the James River

on the evening of 24 June, one day after the flood crest passed Richmond

126 km upstream. (It should be noted that the James crested at Richmond on

23 June with a mean flow for the day of approximately 300,000 cfs whereas

the mean flow one day earlier was 150,000 cfs; hence, the observed debris

could have been material moved one day prior to the day of crest passage

at Richmond.) ?

The initial rebound effect was similar in each estuary: an upstream

encroachment of higher salinity hottom waters with little change in the

surfa@@P. sa"-Wty re-me. The net result 1r, e-, h estuary was a .aye!,

5 to ",c meters deep of extremely fresh water, a relatively strong

halocline; and a "pool" of higher salinity water at the bottom near the

mouth of each estuary. This rebound condition reached its maximum

intensity (relative to crest passage at the fall line) at 5 to 6 days

in the Rappahannock, 10 days in the York and 3 to 4 days in the James. The

five to ten meter halocline was an identifiable feature in the river estuaries,

in lower Chesapeake Bay and in coastal waters off Virginia Beach.

During the post-rebound period, the patterns of salinity in the
three estuari;s were different. The Rappahannock has a ten-meter sill at

its mouth with a 20-meter-deep basin behind it. The sill prevented access

of bottom waters from Chesapeake Bay to the lower Rappahannock. Surface

salinities were further depressed as flood waters moved down and out the

river. The strong halocline, which developed during the rebound period,

deteriorated and the pool of saltier water at the mouth of the Rappahannock

mixed with overlying waters to form what appeared to be a sectionally

homogeneous estuary with a salinity of Mat the mouth and 1%osome 60 km

upstream. This "worst case" condition occurred on 10 July, 18 days after

flood crest passage at the fall line (Figure 2.7).
TAPPAHA@NOCK BRIDGE NORRIS BRIDGE

00
5- 5%o
E lo- 80/00

CL
W 15-

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER ESTUARY
20-

75 70 65 60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH tkm)
Figure 2.7 Salinity distribution in the Ra.ppanannOCK tstuar@y on
0/4

e00

10 July 1972, 18 days after flood waters from Tropical
Storm Agnes crested at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

WEST POINT 28 - GLOUCESTER POINT

20/00 5%o
5-
100/00

10-

15-

20-
- YORK RIVER ESTUARY

25
1 1
60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH (km)

Figure 2.8 Salinity distribution in the York Estuary on 5 July 1972,
11 days after flood waters from Tropical Storm Agnes crested
at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

Conditions in the York Estuary were similar to those in the

Rappahannock but not as severe. The rebound effect, although evident,

failed to produce a strong halocline. The worst-case situation in the

York occurred on 5 July, eleven days after the flood crest passed the

fall line (Figure 2.8). After that time, salinities increased slowly all along

the York estuary but substantial vertical stratification was not evident
until 24 July some 30 days after the flood (Figure 2.9).

The James Estuary exhibited the most rapid response to the flood with
most depressed salinities measured on 28 June (Figure 2.10) 5 days after
crest passage at the fall line. After this date, salinities increased
with some consistency but s-trong vertical stratification was not evident
until 19 July (Figure 2.11) at which time bottom salinities at the mouth
were in excess of 25%. This situation was relatively short lived for the
strong vertical salinity gradient soon weakened resulting in an increase in

- 29 -

surface and upstream salinities but a decrease in bottom downstream salinities.
this trend persisted to conditions shown in Figure 2.12 where on 25 August

no strong vertical gradient was evident and the estuary showed a tendency

towards sectional homogeniety.

WEST POINT GLOUCESTER POINT

O@-

8%
10%0
5- 15*00

200/00

10-
25%o

20-

YORK RIVER ESTUARY

60 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH (km)

Figure 2.9. Salinity distribution in the York Estuary on 24 July
1972, 30 days after flood waters from Tropical Storm
Agnes crested at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

NEWPORT
DEEPWATER JAMES RIVER NEWS
SHIAL BR GE POINT
0- T I

5- 10/100 5000 10%0

10-

lo-

CL 20-
W

25- JAMES RIVER ESTUARY

50 -
45 40 35 50 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH (km)

Figure 2.10. Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 28
June 1972,5 days after flood waters from Tropical
Storm Agnes crested at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

NEWPORT
DEEPWATER JAMES RIVER NEWS
SHOAL BRIDGE POINT

0-
5%o---- 10%0 15%0
5-

20%0
10- 25%6-

15-

20-

25 JAMES RIVER ESTUARY

30
yo

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH (km)

Figure 2.11. Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 19 July
1972 26 days after flood waters from Tropical
Storm Agnes crested at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

NEWPORT
DEEPWATER JAMES RIVER NEWS
SHOAL BRIDGE P'l NT
0- .0,1 7
I op2%o 10%0
5- 50/6o 15 */,0 0
170/6o

10-

15-

Uj 70-

25- JAMES RIVER ESTUARY

30
45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0
DISTANCE UPSTREAM FROM MOUTH (km)

Figure 2.12. Salinity distribution in the James Estuary on 25
August 1972, 63 days after flood waters from Tropical
Storm Agnes crested at the fall line. (M.M.S.)

- 32

2.6 The Lower Bay and The Continental Shelf

Three sets of synoptic surface salinity measurements were obtained
in the lower Chesapeake Bay (below the Potomac) and over the adjacent
Continental Shelf area on 29 June to 3 July (Figure 2.13), 10 to 14 July
(Figure 2.14) and 17 to 19 July (Fig. 2.15). Approximately 120 surface salinity
samples were obtained (by helicopter) for each set. The lowest salinities in

these samples were found on 30 June, down-bay from the mouth of the Potomac
River (Figure 2.13). No evidence is available to indicate the origin (Susquehanna
or Potomac) of this freshened water.

It is evident that this surge of freshened water moved down the central

portion of the bay and was approximately 10 meters thick. The situation of minimum

bottom salinities and horizontal salinity gradients in the bay, occurred on

13 July (Fig. 2.16). After this time, salinities of bottom waters increased

while those of surface waters decreased until the highly stratified situation of
27 July (Fig. 2.17) resulted. As in the James estuary, the.salinities of waters

of lower Chesapeake Bay increased at the surface up-bay and decreased at

the bottom in the lower reached until the weak stratification of 31 August (Fig.

2.18) resulted.

Unlike the river estuaries, lower Chesapeake Bay was subjected to

several pulses of fresh water entering at differing times and locations. The

result was a more or less patchy distribution of surface salinities. Tidal

influences were evidence in the lower bay and associated river estuaries but

were greatly suppressed by water movement resulting from the flood pulses.

This suppression did not persist as flood waters left the bay off Cape Henry.

Results from shelf cruises indicate that large-volume pulses of

freshened surface water left the bay on the ebb tide and were separated from one

11%

1%%
30 JUNE,'72

%% %i
% W

4C
so JUNE.'

j
y,'72
UL

------------

3 JULY, '72 40

%%
%111
37 .5
2C

-----------
I JU 19712

13%LO

9 JUNE, 72

ITO
30 JUNE
1972

. . . . ... .............
to 14

Pro

M.O

16.0

MW
29 JUNE,72

76120 7 00

Figure 2.13. Surface salinities of lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore
shelf renion based on samples collected on 29, 3n June and
3 July 1972. (M.M.S.)

14 JULY, '72

I JUL 72

\\2.0 11-0

%Zo 11 JULY.'72
10 JULY, 'T2

200
19.0
vo
N
is
13.0 *-,--
15.0
44.
. . . ........

-IT.0

10 JULY,
1972

Figure 2.14. Surface salinities of lower rhesar)eakp Ra 'v and nearshore
shelf region based on samples collected on in, 11 and 14
July 1972. (V.I.MS.)

- 35

JULY

18 JUL

19 JULY
IAPI 19 re

ItI U LY, 19 72

4.0
9.0

%4.0

13.0
.. ... ... ... ..
..... ........
\Sjo PO
VB
N)

'G.0

14.0

170
18.0 0

74 W 2N,14 00

Figure 2.15. Surface salinities of lower Chesapeake Bay and nearshore shelf region
based on samples collected on 17, 18 and 19 July 1972. (VA.M.S.)

- 36

0
4-
10%0 15
8-
19%0

E
20-
24-
28-
32-
36-
40-

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

Figure 2.16. Salinity distribution along the axis of lower
Chesapeake Bay on 13 July 1972. (VA.M.S.)

0
4- 15%o
10 00
---------------- 118%o
8- 25000
12- 30%0
E
%MOO
20-
0624
028-
32-
36-
40-
44-

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (k m)

Figure 2.17. Salinity distribution along the axis of lower
Chesapeake Bay on 27 July 1972. (M.M.S.)

- 38

0
4-
8 15%o 200/oo 25%0

E 16-
%.00 -
= 20-
0.24
028-
32-
36-
40-
44.

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)
Figure 2.1P. Salinity distribution along the axis of lower
Chesapeake Bay on 31 August 1972. P.I.M.S.)

- 39 -

another by intrusions of saltier, shelf-derived water on the flood tide. This

feature is evident from data collected on 7-8 July (Fig. 2.19 and 2.20).

These figures also indicate that the flood-derived waters remained in the

upper 10 meters and tended to flow southward along the coast. The southward

flow shows plainly in Figure 2.21, a map of surface salinities over the

continental shelf between 28 June and 2 July 1972.

2.7 Present and Future Research

The temporal and spatial changes of the salinity distribution through-

out the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system and in the waters overlying the

adjacent continental shelf are being closely monitored. An intensive sampling

program was initiated during the period of flooding. Sampling will be

continued through at least one calendar year from the time of Agnes. This data

will not only be useful in documenting the recovery of the Bay to normal

salinity levels following such an event, but will also be useful for a

number of other purposes. The data will be useful for verifying the hydraulic

model. Verification that the model could reproduce the time-varying salinity

distribution observed under conditions as unusual as those associated with

Agnes would greatly increase confidence that the model could be used to

predict the consequences of man's activities that fall outside the range of

conditions used in the adjustment of the model. The data will also be

valuable in verifying numerical models of the time-varying salinity distribution

in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In addition, the physical data on

temperature and salinity are essential in interpreting the sequence of

biological changes that occurred following Agnes.

370 00'

CAP HENRY

A
655- 655- 655- 655-
B -.Q- - - - -.0 - - - - - -@0- -0 B
02 05 10 15

6'50- 650- 650- 650-
5d - C -0-- 0- - -0- -0 CI
RUDEEI 01 0-5 10 15
IN@ET

645- 645-
D D'
@5 10 15

640- 640- 640-
40'- E E'
0 10 15

FALSE '635- 635-
q- 0
CAPE 10 15

- \630-
36030- '0 Al
15

760 00' 50 40' 750 30'

Figure 2.19. Chart showing positions and designation of stations occuped
on VIMS Operation Agnes Cruise 1, 7 and P July 1972. Dashed
lines refer to salinity sections in fiqijres 2".20A through 2.20E.
(V.I.M.S.)

W W LU W
W z W _j
CL W
< =
0 ix-

is 20 22
0- 0
24%o 23.5-*24% 26%0 28%6
lo- 30%d .10
28%0 -

CL
W 3z%;,-
20- A -20
65i-02 650-03 645-05 r.4;-06 635-10 630-15

1820 22 24 26 28 22
0
270%-,_ 24 00
0
28 00 .28.57% 26 a 28%o
A
300/1 30Too
00

CL
W
20t B C
165i-OP. 65@-05 655-10 655-15 6550'_03 658-05 6556-10 650-15

0-
- 6%0 29%0 240 26 Y*0 28%0
10'.
30%e- -

CL
W
a 20.
D
654g-05 649-10 645-15 640-06 640-10 640-15

STATIONS

Figure 2.20. Salinitv sections of nearshore shelf region showina effect of flood
waters resulting from Tropical Storm Agnes. (M.M.S.)
a) Section along line A-A' of Figure 2.19.
b) Section along line B-B' of Figure 2.19.
@240@

c) Section along line C-C' of Fiqure 2.19.
d) Section along line P-D' of Fiqure 2.19.
e) Section alona line E-E' of Figure 2.19.

29 28 28 28 29 30
28 V11 72

16
+ 37

0 0 0 29 V11 72

3 32

3
o o 30 V11 72

290
30'x +

9
0 V111 72
30 8

28
22

0 2 V111 72

30 + + 36
0 0 29_w/j/ v11 72
24
3 1

26 32

3f '31 V// 72
32
30
30

/ IF

47 A,+ + + 35
7 60 '7150
o

Figure 2.21. Map of surface salinity in the waters overlying the continental
shelf off the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, 28 June to 2 July 1972.
(C.B.I.)

- 43 -

2.8 Summary

The estuaries of the Potomac, Patuxent, James, York, and Rappahannock

Rivers, and Chesapeake Bay proper responded somewhat similarly to the flood

waters of Hurricane Agnes. In each case estuarine waters were initially

translated downstream, with the surface waters being more affected than the

bottom waters. The waters were then subjected to an upstream intrusion of more-

saline bottom waters, resulting in strong vertical salinity stratification

with a layer of fresh water(up to 10 meters thick) on the top. A second

downstream translation of the estuarine waters created vertical mixing and

tended to reduce the stratification. Finally the waters tended toward uniform

salinities from top to bottom at any station, with the salinity of each

estuary gradually increasing towards its mouth.

Early surface measurements in Chesapeake Bay indicate that flood

waters traveled down the western and central portions of the bay bypassing higher

salinity waters in adjacent embayments on the east side (e.g., the Choptank

River and Pocomoke Sound) which were not immediately affected by Agnes.

Freshened bay water passing on to the continental shelf did so as

pulses with some tidal association. These pulses of freshened water tended

to travel southward along the coast.

A convenient table summarizing the sequence of salinity changes in the Bay

gives the position of several isolines of salinity as a function of time

(Table 2.1). Observed data have been interpolated to prepare this table, which

lists the distance from the head of the Bay (at Havre de Grace) for the salinity

values of 1%, 5Y.., 10%, 15%., and 20Y., for approximately uniform time intervals

extending from some 15 days prior to the cresting of the fresh water inflow to

the Bay to 30 August, 1972, some 68 days after the passage of Agnes. Lookout

Point, at the mouth of the Potomac River, is 181 kilometers (98 nautical miles)

- 44 -

below the head of the Bay at Havre de Grace. The mouth of the Chesapeake Bay

at the Virginia Capes is 320 km (173 nautical miles) from the head of the Bay.

Table 2.1 shows that water having salinities of 5%vor less moved down

the Bay from about Love Point above the Bay Bridge just before Agnes to

a position between Poplar Island and Plum Point by the 27th of June,

about 3 days after the cresting of inflow from the Susquehanna. This represents

a down-Bay movement of this salinity value of some 72 nautical miles. Note

also-that the 15%.isoline of salinity moves out of the Bay and into the ocean

during the interval from the 30 July through the 10th of August. Thus the

minimum salinity at the mouth of the Bay was not reached until about 40 to

45 days after the passage of Agnes.

Table 2.1. Distances from the head of Chesapeake Bay (in nautical miles) for specific values of
salinity, on specified dates. (C.B.I

At the surface On the bottom

Date, 1972 1 57". 10%. 1 5Y. 20%. 1 %. 5Y.0 10%0 15%, 20%0

10 June 26 41 135 157 170 19 23 36 39 129

20 June 23 37 134 156 169 16 20 32 36 124

25 June 55 82 147 163 170 26 36 44 59 124

27 June 52 109 153 165 171 29 39 48 86 128

30 June 48 106 154 168 173 26 29 44 113 132

5 July 43 98 148 166 173 23 28 46 127 134

10 July 39 90 143 162 172 21 28 50 127 135

15 July 36 82 137 164 172 21 31 54 126 135

20 July 32 74 132 167 173 21 35 56 123 135

25 July 24 80 131 171 Ocean 19 27 42 89 114

30 July 23 70 147 Ocean Ocean 18 21 30 50 79

5 August 25 36 162 Ocean Ocean 17 20 24 30 44

10 August 23 30 150 Ocean Ocean is 20 28 32 45

15 August 19 28 125 164 173 12 19 33 34 60

20 August 17 28 104 151 166 12 19 33 36 64

25 August 17 29 98 145 163 14 20 31 37 63

30 August 18 31 9P 143 16n 16 22 29 36 62

46 -

SECTION 3. GEOLOGICAL EFFECTS

3.1 Suspended Sediments

3.1.a General

The flooding that accompanied the passage of tropical storm Agnes dumped

large masses of sediment into the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system. Sediment

is the archenemy and ultimate conqueror of every estuary. As an estuarine

basin is filled with sediment the intruding sea is displaced seaward and

the estuarine basin is gradually transformed back into a river valley system.

For the past several years scientists have been monitoring the major inputs

of sediment to the upper Chesapeake Bay and have been attempting to assess

the relative contributions of the various sources to the sediment suspended

in the waters of the Bay. Agnes presented these scientists with an unprece@

dented opportunity to document the relative importance of a catastrophic

event in the geological life of an important estuary.

Sediments are introduced into the Bay by rivers, by shore erosion, and

by primary productivity. The sources are thus external, marginal, and in-

ternal. In the upper Bay the external sources predominate, but in the rest

of the main body of the Bay the margihal sources are Orobably the major con-

tributors. The Susquehanna is the only river that debouches directly into

the main body of the Bay; the other rivers flow into estuaries formed by the

drowning of the lower reaches of these rivers.

3.1.b The Upper Bay

The Susquehanna, with an average sediment discharge of about 0.5 0.7

million tons per year, is the largest supplier of river-borne sediment to

the main body of the Chesapeake Bay. The sediment discharge was considerably

larger before construction of the reservoirs along the lower reaches of the

- 47 -

river. The reservoirs trap nearly all of the coarse sediment load.

During most years, the bulk of each year's supply of new fluvial sedi-

ment is introduced during the spring freshet, the time when both river flow

and the concentration of suspended sediment are normally the highest. In

1969,for example, more than 50% of the total sediment yield was discharged

during the spring period of high runoff. Even during a freshet, suspended

sediment concentrations greater than 200 mg/.e (=ppm) below Conowingo are

unusual. In 1969 the highest value observed at Conowingo was only 57 mg/t.

In 1970 the highest concentration of suspended sediment was 253 mg/f-, and

the concentration exceeded 100 mg/t only 5 days during the entire year. In

1971 the highest concentration observed was 142 mg/t., and it exceeded 100 mg/Z

on only 4 days. During the spring freshet of 1972 in March when river flow

exceeded 315,000 cfs the concentration of suspended sediment reached 190 mg1t.
Between 1 January 1972 and 21 June 1972 the concentration of suspended sedi-

ment exceeded 100 mg/t on 4 days. During May and the first 20 days of June
1972 the concentration of suspended sediment at Conowingo was generally be-
tween 10 - 25 mg/t being somewhat higher than normal for this time of year.
For contrast, look at the sediment loads caused by Agnes. On 22 June
1972 river flow rose rapidly as a result of the heavy rainfall accompanying
the passage of Agnes, and the concentration of suspended sediment reached
400 mg/t. On 23 June 1972 when river flow increased to 862,350 cfs at
Conowingo the concentration of suspended sediment jumped to more than
10,000 mg/t (10 grams/liter) --a concentration more than 40 times higher
than any value we had ever observed in our daily sampling over the past
6 years. This was the concentration of suspended sediment on the downstream
side of Conowingo; the concentration after the river had passed through the
Safe Harbor, Holtwood, and Conowingo reservoirs. This value represents

- 48

the concentration of suspended sediment in the flood water being discharged

into the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, no sample was collected on 24 June

1972, the day the river crested. The average flow on that day was more than

980,000 cfs. On 25 June 1972 the concentration of suspended sediment at

Conowingo had fallen to 1456 mg/t. and the river flow to 814,734 cfs. By

30 June 1972 the concentration of suspended sediment was down to about 70

mg/t and the river flow had subsided to 162,400 cfs.

Preliminary estimates indicate that the mass of sediment discharged by

the Susquehanna during the 7 day period from 22-28 June 1972 exceeded the

total mass of sediment discharged during the past decade, and perhaps

during the past half century. The bulk of this sediment was silt and clay-

sized material, but a significant amount of fine sand was also discharged.

The sediment discharges of the other rivers tributary to the Maryland portion

of the Bay were also unusually high but there are few data on the concentra-

tions of suspended sediment for any of these rivers.

The high discharges of suspended sediment by the Susquehanna and the

other rivers produced anomalously hi'gh concentrations of suspended sediment

throughout much of Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

In the upper Bay following Agnes there was a sharp downstream decline

in suspended sediment. On 26 June 1972 the concentration of suspended sediment

at the surface dropped from more than 700 mg/t off Turkey Point at the head
of the Bay to about 400 mg/t at Tolchester and to approximately 175 mg/t-at
the Bay Bridge off Annapolis, Figure 3.1. On the same day the concentration
of suspended sediment at mid-depth showed the same distribution pattern.

These concentrations were considerably higher than any previously recorded

in the upper Bay. By 29 June 1972 the concentrations of suspended sediment

had decreased considerably, primarily as a result of the settling out (sedi-

mentation) of the fine particles, but the concentrations were still anomalously

0
M
W 0 w M < La LL. a.
r- 0 [4) 0) f1f) 0 OD OD CL V- OD
C'i LL- Cq - 0 0 M to 'T 0 K) - 0
M cn o) 0) a) o) o) _oD OD a; OD OD OD
r---------- T_
700
SURFACE

600- 26 June 1972

500

400-

300-

- 29 June 72

2-00-
E -0/ 10-

Cn
0 0/ 3 July 72 0,
_j 100-
0 /0-
Cf) 0
0 1,C!40 mg/I (26 June 72)
z MID-DEPTH
Uj
0- 600-
Cf)
D
Cn
500- 26 June 72

400-

300

200-
- ./"---d29 June 72'\
C@
100- 3 July 72,P---'O-
- o_ -0
0 1 --h I I I I I L_
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180
DISTANCE FROM MOUTH OF SUSQUEHANNA (HAVRE DE GRACE) IN KILOMETERS

Figure 3.1. Longitudinal variations of the surface and mid-depth
concentrations of suspended sediment along the axis of
@26 June 72
'0

the upper Chesapeake Bay following Agnes. The Susquehanna
River crested at 02on on 24 June i972 at Harrisburg, Pa. (C.B.I.)

- 50

high. The concentrations of@suspended sediment remained abnormally high,

particularly in the upper Bay, until the latter part of July, (Figure 3.2).

3.1.c Virginia's Estuaries and Lower Chesapeake Bay.

Detailed analysis of the effects of Agnes on sediments in the lower

Chesapeake Bay and tributaries is not yet complete. Analysis is most

advanced on Rappahannock River data, and some data for the mainstream of the

Southern Bay has been summarized. In general, record amounts of sediment

were brought into Virginia waters by Agnes. Fine particles appear to have

been swept through the rivers into the mainstem of the Bay while large amounts

of coarse particles sedimented by gravitation in the lower basins of the rivers.

Rappahannock River:

Agnes caused a record influx of more than 0.9 million tons of sediment

to the Rappahannock River. More sediment was carried into this river during

15 days of flooding than during 6 years of average inflow. The high sediment

influx temporarily overwhelmed the turbidity maximum that normally resides

at the inner limit of salty water. Concentrations reached 300 to 400 mg/t
throughout the upper Rappahannock on June 24th. (Figure 3.3). Concentrations

of 40 to 100 mg1t persisted for two weeks. Size analyses of the suspensions

indicate that most fine particles flushed through the Rappahannock mouth into

Chesapeake Bay whereas coarse clay and silt particles sedimented by simple

gravitational settling, rather than by floculation. A large amount of

sediment must have accumulated in the lower Rappahannock basin by particle

settling from the surface layer.

Recovery from major flooding was marked by increased salinity, first

in the surface layer and later in the lower layer. The estuary slowly changed

from a highly stratified to a partially mixed circulation system. The transition

SUSPENDED SOLIDS IN mg/ I

L" 0 Ln 0
0 0 0 0 0 0
00
tm
0- 927SS(Turkey
z
0 %
rn - SFOO
-n 0
;u (A -921 W
00
0 0 r-
--h 0 0 -917S
C+ K 0
= M 0 -4 9 13 R (Tolcheste
CD = c-+ C Ln c-
C+ c 0
a 0 -909
-0 no , I
13 C+ = a)-
M -0. w 00 -4
-1 0 -n W 903A
tA
c
=r 0) (Bay Bridge)
M
tA ON 858C
cu C OD w (n
-10 , @N -4
W C+ m 0 OD c- c-
m c @* M c c
op (A 0 > (D c-
;-r -0 = z 0,
m m (A z -4 --4 848E
z
0-0 N W
m N c (Poplar Is.)
1< CL m
c+ -n
(A = >
m 0 00 m 0
m
0 a,c m j;5 "-:Z-
:E M -3 834 IF
= --h 0 0 %@-
c+ m -
C)
tw CD

1@00 w

m 0
tA
c+
0
818 P (Cedar P

X M 0
@.-u 9
C+ 9-
rn

m
M aD
U) 0 804 C (Pt. Looko

10
BOTTOM
8 -SALINIT'

.10
SURF A C E
4 -SA L I N I T Y-

TAPPAHANNOCK BRIDGE NORRIS BRIDGE

0 Ln

3-
145
.45
25
6-
.E
9- 200 40
X 40
12-
a.
W
15- RAPPAHANNOCK ESTUARY

18-
21.-
50 45 40 35 30 25 25 15 10 5 0

-MILES UPSTREAM

SUSPENDED CO.NCENTRATIONS-mg/liter DATE: JUNE 24, 1972

Figure 3.3. Distribution of total suspended sediment concentration in mg/1 on
June 24, 1972. Isopleth greater than 300 mg/l delineates maximum
y

.Vlf

concentrations throughout water column just above the inner limit of
salty water. (V.I.M.S.)

- 53 -

was accompanied by relocation of the turbidity maximum in the upper estuary.

The sedimentary regime returned from essentially a bypassing to a trapping

mode. The unique dynamic conditions provide a new insight into the processes

of sediment transport and deposition.

The high freshwater discharge produced intense haline stratification

with a low salinity surface layer 5 m thick. The normally partly mixed

circulation system became a highly stratified system and upstream flows

along the bottom were accelerated by 30 percent. The low salinity surface

layer allowed seaward transport of sediment over shoals that normally are
sites of deposition. However, the intense stratification trapped some sed-

iment locally on the channel floor at the head of the salt intrusion.

Lower Chesapeake Bay:

Previous work on turbidity in the southern part of Chesapeake Bay is

limited, but one study showedJune-July turbidities in 1970 to be about 4.2

mg/l of suspended sediment in the vicinity of the northern section, and 3.1
mg/l near the southern section (Schubel, et al., 1970). Thirteen-hour average

turbidity at the northern section on July 24, 1972 was 17.6 mg/l suspended

sediment, and at the southern section on July 27, 1972, 37.4 mg/l. Thus,

suspended sediment load was averaging 5-10 times greater than 1970. Also

unusual is the abnormally high turbidity at the Bay Mouth; apparently due

to local conditions and not due to the transport of a massive sediment plume
down the Bay itself, as there was no such large sediment load passing through

the northern section during the observation period. Table 3.1 shows spot-

checked average turbidities at the two sections for all the sampling periods.

3.2. Sunlight Penetration

The high concentrations of fine-grained suspended sediment markedly

limited the depth of penetration of sunlight and therefore the depth of the

- 54 -

euphotic zone. In the upper Bay above Tolchester, less than 1% of the sun-
light incident on the water surface reached a depth of 10 cm (=4 in) during

the flooding period.

Table 3.1. Turbidities of lower Chesapeake Bay (mg/l suspended sediment).
(V.I.M.S.)

Date Northern Section Southern Section

July 5, 1972 6.8 16.1

July 10 11.6 ----
July 13 ---- 15.8

July 17 9.4 ----
July 21 ---- 26.9

July 24 17.6 ----
July 27 ---- 37.4
August 17 ---- 22.1

3.3 Erosion and Deposition

The important geological effects of Agnes on the Bay.were depositional

in character. There is little evidence of any erosion of the floor or shores

of the Bay from the flood waters of tropical storm Agnes. Some erosion occurred

in the upper reaches of some of the tributary estuaries, but most of the serious

erosion occurred farther upstream. Large quantities of soil were stripped

from the land and carried downstream by the rivers. The bulk of the material

transported by the rivers was deposited in the upper reaches of their estuaries.

Most of this material was fine-grained sediment, silt and clay, but signifi-

cant amounts of sand were transported into the upper reaches of some of the

tributaries.

- 55

Most of the coarse material carried by the Susquehanna was trapped in

the reservoirs along the lower course of the river. The bulk of the sediment

discharged by the Susquehanna past the most downstream reservoir at Conowingo

was deposited in the upper Chesapeake Bay, north of Pooles Island. A number

of small islands were formed on the Susquehanna flats below Havre de Grace

during the floodings. These islands, formed of mud and fine sand discharged

by the Susquehanna, are all of low relief and are being rapidly eroded. Not

all of the sediment carried by the Susquehanna was deposited near the head

of the Bay, however. Significant quantities of fine sediment were transported

much farther down the Bay. A clearly identifiable layer of Susquehanna flood

sediment was present south of the Bay Bridge at Annapolis.

A large number of cores were taken in the upper Chesapeake Bay to delin-

eate the depositional patterns of the Agnes sediment. The thickness of the

flood sediment is being determined in each core, and from these measure-

ments a map will be made of the thickness of the new layer of sediment.

The mass of Agnes sediment deposited in the upper Bay will be determined

from these measurements and from measurements of the water content of the

sediment. This mass will be compared with the estimate made of the mass

of sediment discharged into the Chesapeake Bay by the Susquehanna. The

latter estimate is based on measurements of water discharge and the con-

centration of suspended sediment at Conowingo. The analysis and interpre-

tation of these data wi 11 take several months to complete but the results wi 11

provide valuable insight into the sedimentation processes that characterize

ficatastrophic" events,such as Agnes, and in assessing their relative im-

portance in the development of the Bay. Although such an event occurs on

the average at a frequency of only once every 100 - 200 years, the total

number of such events in the lifetime of an estuary may be sufficiently

large and their magnitudes sufficiently great that they may play a

major role in determining the geological lifetime of an estuary.

- 56

3.4 Some Important Geological Ouestions

Other major floods have certainly occurred throughout the Bay's history, and

it is interesting to ask whether any record of these events has been preserved.

Until a few hundreds of years ago there was, of course, no man-made record

and the Bay's history was recorded only in the sediments that blanket its

floor. This sedimentary history is recorded in the kinds of sediments that

accumulate--their physical and chemical characteristics--and in the fossils

they contain. The extent to which we can determine the Bay's history depends

upon how much of that history was recorded and preserved, and upon how clever

we are at deciphering it. To aid us in understanding the Say's past and in

predicting its future, we study the present.

Will a record of the most recent flood, the flooding from tropical
storm Agnes, be preserved in the sediments of the Chesapeake Bay? W-111

the layer of flood sediment be preserved as a discrete, identifiable sed-

imentary layer, or will it be destroyed by the normal processes, particularly

by the activities of the burrowing organisms?

To answer these questions suites of cores were taken in the upper Chesa-

peake Bay and in the upper Gunpowder estuary. Some of the cores were examined

visually to determine the thickness of the layer of new sediment. Other cores

from the same locations were analyzed texturally to establish any differences

in the size distributions of the flood sediment and the "normal" sediment

accumulating in the Bay. Mineralogical determinations were also made and

cores were examined by X-rays to reveal small-scale structural features, and

to document the effects of burrowing organisms. These cores will be repeated

at approximately monthly intervals to chronicle the persistence of the sedi-

mentary evidence of tropical storm Agnes. This represents a major research

effort.

- 57 -

SECTION 4. OTHER WATER QUALITY PARAMETERS
4.1 Bacteria

The Agnes floods inundated or caused physical destruction to numer-

ous sewage treatment facilities around Chesapeake Bay and washed massive

amounts of ran and partially-treated sewage into the bay.

A great number of water samples were collected and analyzed for bac-

teria, although little of the data from these samples is yet available. The

levels of fecal coliform bacterial in upper Chesapeake Bay, however, were

so great that the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene peohib-

ited shellfish harvesting and water-contact sports. Virginia also closed

its bay waters to shellfish harvesting.

4.1.a Maryland Waters

As part of an ongoing study of bacteria in the Patuxent River, water

samples were collected from the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory pier at

Solomons, Maryland. These samples were normally collected twice a week, on
Monday and Friday, and innoculated into four media: (1) sea water agar

for total bacteria, (2) lactose broth for estimating the most probable

number of coliform bacteria, (3) purple dextrose for gram-negative, dextrose-

fermenting, enteric bacteria, and (4) TCBS agar for cholera vibrios. The

results are given in Table 4.1.

Hurricane Agnes shows its effects in the counts of total bacteria

on sea water agar. Total bacteria counts were relatively low (200/ml)

throughout April, May, and June; peaked on 3 July with a count of 3200/ml;

and fluctuated throughout July, August, and September, with a gradual de-

cline in numbers throughout these months (Figure 4.1).

Coliforms were relatively low throughout the spring and exhibited

one peak early in May. Counts were exceptionally high (1600/100ml)

throughout June and declined about the first week in July. Tidal fluct-

uations were evident through July, August, and September with a larger

than usual count.

- 58 -

Table 4.1. Counts of bacteria from Patuxent River water collected
from end of C.B.L. pier at Solomons, Maryland during 1972.

Date, 1972 Sea water agar Lactose broth Purple destrose TCBS agar
Total bacteria Coliformes agar Gram-negative Cholera Vibrios
(no./ml) (MPNIIOO ml) enterics (no./ml) (no./ml)
(no./ml) Green Yellow
Yellow Other

May 2 38 542 9 22 0 +a
16 170 9 30 8 0 13
23 21 0 0 7 0 0

June13 126 1609 93 6 4 11
20 52 109 b 4b 3 11
27 223 1609 3 12 + 0

July 3 3200 27 11 30 2 3
6 630 14 42 24 0 Q
7 490 7 12g 270 b 1 +
11 290 25 194 + 4
14 861 25 8 13 0 0
17 131 7 69 87 1 3
20 610 63 300 15600 3 12
25 1060 13 133 134 2 6
28 500 7 110 140 1 4

Aug. 1 370 27 290 300 3 5
4 686 21 137 270 9 6
7 152 33 107 97 0 0
11 830 30 12 87 1 2
14 348 141 260 940 4 11
18 677 26 137 1206 + 2
21 1013 9 83 1206 0 0
25 7 4 11 6 2 21
28 14 70 4 + 0 0
Sept. 1 360 7 2 91 2 2
5 26 9 2 ill 0 0
8 43 11 14 32 0 0
11 190 49 100 200 32 30
15 840 14 45 633 8 4
18 563 8 460 176 10 5
22 348 340 53 270 6 2
25 240 11 10 29 4 6
29 286 49 21 140 0 0

Oct. 4 12 2 10 44 11 10

a+ = less than 1.0/ml
b Counts not separated on these dates.

300

2700

240

2100

X
E@
2 1800
C

0.
C
2 1500
a
W
2
1200

900

b- 600

300
0 1 OEM
April May June July August September
0

Figure 4.1. Counts of total bacteria (no./ml) on sea water agar from samples of
Patuxent River water taken at the end of the C.B.L. pier at Solomons,
Maryland. (C.B.L.)

- 60 -

Counts on purple dextrose agar were also moderate in the spring and
exhibited three or four peaks throughout July and August. Gram-negative
enteric bacilli (suggestive of fecal pollution) were exceptionally high

throughout July, August, and September.

Counts on TCBS agar were relativelv stable throughout the months of

May-August showing normal increases and decreases with tidal fluctuations.

Closely related to bacterial contamination of the bay are illnesses

caused by waterborne diseases. As shown in Figure 4.2., the reports of

infectious hepatitis in Maryland hospitals increased sharply the first

week in August (U.S.P.H.S, Center for Disease Control, 1972). Since the

incubation period for infectious hepatitus is 4 to 6 weeks, the increase

in the number of cases may be related to the Agnes floods.

4.1.b. Virginia Waters.

Detailed assessment of the bacteriological impact of Agnes in Virginia

waters has not been completed. Threat of bacteriological loading resulted

in immediate closing of all Virginia waters for taking of shellfish for

direct consumption on 23 June 1972. Reopening of grounds closed as a re-

sult of Agnes began on 20 July in the lower part of the Bay including

portions of the mouths of the James and York Rivers. All grounds closed as

a result of Agnes were reopened on 5 October 1972. Although a rise in bacter-

iological indices occurred during the aftermath of Agnes, lack of appropriate

seasonal baselines precludes assigning cause for all the rise to direct or

indirect effects of Agnes at this time. Exchange of data with the Virginia
Bureau of Shellfish Sanitation (VBSS) is providing the necessary background

to further evaluate causal relationships between Agnes and bacteriological

indices.

The preliminary evaluations presented below were developed from

bacteriological reports received from the Virginia Bureau of Shellfish

20
IA

L.
10

E
2
z

May June July August September

q
Fiqure 4.2. Number of infectious hepatitis cases reported in Ma vland durin,
the summer of 1972. (U.S.P.H.S., Center for Disease Control, 1972.)

- 62

Sanitation supplemented by some inhouse data from the VIMS Bacteriology

Section. The data gathered by the VBSS was not designed to monitor the

effects of Agnes, but to ensure that public health standards relative to

shellfish harvest were being followed. As a result precise determination

of Agnes direct and indirect effects on bacteriological populations must

await analysis of VBSS and VIMS data in terms of hydrographic changes

occurring during the flood and recovery. VBSS is cooperating by provid-

ing complete data both for the flood period and historical data from re-

levant areas. It must be emphasized that the interpretations presented

here are preliminary and only those of VIMS personnel.

York River: Area 52-Goodwin Islands to Yorktown; A slight increase

was noted at all stations except those nearest the shoreline of Goodwin

Neck. A rise in the fecal MPN values were observed during the latter part

of the week in July and into the second week. Station 15 which is east

of the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge was noted to have the highest

number of fecal bacteria relative to all other stations in this area.

Area 46-Perrin River and Sarah Creek; Perrin River-Water samples

collected from two stations in this area gave high fecal MPN values during

the latter part of the first week in July and into the second week. High

confirmed MPN values were also obtained on those dates with corresponding

high fecal MPN's.

Sarah Creek Station 2, which is near the mouth of Sarah Creek showed

both high fecal MPN's and corresponding confirmed MPN's during the latter

part of the first week in July and into the second week. Fecal MPN's from

water samples collected at Station I which is further out into the York

River resulted in lower MPN values than those obtained at Station.2. The

highest fecal MPN at Station 1 occurred in the second week of July.

- 63 -

Area 47-Gloucester Point to Allmondsville; The greatest number of

fecal bacteria were recovered from each of three stations in this area

at the end of the first week in July.

Although complete data is lacking with respect to the bacteriological

events in the York River prior to Agnes, it apprears that our increase in

fecal MPN values occurred after Agnes. Since the increase appeared first

at upstream stations. Some of the increase can probably be attributed

to the flood waters.

James River: Newport News to Deep Water Shoal; Generally, the fecal

MPN values appeared to increase slightly during the first and second week

of July. However, it must be noted that fecal MPN's of the same magni-

tude or greater occurred sporadically at previous dates in 1971 and 1972.

Warwick River; Slight rises in the number of fecal bacteria recovered

from the mouth of the river were obtained during the second week in July.

However, as discussed above, there were numberous fluctuations in fecal

MPN values at previous time periods in 1971 and 1972. There was little

if any apparent effect of Agnes on stations further upstream in the War-

wick River. No significant effect could be seen in the Chuckatuck Creek,

Batten Bay, and Nansemond River areas.

It is difficult to draw any valid conclusions from the available data

for the James River and those rivers which flow into it. Slight increases

were noted in only certain areas of the James River and at the Mouth of

the Warwick River. These rises in fecal bacteria may or may not reflect

the influence of Hurricane Agnes. Data is available only for two periods

in July, within four days of each other. It is possible that higher numbers

of fecal and total coliform bacteria might have been found if more extensive

sampling had been conducted.

- 64 -

Lower Bay: Old Point Comfort to Back River; During a four day sampling

period in the second and third week of July, high numbers of fecal coliforms

were recovered from Stations 019, B3, and B14.

Back River; During the second and third week of July the fecal MPN

values in the Back River generally increased over those values obtained

at earlier dates in 1971 and 1972. A simultaneous increase in the confirmed

MPN values was also noted. A rise in the number of fecal coliforms was

first observed at Station 16 which is upstream. Subsequent increases in

fecal bacteria took place a couple of days later further downstream.

Poguoson River; Sufficient data prior to and following the flood was

available for only Stations 1, 20, 27, 37, and 41. The results from Stations

20 and 37 showed slight increased in the fecal MPN values in the second

week of July.

York River Mouth; Data obtained from samples collected at the York

River mouth indicated that few fecal coliforms were present.

Potomac River; Sufficient bacteriological data during the time Deriod

prior to Agnes was not available and thus no true picture of the storm effects

can be observed. However, of the five areas presented, Area 4 showed high

fecal MPN's relative to other stations on the Potomac.

Eastern Shore; Data available for most areas of Eastern Shore, Areas

75, 77, 84, and 88, was characterized by fluctuating fecal MPN values during

the month of July. There appeared to be no pattern to the increases and

declines in the number of fecal coliforms with respect to time or events occur-

ing at other stations within the same area. Data prior to Agnes was not avail-

able and thus no conclusions can be drawn as to the effects of Agnes.
Area Closi ys: All Virginia waters inland from a line closing Chesapeake
Bay across its mouth were closed for the taking of shellfish for direct con-

sumption on 23 June 1972. Various areas beqinninq with lower portion of the

- 65 -

Bay were reopened beginning on 20 July 1972. A list of closings and open-
ings associated with Agnes is presented in Table 4.2. By 5 October 1972

all areas closed as a result of Agnes were reopened.

Table 4.2. History of closings and openings of Virginia Shellfish areas
following bacterial contamination from the Hurricane Agnes
floods.

Date Action

23 June All Virginia waters closed.

20 July Lower Bay opened below New Point Comfort - Cape Charles City
Range light line, except Mobjack Bay, York above Gloucester
Point, and James (including an area south of the Old Point
Comfort - Cape Henry Light line).

1 August Mobjack Bay (except certain tributaries) and York to Bland
Creek opened.

3 August James and tributaries opened below a line north from Days
Point except for areas normally closed. Bay opened below
line from Cherry Point north east through southern tip of
Tangier Island continuing to Md - Va. state line. Area
south of Old Point Comfort - Cape Henry Light remains closed.

9 August Remainder of Bay open except for south of Old Point Comfort -
Cape Henry Light opened. Rappahannock River opened. Upper
Piankatank and upper Great Wicomico remain closed.

5 October All condemnation areas established due to Agnes opened. Normal
condemnation areas remain in effect.

4.2 Nutrients

The heavy rainfall associated with tropical storm Agnes added not only

large amounts of fresh water and sediment to the Chesapeake Bay estuarine

system, but also large amounts of a number of other substances, including

nutrients, heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides. Many water samples

have been collected, but few have been analyzed.

The set of samples for nutrient analysis will be of considerable value

not only in assessing the impact of Agnes, but also in predicting the conse-

quences of increased nutrient loading of the Bay from sewage treatment plant

discharges.

4.2.a. Maryland Waters

The Chesapeake Bay Institute collected a large number of water samples

from the Bay and selected tributaries for nutrient analysis. The samples

were frozen, and only a few have been analyzed; but preliminary results

indicate that following Agnes, nutrient concentrations in some areas were

5 to 10 times the "normal" levels for this time of year.

The Annapolis Field Office of the Environmental Protection Agency also

collected water samples from the upper bay and the Potomac estuary for nutrient
determinations. For July, EPA found that: (a) inorganic phosphorus

values were slightly low, but not subnormal, with an average on the
surface of about 0.05 PPm POO (b) TKN (Kjeldahl nitrogen and ammonia)
was approximately normal, values generally approximating 0.5 ppm N; (c)
nitrate and nitrite (measured together, and presumably primarily nitrate)

were extermely high at all stationa, normal values should be 0.05 to 0.4
ppm N, current values were approximately 1.0 ppm; and (d) ammonia values

appeared to be normal, which ranges from 0.05 to 0.2 ppm N.
4.2.b. Virginia Waters.

- 67 -

Studies of the effects of Agnes on the nutrient budget of Virginia's

waters were conducted in the mainstem of the Bay and on the adjacent

cnntinental shelf.

In the mainstem of the Bay, sampling stations were established along

two transects of the Bay, a northern crosssection between Smith Point and

Tangier Island, just south of the mouth of the Potomac River, and a southern

cross section at the Bay Mouth, seaward of the Bay Bridqe-Tunnel, between
Cape Henry and Fisherman's Island (Figure 4.3). Sampling for dissolved

and total nutrients and for turbidity was carried out at periodic intervals
for up to seven weeks following the passage of the storm. Current meters

were positioned at the section stations for calculations of nutrient and

sediment fluxes. Salinity was measured on each sample.

Due to the nature of the various analyses, only some data are avail-

able at this time. Computer programs for the nlotting of the data are

still in preparation. Total nutrient levels have not yet been analyzed.

Only analyses for inorganic dissolved nhosphate and dissolved nitrate-

plus-nitrate concentrations have been completed.

The inorganic dissolved phosphate concentrations are uniformly low,

with 13-hour average concentrations on 24 July 1972 of 0.34 mg-at/l po-
4
at northern section and 0.52 mg-at/l PO4at the southern section. Again
little nutrient data are available for these parts of the Bay for comparison

purposes. Total phosphorous concentration for the Bay, which should be

greater than or equal to the inorganic dissolved phosphate concentrations,

are normally between 1 and 2 mg-at/1 P (Schubel, 1972).

There is considerable difference in the nitrate-plus-nitrate concen-

trations between the northern and southern sections. The 13-hr average
concentrations of NO3 + NO2 for the northern section on 24 July 1972 were

770 00' 76000

-37050'

37040

WACHA PREAGUE

Ft:
37030'

37020'
. . . . . . ...... . . ..

. ... .......
37010'

370
@.N R
37000
04
00
A,

NAUTICAL MILK$
IMM 4
a a 10
NORFOLK
q

770 1.00 76000,
&- --- I I I
Figure 4.3. Locations of samplinq stations for VIMS' nutrient studies.

- 69 -

26.6 mg-at N/l, and 1.4 mg-at N/I for the southern section on 27 July

1972. Normal nitrate concentrations in the Chesapeake Bay are very

seasonal; they may range from as high as 45 mg-at N/I in early spring to

less than I mg-at N/I in late summer. The nitrate influx to the Bay is

derived mainly from agricultural area drainage via its tributaries, and

is normally large during periods of high river flow. Thus, the high

nitrate concentrations at the northern section reflect influx from

the Upper Bay and its tributaries, and from the Potomac River. The nitrate

concentrations at the southern section are low, and probably about normal

for the time of year.

As data from current meter stations becomes available and as remaining

chemical analyses are completed, we will be able to calculate the flux measure-

ments at each section. We expect the first flux calculations for a section

to be completed in January 1973.

In addition to the sections, nutrient levels were determined in conjunc-

tion with plankton sampling in lower Chesapeake Bay and the adjacent con-

tinental shelf in conjunction with plankton studies. Analysis of this data

is not complete but preliminary assessment indicates seasonally low Phos-

phate and Nitrate-Nitrite were present in lower Bay waters. In the middle

Bay values of Nitrate-Nitrite were higher than normal in late July. Phos-

phate in the mid-Bay by late July were essentially normal.

None of the shelf samples have been analyzed for nutrients yet.

4.2.c. Questions To Be Answered.
Throughout the bay, water samples for nutrient analysis are still being
collected to document the time for recovery to "normal" levels. Some of the

important questions scientists are attempting to answer are: (1) What was

the additional input of nutrients to the Bay and its tributaries? (2) Will

-70-

the high level of nutrients remain after the suspended sediment concentrations

decrease to normal levels? (3) At what rate are the additional nutrients

lost to the bottom in association with the settling suspended matter?

(4) Will there be subsequent undesirable algal blooms and/or species

changes?

4.3 Dissolved Oxygen

The nutrient loading following Agnes also had an effect on the dissolved

oxygen content of the deeper layers of the Bay. Low oxygen zones are normal

in the deeper layers of the Bay during the summer, but the extent and dura-

tion of these zones may have been increased as a result of Agnes. The

biostimulation that resulted from the large additions of nutrients coupled

with the reduction in the vertical mixing of the water because of increased

salinity gradients during the recovery period may have led to a greater than

normal deficit in the dissolved oxygen content of the lower layers. A large

number of determinations have been made of the concentration of dissolved

oxygen in the Bay and in selected tributaries. Because of the effort

required for the intensive sampling programs,which are still being conducted,

the analysis of the data has had to be deferred.

Documentation of the time-varying distribution of dissolved oxygen

following Agnes will be useful not only in predicting the effects of future

floods, but also in predicting the effects of future inputs of nutrients as

a result of man's activities.

- 71 -

4.4. Heavy Metals

The high runoff into the Chesapeake Bay estuarine system introduced
appreciable quantities of heavy metals in both particulate and soluble forms.

These additions of heavy metals were largely from "natural" sources but

many unknown substances from factories and warehouses were also swept into
the bay (for example, see Myers, 1972).

4.4.a. Maryland Waters

No systematic heavy metals monitoring program was established in Maryland,

however, one interesting related question concerning heavy metals is being

investigated by the Chesapeake Bay Institute. It concerns the possible re-

lease of zinc from freshly deposited fluvial sediment following a period of

very high riverflow.

Following the spring freshet in 1971 a rapid increase in the concentra-

tion of soluble zinc was observed in the waters of the upper Chesapeake Bay.

This increase appeared after riverflow had subsided and it could not be

explained by the source waters--the Susguehanna River and the "Bay" waters.

It appears that zinc desorbes from the freshly deposited sediment as a result

of cation exchange after the riverflow subsides and salty estuary water

advects back into the region to displace the overlying fresh water. The

samples collected in 1971 were spaced too far apart in time to establish the

rate of this process.

Agnes presented an excellent opportunity for further investigation of the

question. During July and August water samples were collected close to the

bottom at a number of stations in the upper Bay every 10 - 14 days. The

samples were frozen immediately after collection for analysis later. The

analyses will be completed this winter.

4.4.b. Virginia Waters

Since the waters from Agnes changed the chemical characteristics of the

- 72

overlying waters as well as washing in unknown amounts of heavy metals,

VIMS initiated several research efforts designed to ascertain heavy metal

concentration changes and the resulting effects on the biological community.

Before a change can be determined, baseline or background data must be

obtained. Fortunately, four comprehensive studies on the heavy metals in

Virginia's part of the Chesapeake Bay had been completed before Agnes flooded

the system. The new programs, therefore, were designed to replicate the

previous sampling locations, techniques, and methods of analysis as closely

as possible. In this way we should be able to delineate and explain changes

due to Agnes. At the present time some analyses are available for post-

Agnes samples in the Rappahannock River. Little change was found between

pre- and post-Agnes total noncrystallinic zinc concentrations, but total
noncrystallinic copper concentrations were greatly elevated (Figure 4.4 and

Figure 4.5).

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER

9 PRE AGNES
300- x POST AGNES

250-

200-

150-

100-
*'6e*&'8X X
0* X 00%" oe
400X 41@00* 0 60"0spoe **too0
X16 X 26 X X XX 16X X X X*05 X996 % NO, 0
50- X

10 20 30 40 50 60

MILES

Figure 4.4. Levels of total, noncrystallinic zinc in Rappahannock River sediments before and after
Hurricane Agnes (HN03 extracted). (M.M.S.)

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER

137 270 127 218 206 72 98 195 9 PRE AGNES
I I X POST AGNES
X XX X X X X

X
X X

50- X X X X X

X X

Cc X X X X
w 40- X

0 X 0
X X
30- X X % a
0 X
IL X
CL X 0 0: 00!0
X 0 00
20-

10-

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

MILES

Figure 4.5. Levels of total, noncrystallinic copper in Rappahannock River sediments before and after
Hurricane Agnes (HN03 extracted). (v.j.M.S.)

- 75 -

4.5. Pesticides

Agnes washed pesticides into the Bay. Although many agencies collected

samples for pesticide analysis, only the data from VIMS is available.

Three species of shellfish were analyzed for chlorinated hydrocarbon

pesticides and polychlorinated byphenyls (PCB's). Even though the use of

chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides has decreased in the past few years, their

long half-lives make them potentially dangerous for years to come.
Samples of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), the hard clam
(Mercenaria mercenaria , and the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus were collected

from various locations in the lower portion of Chesapeake Bay.

The method and procedure utilized in the analyses were essentially those

of the Environmental Protection Agency (A.J. Wilson; Pesticide Analytical

Manual for BCF contracting agencies; EPA Laboratory, Gulf Breeze, Florida).

They consist of drying the blended sample with anhydrous sodium sulfate, sox-

hlet extraction with petroleum ether, sample cleanup with activated florisil,

and analysis by gas chromotography.
The results of post-Agnes analysis are given in Table 4.3. Levels of

the DDT-family of pesticides in the post-Agnes oyster samples are essentially

the same as pre-Agnes levels. Polychlorinated biphenyls were present in
oysters sampled prior to Agnes but were not detected in the post-Agnes samples.

The levels of the DDT-family of pesticides in clams were less than 1 part

per billion, indicating no accumulation in these animals. DDT-family
pesticides were present in low levels in blue crabs but these levels are similar
to pre-Agnes levels. No PCB's were detected in clams or blue crabs.
Agnes apparently had no effect on the chlorinated hydrocarbon budget
in lower Chesapeake Bay. There is a possibility, however, that the flood might
have temporarily flushed PO's out of the system.

- 76 -

Table 4.3 Pesticides in edible portions of oysters, hard clams, and blue
crabs from Virginia following Hurricane Agnes. (M.M.S.)

Organism Location DDT-Family a (ppm) PCB(ppm--)
Oysters Lynnhaven Bay 0.002 NDb

Cherrystone Inlet 0.024

Old Plantation Creek 0.033

Mouth of Poquoson River 0.001

Pages Rock 0.001

Bells Rock 0.015

Hard Clam Elliots Ground 0.001 If

Back River, Public Rock 0.001 it

Back River Channel 0.001 11

York River 0.001 If

York River 0.001

Goodwin Island 0.001

Egg Island Bar 0.001 it

Plumtree Bar 0.001 11

Grand View 0.001

Blue Crabs Accomac County 0.010

Accomac County 0.003

Accomac County 0.007

Accomac County 0.020 If

Accomac County 0.039

a DDT-family DDT+DDE+DDD
b ND = nondetectable

-77-

SECTION 5. PLANKTON

5.1 General

Drifting about in Chesapeake Bay at the mercy of the water currents

is a large number of small plants and animals, collectively called plankton.

The minute drifting plants (including the diatoms, bacteria, and dino-
flagellates) make up the phytoplankton. The small crustaceans (copepods,

ostracods, mys'ids, and others), the arrowworms, the jellyfish, and the

eggs and larvae of many fish and invertebrates make up the zooplankton.

None of these plankters is capable of much directed self-propulsion,

they simply drift where the water currents take them. Thus a large in-

trusion of freshwater, sediment, and nutrients would be expected to seriously

disrupt the normal plankton populations in the Bay. It could wash many of

them into the ocean where they would perish, or by lowering the salinity

or increasing the sediment level it could make much of the Bay unsuitable

for the normal plankton. In contrast, the influx of nutrients would be

expected to stimulate growth of some phytoplankters.

Two problems complicate an evaluation of the effects of Agnes on plankton.

First, plankton studies are expensive, time-consuming, and require a high

degree of expertise. Second, because of the first, there is little back-

ground data for comparisons.

5.2 Maryland Waters

Little quantitative data on plankton in the Maryland part of Chesapeake

Bay is available yet. Apparently the flood-waters from Agnes washed many

fish and invertebrate eggs and larvae from nursery areas, and perhaps out

of the Bay, and the influx of nutrients stimulated phytoplankton production

in some areas after the suspended sediments had settled.

A study of fish eggs and larvae by the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory

was underway in the Elk River estuary and the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal

78 -

when Agnes hit. The samples have not yet been processed.
At the Smithsonian's Chesapeake Ray Center for Ecological Studies on
Rhode River, the distribution of plankton was reported changed because of
the flood, and the nutrients stimulated those remaining to bloom. Also
chlorophyll A, an index of the present abundance of phytoplankton, was
8 pg/L in Chesapeake Bay, but was much higher in Muddy Creek. The effect
of Agnes on the species composition will be difficult to evaluate because
the composition during the Spring of 1972 was different from that in other

years.

"Mahogany tides" in several areas of Chesapeake Bay were reported after

Agnes. These blooms of red phytoplankton were apparently stimulated by the

high levels of nutrients, warm temperatures, and sunshine that followed the

storm.

5.3 Virginia Waters.

Virginians were better able to access the effects of Agnes on Chesa-

peake Bay plankton. The zooplankton and plankton physiology projects with-
in the NSF-RANN study of Chesapeake Bay (VIMS) had been conducting studies of

the lower Bay and lower York River, respectively, for approximately one year

prior to the arrival of Hurricane Agnes. The studies were cooperative and

connected, with some identical stations in the mouth of the York River. They

were, therefore, in a unique position to combine efforts in a study of the

effects of Hurricane Agnes. A zooplankton survey was actually interrupted

by the arrival of Agnes, thereby providing data immediately prior to flood

conditions for comparisons.

Those measurements that had been routinely made by the plankton physiology

group were added to zooplankton sampling over the lower Bay, thereby providing

synoptic sampling of water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, light
transmission, dissolved nutrients, phytopigments, potential productivity and
heterotrophy, phytoplankton identity and enumeration, zooplankton biomass,

79 -

zooplankton identification and enumeration, and zooplankton biochemistry.

The programs will continue to conduct monthly sampling over the lower Bay to

monitor recovery.

In addition to the above efforts, zooplankton samples have been collected

on the Rappahannock River with a Miller sampler for comparison with large-

mesh nets used in assessment of effects on fish eggs and larvae.

Offshore collections were obtained on July 19-29 using Miller samplers

and estimates of heterotrophic potential and hydrographic data were obtained

during a CBI-Ridgely Warfield Cruise, 27 July-4 August.

Certain of the observations require much processing prior to use. This

report is limited to potential productivity, heterotrophy and some zooplankton

observations. Other data will be available at a later date.

Primary Productivity Potential: Primary productivity potential is defined by
the methodology employed. We use the 14 C-NaHC03 f i xati on i nto parti cul ate
matter ( that which does not pass a 0.45p filter) by photosynthesizing organ-
isms under controlled conditions of light intensity at ambient water tempera-

ture. Using the surface waters of York River mouth station as a reference,
the range of values is usually between 40-80 mg C/m3/hr from May 1971 to

August 1972. A trimodal distribution was noted during 1971 with peaks occurr-
ing in June (lowest), August (middle) and September-October (greatest). The

September-October peak was characterized by several dinoflagellate blooms in
1971 with productivity potentials as great as 192 mg C/m3/hr.
Immediately after Hurricane Agnes, 29-30 June, the productivity poten-
tial of the shallow waters of the western side of the lower bay were greater
than 80 mg C/m3/hr with a large area of the Lower Bay having "normal" values
of 40-60 mg Clm3/hr. A rather similar condition was evident at the time of

sampling one week later (6-7 July) but with a probable displacement of the

- 80 -

surface water masses toward the bay mouth. By 13-14 July, most of the lower
bay surface waters had productivity potential values greater than 80 mg C/m3/hr
and at least 2 pockets greater than 100 mg C/m3/hr. While the 80 mg C/m3/hr

values appear to be at the upper range of "normal" values, the pockets of

high productivity values may be considered excessive and caused in part by

Hurricane Agnes. One of these pockets was located at the mouth of the

James, whereas the other may be influenced by the shallower waters of the

western shore. By 24-27 July, at least one pocket of highly productive
waters (>100mg/C.m3/hr) still persisted (probably influenced by the shallower

waters of the Western Bay). Much of the lower Bay waters had productivities
between 40-80 mg C/m3/hr which may be close to normal values for this time

of year.

It is particularly noteworthy that the heterotrophic potential (see

next section) was maximal at this time.

By 14-21 August, the upper and western reaches of the Lower Bay waters
(the less saline regions) had high productivities (greater than 100 mg C/m3/hr).

These values are in excess of those measured during the previous year for

the York River mouth Station.

By 12-14 September, the productivity potentials were in the range
of 60-100 mg C/m3/hr which may be normal for this part of the year. No
areas have productivity potentials greater than 100 mg/ C/m3/hr and no

pockets of "Red Waters" were encountered.

Heterotrophic Potential of the Lower Chesapeake Bay: The potential hetero-

trophic activity of the estuarine plankton community was estimated using
14C-labeled organic substrates incubated with natural water samples. The

heterotrophic potential is a total response generally attributed to bacteria

and other microscopic planktonic species.

- 81 -

Between June of 1971 and May of 1972, the heterotrophic potential of

the water column at a station at the mouth of the York River was investigated

weekly until September and then monthly from October to May. There were two

high periods of heterotrophic potential: one in the spring (May-June) and one

in the late summer (August-September). During the time of these measurements,
the range for these numbers was 0.4 to 1.2 mg glucose/m3 /hr, with a few excep-

tions. The records for heterotrophic potential indicates a minimum of

activity during the winter months while the waters are cool.

On 29-30 June, the first cruise in the lower Bay after Hurricane

Agnes, the heterotrophic production at the 1-meter-deep level peaked in two
ranges: 0.6-1.0 and 1.0-2.0 mg glucose/m 3/hr. The lower range approximates

the seasonal norm (York River). The higher heterotrophic potential existed

in the more shallow regions of both the Bay side of the Eastern Shore and the

western side of the Bay.

By 6-7 July, the higher range values were still apparent along the

shallow waters including one ver.v dense value near Cape Charles.

By 13-14 July there were primarily three levels of concentration of

heterotrophic potential. The areas of high heterotrophic potential appeared

to have coalesced into a single large area in mid-bay. Intermediate potentials

occurred in the waters of Mobjack, York River, and the lower Bay out to the

Capes. The low potential waters occupied the area around the James River.

Near the end of July (Figure 5.1) the entire lower Bay had considerable

heterotrophic potential. Precise interpretation is difficult because of

limited background data from previous years. It is thought that these

extremely high heterotrophic values are probably a summation of (1) the

anticipated seasonal effect and (2) the contribution caused by Hurricane Agnes

waters entering the Lower Bay. The high water temperatures (26-280), lowered

760 30' n-I 200 T6-1 101 76-104Y

370 370
;@07

370 > Z.0 370
30' 'q*,V4 rA iv 9 30'

....... ..... .......

................
imi ..... .......
..... .......
..... .. ..
. ........
P-P ......... *j--'--'j'-*j,'.'-'*.'.
-0

370 370
... ... .......
20, 20'

rORK 0*

37* 374
10 10'
CA 4
... . . CHA 118
.. .........

....................

0.6 -1.2

............

.... ..........................

370 376
01 EWPORT
NEWS Od
..................

.. .............
4144f E S
AP
ENRY
TGO 30' T60 20 T6-1 10' 7601 00,

Figure 5.1. Heterotrophic Potential (Vmax glucose) of Surface Waters,(at 1
meter depth) of the Lower Chesapeake Bay. (mg glucose/m'/hr)
24-27 July 1972. (V.I.M.S..)

83 -

salinity, increased turbidity, and high silt load all probably contributed

to these maximal heterotrophic potentials--the highest seen in the Lower Bay

between May 1971 and September 1972.

Dominant Plankters: The following discussion is based on oblique zooplankton
tows with 8 inch-diameter Bongo nets constructed of 202 micron mesh (Nitex),

and vertical pump samples from depth to surface. The former provide two

replicate samples from each station, one of which is preserved in 5% for-

malin for settled volume and taxonomic determinations. The duplicate

sample is washed in distilled water to remove salt, then is freeze-dried

for determiantions of dry weight and biochemical constituents. Verti-

cal pump samples are passed through a final 35 micron filter and pre-

served in Lugol's iodine solution for phytoplankton identifications and

counts.

Estimates of dry weight, shown as mean weight per cubic meter are

still incomplete. The preliminary data demonstrate close correlation with

measurements of settled volume, generally considered a less accurate measure

of biomass. Dry weight data show a high biomass in August 1971, declining

to a low in November, increasing to a second peak in March, dropping in

April, then beginning to rise once again.

Very similar results are evident for settled volume (Figure 5.2) for

the period. These data were obtained by settling preserved zooplankton

in Imhoff cones for 24 hours, then calculating cruise averages. Seasonal

peaks and trends are identical to those observed for dry weight. The
immediate pre- and post-flood observations are shown in (Figure 5.3),

with the insertion of the three weekly Agnes cruises. Much of the increase

in the June 29-30 cruise was due to an abundance of Mnemiopsis leidyi and a

bloom of Rhizosolenia calcar-avis. Biomass then declined (as did both
Mnemiopsis and RhizosolenLa) until the 24-27 July cruise when some "recovery"

SETTLED VOLUME OF ZOOPLANKTON
10- LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY
AUG. 1971-SEPT. 1972

W 6-

0
> 5-

0
W
-i
4-

0 A S 0 N D J F M A M i J A S
1971 1972
M 0 N T H
km

Figure 5.2. Mean settled volume in ml/m3 of zooplankton in lower Chesapeake Bay,
monthly cruises August 1971-September 1072. (V-I-M.S

8- AGNES
4W
7- 7
N
N

6-
E

W
2 CO
4-

3-
W

N
N

0
A M i A S
Figure 5.3. Mean settled volume during cruises of lower Chesapeake Bay
immediately before and after Tropical Storm Agnes. Special
weekly cruises have been inserted between regular June and
July monthly cruises. O.I.M.S.)

- 86 -

was noted. The seasonal peak in August 1972 was considerably lower than

that observed one year earlier.

Flood effects on zooplankton can easily be confused with normal biolog-

ical cycles in the bay waters. Previous studies have shown a close rela-

tionship of abundance among Mnemiopsis leidyi, Beroe ovata, and crustacean
zooplankton (Burrell, 1968). Mnemiopsis', a tentaculate ctenophore that

feeds on small crustacean zooplankton, reaches a peak of abundance in June

in these waters. Beroe, a ctenophore without tentacles, appears in late

June and July. Mnemiopsis.severely reduces crustacean zooplankton at

its seasonal peak, is preyed on by Beroe in early July, resulting in a de-

crease in Mnemiopsis.and allowing recovery of crustacean zooplankton. This

annual cycle occurred at the time of reduction and recovery of biomass

shown above as possible flood effects.

If short term changes in biomass immediately before and after the flood

are clouded by the Mnemiopsis-Beroe-crustacean-zooplankton cycle, one may

have to resort to annual differences. The flood conditions could have

contributed to the large decrease in biomass seen in a comparison of Au-

gust 1971 with August 1972 levels. Table 5-1 lists the major components

of zooplankton collections taken from subarea B during August cruises of

1971 and 1972. Counts of the listed groups show a generil decrease in

all taxa, but a very great decrease in cladocerans. The reduced biomass

in 1972 may be attributed almost entirely to the relative scarcity of

cladocerans. Preliminary specific identifications of cladocerans show,

further, that the largest difference lies in a reduction of Penilia Aviros-

tris, a possible direct effect of flooding.

- 87 -

Table 5-1. Zooplankton composition, subarea B, August of 1971 and 1972.

Numbers per Cubic Meter

1971 1972

Cladocera 145,000 795

Copepoda 11,700 4,840

Decapoda 571 82

Tunicata 318 282

Fish Eggs 52 29

Fish Larvae 14 9

Cirripedia 43 4

Mysidacea 20 1

Chaetognatha 16 2

Apparent effects of flood conditions can be summarized as an unusual

bloom of Rhizosolenia, a decline in zooplankton for a period of about three

weeks, then a gradual recovery to the seasonal August peak. The August

peak, however, was considerably depressed compared with that of 1971.

The obvious difficulty in assessing flood effects by annual differences

is that we are severely limited in point comparisons. Without a number of

yearly observations, one cannot know whether 1971 or 1972 or either was

an exceptional year.
Further analysis of collections would provide definition of qualitative
differences, where they exist. The continued presence of freshened water
in the lower Bay throughout the summer of 1972 most certainly would affect
those species within sorted categories that have limited tolerance for
reduced salinity. Species composition may have been significantly altered.

- 88 -

SECTION 6: FISHERIES

6.0. The Value of Chesapeake Bay's Fisheries.

World-famous for its seafood, the Chesapeake Bay produces
more blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria

and striped bass (Morone saxatilis) than anywhere else in the world,

and ranks high in the production of American or eastern oysters
(Crassostrea virginica).

The commercial fisheries harvest at least 64 species of finfish and

shellfish from Chesapeake Bay. In 1971, the preliminary figures on the

landings of fishery products from the Chesapeake region totaled 562 million

pounds and were valued at $40 million, dockside or exvessel price (National

Marine Fisheries Service, 1972). In 1968, the last year with a complete

compilation of U. S. fish landings, the blue crab catch of Chesapeake Bay

accounted for 48% of the total U. S. catch, and the production of soft-shell

clams was even more impressive, making up 54% of the U. S. catch (N.M.F.S.,

1971). Chesapeake Bay production of American oysters follows only the Gulf

States, accounting for 37% of the U.S. catch. Although unimpressive on a

percentage basis, with only 10% of the total U.S. catch, the landings of

finfish from Chesapeake Bay was worth $8 million, dockside. The striped bass,

for which this bay is the greatest nursery as well as source, yielded 5.7 million

pounds worth more than one million dollars to the fishermen. These
commerical landings were produced by 15,418 Maryland and Virginia fishermen (Ibid.).

The exvessel price of $40 million for the commercial fisheries indicates

only part of the worth of the catch to Chesapeake Bay because processers9

distributors, and retailers also earn money from it; the retail price is a

good measure of the full worth of the catch. The National Marine Fisheries

89 -

Service (N.M.F.S., 1972) estimates4 that the retail price of domestic

fisheries products is equivalent to 3.07 times the exvessel price. Thus,

for Chesapeake Bay the full revenue from the commercial fisheries is about

$122.8 million dollars ($40 million times 3.07). Commercial fishing in

Chesapeake Bay is a big business.

The burgeoning recreational fishery is important too, but it is much harder

to appraise. The catch of striped bass by sportsmen, for example, probably

exceeds the commercial catch. Wallace, et al., (1972), estimated the annual

economic value of Maryland's part of the Bay's recreational fishery at $145

million. The value of Virginia's recreational fishery is probably similar.

Thus, the total revenue from recreational fishing is about $290 million.

The combined revenue from the commercial and recreational fisheries

of Chesapeake Bay, therefore, comes to about $413 million.

An important point to recognize is that this revenue represents not

the total value of the Bay's fisheries resources but, rather, the annual

interest. The total value of these resources must be equated to a capital

investment that would produce this annual interest at, say, a simple interest

rate of 6%--or about $6.7 billion.

An analysis of the effects of a force, such as Hurricane Agnes, on the

fisheries resources of the Bay is complicated by many factors. These resources

are hidden from sight and must be evaluated indirectly by sampling. Also, the

size of the bay and the rapid mobility of many organisms, like the crabs and

fish, makes adequate sampling difficult or impractical. Further, organisms

that die are rarely noticed since they sink to the bottom and are quickly

disposed of by crabs, bacteria, and other scavengers. As a result of these

and other complications, the effects of Hurricane Agnes on the Bay's fisheries

4"Estimated on the basis of actual and estimated weighted average mark-
ups for each of the 17 most important species of fish and shellfish and an
overall mark-up for the remaining species." (N.M.F.S., 1972).

- 90 -

may never be fully known. Many of the details can, however, be measured

and assessed. The following subsections discuss what is now known about

the effects of Hurricane Agnes on the fisheries resources and on the

fisheries.

6.1. Oysters

6.1 a. Introduction

Oysters in Chesapeake Bay suffered through a bad year in 1972. The

year started out with the salinity of the bay already depressed beca@se of the

above-average river flows of late 1971. The high inflow of fresh water

continued through May. By April the lowered salinities (and rising water
temDeratures) were threatening to kill oysters in the upper parts of some

rivers. The salinity of the Potomac River at Morgantown, Maryland, for

example, had been below 5%.since January. Prolonged exposure to low salinities

is well-known as A cause of oyster mortalities and reproduction failures
(for details, see the papers cited in Joyce's 1972 annotated bibliography).

Then, in June, Agnes came along.

The first effect of Agnes on the oyster industry was felt when the levels

of bacteria in oyster-growing waters exceeded the permissible levels for

shellfish harvesting areas. Flood waters from Agnes had inundated sewage

treatment plants in the drainage basins and washed the raw and partially

treated sewage into Chesapeake Bay. The sewage bacteria probably did not

affect the oysters directly, but the high number of bacteria in the water--and

in the oysters--forced the state health departments to close all shellfish

growing areas to harvesting. Even though the closure was temporary, the

oyster harvesters, processors, and distributors suffered economic loss. In

addition, many consumers, worried about contaminated seafood, quit eating

oysters as well as other seafood. The main problem, however, was not

- 91

polluted oysters, it was dead oysters.

Many Chesapeake Bay oysters died because of Hurricane Agnes. Although

high sediment loads and low dissolved oxygen levels might have caused, or help

cause, some deaths, experience coupled with frequent samplings of the

oyster bars showed conclusively that the low salinities associated with

Agnes was the primary cause of oyster deaths.

Immediately after the storm had passed, research vessels were dispatched

to sample the oyster bars of Maryland and Virginia. These sampling trips con-

tinued throughout the summer and will continue into the summer of 1973.

The procedure for evaluating the effects of Agnes on oysters consists

of dredging or tonging samples of oysters off the bars, then determining what

percentage of those oysters were recently killed. A recently killed oyster

(recent box) is one where the two shells are still attached at the hinge and

the inner surfaces of the shells are clean. Records are also kept of dying

(gaping) oysters; the condition of the live (small and market-sized) oysters;

whether or not the adult oysters have spawned; salinity, temperature, and dis-

solved oxygen content of the water; and the abundance and condition of oyster

pests and predators.

Figure 6.1 shows where major losses of oysters occurred.

6.1.b. Maryland Oysters, Other Than Potomac River Oysters

Mortalities by Time and Place

To date CBL has made three sampling trips to Maryland oyster bars.

The first trip ran from 9 to 12 July, the second from 24 July to I August,

and the third from 28 to 29 August. The results of these trips show

increasing mortalities with time.

- 92

cop

BA@Lxl MO E

WASRINSTON

14ESAPEAK
Wo (C^A--
LAS.

ille,N

RIC b

A# MA73OR L6SSES
FROM AeNES
W 0 SoFr-sfim
&_ .4 CLAMS
MILAS 0 OYST@RS

Figure 6.1. Map showing the areas with major losses of soft-shell clams
and oysters from Hurricane Agnes. (C.B.L.)

- 93 -

The first trip (9-12 July) found few dead oysters. This trip

sampled oyster bars above the Bay Bridge, in the Chester and Patuxent

Rivers, and in Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds. Most samples contained all

live oysters although some oysters were weak. Live qysters were found from

Tolchester southward in the main part of the bay, in the Chester River,

and in Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds. The only recent mortalities were

found in the Patuxent River (O.F to 33.3%) and in the upper bay above

Tolchester (20.0%).
The highest mortality (33.3%) occurred above Benedict in the Patuxent

River. Here, the salinity on the bottom of the river was 0.8%, and the

bar was heavily silted. Light mortalities (0.84 to 5.2%) were found in

the lower part of the Patuxent River, where the salinities were above

4.0%. Most Patuxent River oysters were ready to spawn; many appeared to

have fed recently.

The dead oysters above Tolchester, in the upper Bay, appeared to have

been buried. The live ones were weak and easily opened. The salinity was

only 0.15%,

At all the bars sampled on this first trip the dissolved oxygen

levels and water temperatures were adequate for oyster survival.

The second trip (24 July to I August) resampled many of the bars visited

on the first trip; but more attention was given to the bars in the main part

of the bay, and Tangier Sound was bypassed.

Hiqh mortalities were found in the main part of the upper bay, 51.2% at

Tolchester, 22.7% near Annapolis, and 13.4% eastward of Poplar Island. In

the Patuxent, mortalities up to 15.4% were recorded. All along the lower

eastern shore, from Eastern Bay to Pocomoke Sound, however, only a few

recently dead oysters were found.

- 94

The third trio (28, 29 August) resampled oyster bars in the upper bay

and the Choptank River. Above Swan Point accumulated mortalities exceeded

75%. Mortalities were also high in the upper Chester River (40%) and in the

upper Choptank River (18%). In the main part of the bay, however, mortalities

were less than 10%.

Prolonged exposure to low salinities frequently kills oysters. Generally,

there will be few mortalities at salinities above 5%; massive mortalities

at salinities below lt, and variable mortalities between 1 and 5%. The

magnitude of mortalities in the critical range is determined by the length

of exposure, the salinity level, the water temperature, and the genetic

makeup of the oysters. Figure 6.2 shows the variation with time in the

downstream location of the Mand 5%,isohalines for depths of 6 and 20 feet.

From this figure it can be seen, for example, that at the Chesapeake

Bay Bridge the salinity remained below 5%for about 6 weeks.

The Economic Loss to Maryland's Oyster Industrj

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources estimated that the Maryland

oyster industry will have lost 824,000 bushels of marketable oysters

because of Hurricane Agnes. At a dockside value of U.50/bushel, this loss

amounts to $3,708,000. But more than the harvester's earnings.are involved,

and the loss to processers, packers, and retailers must also be considered.

Seiling estimated that the total economic loss to the Maryland oyster industry

for 1972 might amount to $14,835,500. 1

Future effects are exceptionally difficult to assess, since Agnes

occurred when the oysters were spawning. The low salinities probably reduced

or destroyed the new seed croo. Damage will certainly be felt over the next

several years, and may be of serious importance for even longer. One of

the direct effects of Agnes that cannot yet be evaluated is the increased

exploitation of the surviving beds as olvstermen crowd onto them.

28-
24:
20
IX
12-

28-
24-
20 -
16-
12-
8-
4-
28-- 5 0X00-
24-
20: 20 ft.
16- 20 ft.
C - f t. 6ft
12
8
4
20 30 go go 7,0 go @0 160 Il'o 1@0 I@o I@o 190 190 17'0
DISTANCE FROM MOUTH OF SUSQUEHANNA RIVER ( HAVRE DE GRACE ) IN KILOMETERS

Figure 6.2. Temporal variation of the locations of the 1%.and 5%.
isohalines at the 6 and 20 ft. levels along the axis
of the Ra,v following Agnes. (C.B.I.)

- 96 -

6.1.c. Potomac River Oysters

The Potomac River estuary lies in Maryland but fishing rights are
shared equally by Maryland and Virginia fishermen. The fisheries of the
Potomac River are regulated by the interstate Potomac River Fisheries

Commission.

Maryland and Virginia scientists have made 12 sampling trips to assay
the effect of Agnes on Potomac River oysters and further sampling will

be conducted.

Oysters in the upper Potomac River suffered heavy mortalities. Oysters

upstream from a line connecting Cobb Island, Maryland to Popes Creek,

Virginia had suffered about 10% mortality by mid-July. By the first of

August these mortalities climbed to more than 70%. By the end of August

nearly all of these oysters had died (89 to 100%). The salinity in this

part of the Potomac was depressed before Agnes arrived, then Agnes came and

kept the salinity below 5%,until after the first of August.

Oysters in the Potomac downstream from the Cobb Island-Popes Creek

line fared better. By mid-July no more than 6% of the oysters had died on

any bar. More oysters had died by 25 July, but the highest mortality for any

bar in the lower river was 12.6%. None had died near the mouth of the River.

By the end of August some mortality had occurred to oysters living farther

down the Potomac, e.g., 11% at Coles Point. The oysters on the bar at

Bluff Point in St. Clement Bay, however, had 100% mortality. Overall, the

oysters living in the lower potomac appeared to be in good condition by

1 September, most apparently had been feeding, and some had spawned.

In summary, oyster biologists estimate that about half of the marketable

oysters in the Potomac River were killed by the low salinities brought on by

Hurricane Agnes. A period of reduced catches is inevitable. On the briahter

97 -

side, the large amount of nutrients brought down by the flood stimulated

plankton production, which in turn permitted the surviving oysters to

"fatten" in August, a month or so earlier than normal. So, even though

there are few oysters to harvest, those that are harvested will have a high

yield. If seed stocks of the proper types can be utilized and if

environmental conditions are favorable the Potomac River oyster bars can

eventually be restored to their former levels of productivity.

6.1.d Virginia Oysters

General

Estimates of damage to the Virginia oyster industry were based on

extensive series of samples of bottom material collected from public

oyster rocks and private oyster leases beginning on 24 June, 1972 and extending

throughout the mortality period.

For public oyster rocks in Virginia and in the Potomac River, it was

possible to obtain an estimate of what part of the total resource was damaged.

This was done by relating our estimate of the percent mortality for the various

areas, obtained during our surveys, to data on numbers of bushels of oysters

produced by each river during the preceeding years. These data on catch have

been obtained since 1963 for the Potomac by the Potomac River Fisheries

Commission and losses are estimated in the preceeding section. For Virginia

the data have been collected bv the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.

Estimating the actual number of bushels of oysters killed on private

leases, in respect to size of the resource, could not be accomplished

directly since the state of Virginia does not require growers to report

where oysters are cultured or how many are harvested. Only the grower knows

where his oysters are growing and how many exist on his lease.

Even though this information is lacking certain generalizations can be
made. It is possible to estimate (in respect to river systems) the percent
of the oysters on private leases that was killed by Agnes.

- 98

For example, the general areas where private growers culture oysters

are well known since they can only be grown on leased grounds. The location

of these leased areas are clearly marked on charts on file at the Virginia

Marine Resources Commission. Generally, they exist along the margins of the

shore, since most of the public grounds are located in the central portions of

the estuaries.

The region where private growers culture their crop is also outlined

by environmental conditions. Low salinity effectively places an upriver

limit to culture and this location is known so its approximate location

in each river may be marked on a chart. The downriver limit to culture is

also known, due to the occurrence of oyster diseases such as Dermocystidium

and MSX and also predators such as the oyster drill Urosalpinx.cinerea.which

make oyster culture impractical in these high salinity regions. For example, in

the estuary of the Rappahannock River, where oyster mortality due to Agnes

was highest for the state, almost all oysters are planted in the upper half,

from Accaceek Point to Waterview. In the James, private beds are located

along the shore of the system; few exist in deeper water, few, if any, are

planted in the lower half. In the York River commercial plantings are

concentrated in a 10-mile stretch in the upper third of the river from

Bell Rock Light to Roane Point.
For this study, we based our estimates on the premise that oysters
killed by Agnes on private leases in Virginia come from seed produced in
Virginia; this is a reasonable assumption since the areas influenced by
Agnes have little natural set. These values for seed production in bushels
apportioned to various rivers were doubled to allow for the natural growth

and multiplied by their dollar value of the bushel price at harvest.
The seed production from the James, Great Wicomico and Piankatank
rivers (which were the sources of seed for the areas influenced by Agnes)

- 99 -

was totaled for the past three years since it was recognized that three

years are required for the seed to reach maturity. That is, seed planted in

the 1969-70, 1970-71, and 1971-72 seasons was killed by Agnes. Next, on the

basis of interviews with officials of the Virginia Marine Resources

Commission and also on the basis of our knowledge and from interviews with

growers, we estimated the percent of the total seed planted in each river.

Therefore, it was,possible to estimate the actual number of bushels of seed

planted in each river for the period from 1969 to 1972. These values were

multiplied by two since,on the average, in the upper Rappahannock and

Potomac estuaries a return of two bushels of market oysters may be expected

for every bushel of seed planted. Numbers of bushels were then multiplied

by the expected bushel price. The results of these studies are summarized

below by river system.

Mortalities by Time and Place

James River: Sampling in this system began on 24 June 1972 and continued

at bi-weekly intervals through most of July. Surface and bottom salinities

became quite low immediately after the 24th and the surface water had no

measurable salt as far down stream as the James River Bridge during the first two

weeks of sampling.

For public rocks, excessive damage was confined to the upper part of the

system. The furthest rock upriver known as Deep Water Shoals, showed 67Z

mortality while Horsehead, the next bar down river, showed only 9%.
Mulberry Swash (slightly down river from Horsehead) showed a 10% mortality. It
was estimated that mortality for public rocks for the entire river was about 10%.
On private beds mortality was limited to a very narrow band in shallow

water. On the East side the zone began at Jail Point just above the entrance

to the Warwick River and extended upriver to Mulberry Point. In this region,

- 100 -

mortalities collected on 8 September 1972 ranged from 46% at the lower end to

76% upriver. On the West side of the James many samples of oysters were collected

from six separate leases in a region extending one-half mile above and below the

James River Bridge. Here only a normal count for the season was noted (less than

10% recent boxes). No mortalities were reported for the vicinity of the Pagan

River. However, our survey showed that a private lease located in from 4 to 6 feet
(MLW) above Days Point showed from 23 to 60% mortality.

In summary it was evident that for the James, mortalities extpnded almost

4 miles further downriver along shore than they did toward the center of the

river. Mortalities for the system were estimated at about 10% for private rocks

and less than 5% for private leases.

York River: This system has been surveyed 10 times since 24 June 1972.

Oyster mortality on public grounds were negligible and oyster mortality at

Bells Rock in the upper part of the system was average for the season.

Damage to oysters was largely confined to private leases in the upper river

in the*vicinity of Bells Rock. An estimated 2% of the oysters in the York

River were killed as a result of Agnes. Flood-related mortalities were not

found after late July.
Rappahannock River: This system has been surveyed 16 times since 24

June 1972.
Damage to oysters on public rocks in the Rappahannock was confined
to Ross Rock in the upper river just below Tappahannock. Damage to oysters
on private leases was extensive. Salinities in shallow water in the mortality
area ranged from 0 to about 3%.during the mortality period. Oysters began
dying on 30 June with peak mortality occurring about 5 July. Flood-related

- 101 -

mortalities were not found after 14 August. The area most seriously

influenced extended on the south side of the river from 1-1/2 miles below

to 3 miles above Bowler's Wharf (the upper limit of oyster culture). In this
zone the good oyster bottoms are located in from 4 to 6 feet (MLW).

Mortalities here range from 69 to 100%.
On the north side of the Rappahannock the mortality zone extends
from Accoceek Point (about 5 miles below Tappahannock) to about I mile
below Farnham Creek at depth of less than 6 feet (MLW). In this area

mortalities ranged from about 48 to 86%. At depth ranging from 6 to 10 feet,

mortalities were lower and ranged from about 19 to 74%. In deeper water,

mortalities were still lower, but few oysters in this region are planted

at depths greater than 14 feet (MLW).

Mortalities from fresh water were light to zero below Farnham Creek

and 1-1/2 miles below Bowlers Wharf with the single exception of one bed

in shallow water near Jones Point, and two beds in very shallow water at

Butylo.
On 22 September 1972 a single survey was made of public and private oyster

grounds in the Corrotoman River. Based upon numbers of recent boxes, mortalities

in the upper-most portion of the river on private leases ranged from 20% at the

Otterman Sharf Ferry Landing to 22% off John Creek. Public rocks from Shelton

Bar in the upper river to Corrotoman Bar in the lower river all had less than

20% mortal i ty.

An estimated 50% of the oysters on private leases in the Rappahannock

were killed by Agnes.

- 102

Potomac River Tributaries (Virginia): Seven surveys have been made

in this region. There was considerable damage to both public and private oyster

beds in the Lower Machodoc Creek and in Nomini Creek. In Lower Machodoc Creek,

up river from Narrows Point, from 68 to 75% of the oysters had died; by 28 July

1972 down river from Narrows Point mortalities ranged from 17 to 43%. Low

oxygen conditions developed on 22 August, and caused further mortalities. In

Nomini Creek mortalities ranged from 24 to 93% on 20 July 1972. Reports suggest

that nearly all oysters are now dead due to a combination of low oxygen and

fresh water.

The Economic Loss to Virginia's Oyster Fishery
In addition to the loss Virginia oystermen suffered from the destruction

of the Potomac River oyster stocks, VIMS estimated the financial loss to

Virginia oyster planters at $7.9 million.

This estimate is based primarily upon the amount of 1969, 1970, and 1971

seed planted in the various river basins (a three-year cycle is chosen because

it takes approximately three years to produce market oysters from seed, and
1969, 1970 and 1971 seed were present on the oyster beds at the time of Agnes).

Assumptions of the estimate are as follows:

(1) Seed oysters planted in the affected areas came from the James,

Piankatank, and Great Wicomico Rivers.
(2) Of the total seed produced by these areas, the following percentages

were placed in the rivers indicated:

James 5%

York 10%.

Rappahannock 50%

Potomac Tributaries 25%

The remaining 10% was placed in unaffected areas.

- 103

(3) Oyster mortalities in the various rivers are based on field

surveys by VIMS personnel as well as reports received from

members of the industry. These mortalities are:

James 10%

York 2%

Rappahannock 50%

Potomac Tributaries 70%

(4) The natural increase is that normally expected in the affected

areas, two bushels of market oysters harvested for each bushel

of seed planted.

(5) The value assigned to a bushel of market oysters for 1971--

$5.10--is based on information obtained from the Potomac River

Fisheries Commission. The estimated rate of increase used in the

calculations (20% per year) is believed to be a normal one. (The

actual rate of increase will probably be higher due to a scarcity

of oysters accompanied by an increase in price.)

(6) Areas which sustained the heaviest mortalities are in general poor

setting areas, at the upper portion of the respective river basins.

They are, however, good growing areas, free from pests, diseases, and

predators, and are heavily planted with seed. Due to their upstream

position, the major losses were sustained among these planted oysters.

The computations are as follows:

- 104

Computed Oyster Losses

Seed Produced (Bushels)

Year
River 1999 1976 1971

James 486,536 264,203 439,294
Piankatank 3,848 3,581 0
Great Wicomico 50,776 -98,380 1262387
Totals 541,160 366,164 565,681

All bushels are Virginia bushels (A Virginia bushel contains 3,000.9 cubic
inches).

% of Total Seed Planted (Bushels)
River Seed Received 1969 1970 1971

James 5% 27,058 18,308.2 28,284.1
York 10% 54,116 36,616.4 56,568.1
Rappahannock 50% 270,580 183,082.0 282,840.5
Potomac Tributaries 25% 135,290 91,541.0 141,420.3

Note: Unaffected areas received 10% of total seed planted.

Oysters Lost (Bushels)
% of Oysters
River Lost 1969 1970 1971

James 10% 2,705.8 1,830.8 2,828.5
York 2% 1,082.3 732.3 1,131.4
Rappahannock 50% 135,290.0 91,541.0 141,420.3
Potomac Tributaries 70% 94,703.0 64,078.7 98,994.4

Natural Growth from the Seed Planted @3 year cycle)
River Year (and Growth Factor)
TT-(W 70 (X2) 71(X2)

James 5,411.6 3,661.6 5,656.9
York 2,164.6 1,464.7 2,262.7
RaDpahannock 270,580.0 183,082.0 282,840.5
Potomac Tributaries 189,406.0 128,157.4 197,968.7

- 105 -

Value Lost

Year @and value/bushell
River 69 (5.10) 70 (6.12) 71 (7.34) Total

James 27,599.2 22,409.2 41,521.7 91,530.1
York 11,039.6 8,963.7 16,608.4 36,611.7
Rappahannock 1,379,958.0 1,120,461.8 2,076,049.3 4,576,469.1
Potomac Tributaries 965,970.6 784,323.3 1,453,237.1 3,203,531.0

Virginia Total $7,908,141.9

It is believed that this estimate is a minimal figure for two reasons.

First, estimates of losses based on seed planted are of course minimal since

there is some natural set, even in the areas under discussion. Second, and

perhaps more important, estimated losses based only on direct mortalities will

not give a true picture of the economic damage. An example may clarify this. An

oyster planter experiencing mortalities of 50% or more may find it uneconomical

to harvest the survivors, i.e. the density of oysters on the bed may be too low to

effectively harvest. Even if the bed is replanted and harvested later, some of the

licarry-over" oysters will have been lost (mortalities due to old-age, predators,
diseases, etc.). Therefore, taking the Potomac tributaries as an example where

the estimated loss was 70%, it might be more realistic to count the remaining

30% as virtually lost and to apply a factor of 100% instead of the observed 70%.

The value estimate of 7.9 million dollars is only the primary market@

value. After processing this estimate would at least double (depending upon the

pack); and, depending upon the choice of an appropriate multiplier, after

retailing would be from three to five times the primary market value. Thus the

total cost to the coastal economy would be considerably in excess of 7.9 million

dollars.

- 106 -

6.1.e. Success of Oyster Reproduction in 1972.

Hurricane Agnes came into Chesapeake Bay just as the oysters were
beginning to spawn. Many of the live oysters collectqd since Agnes had

spawned to some extent.

In the American oyster, Crassostree virginica, the eggs are spawned

into the water where fertilization takes place. The fertilized eggs are

carried about by the water currents while they develop into free-swimming

larvae. After a larval life lasting for two or three weeks the larvae

cement themselves to objects on the bottom, such as oyster shells (a process

called setting), and begin their life as sessile animals. The set is the seed

of future oyster crops.

The success of setting in Maryland waters is unknown at this -time.

In Virginia,oyster setting has been monitored at 57 stations since

19 June 1972. The results show that as of I October 1972 there has been an

almost complete absence of set in almost all major river systems in Virginia

with the exception of the Mobjack Bay region and the Seaside of the Eastern

Shore. While cause and effect have not been demonstrated there is 'little

doubt that the excessive fresh.water run-off associated with Agnes 'is in some

way associated with the absence of set. Note that of the three most

important seed rivers of Virginia, the Great Wicomico and the Piankatank,

have received no set, and the James only a Very light set. This is mos't

unfortunate since if no set occurs this year then the supply of seed

in 1973 will be limited at the time when demand will be at an all time high.

- 107 -

6.1.f Oyster Predators

In oyster growing areas where the average salinity exceeds 15%, oyster

predators seriously affect oyster production. Since most of Maryland's oysters

grow in low-salinity waters they are relatively free of predators. Virginia's

oysters, however, are not so lucky.

The most important effect of Agnes on shellfish communities in the bay,

other than killing large number of clams and oysters, was the decimation of

oyster drills. No statistics are yet available on Maryland or Potomac River

drills, although biologists believe that the oyster drills in Tangier Sound

should have been killed.

Virginia, however, has preliminary data from SCUBA surveys and trap

catches; these data indicate a dramatic reduction in distribution and

abundance of drills or screwborers. Urosalpinx cinerea and Eupleura caudata

do not have pelagic larvae hence are slow to extend their distributions.

Transplantation by oystermen and phoresis of newly hatched young are the

maJor means of movement.

The usual "drill lines" are fairly well established by 25 years of fall

surveys where live drills, egg cases and drilled spat were the criteria for

abundance and distribution. These lines were about at Towles Point in the

Rappahannock River, Claybank in the York River, and Brown Shoals, above the

bridge in the James. The lines moved upriver a few miles during the drought

years of the mid-1960's.

Drills appear to have been eradicated from the Rappahannock River,

releasing thousands of acres of public oyster beds with light but regular

oyster spatfalls for shell plantings and new production. Another year of

monitoring will be necessary to confirm this conclusion and to determine if

a buffer zone down to New Point Comfort has been established. The oyster-

growing potential of this river is very great if protection and management

- 108

activities are instituted promptly. The Rappahannock River has always been
marginal for drill survival and reproduction, hence an elaborate plan for
releasing fresh water in wet years for drill control has been proposed in
connection with the Salem-Church Dam.

The York River at Gloucester Point is a much more favorable habitat for

oyster drills; some field studies and many long-term observations provide

background. In the past large numbers of drills were picked off the pilings

at low tides and hundreds were trapped with trays of oysters or baited bags on the

bottom. The abundance of drills on abandoned oyster beds above Gloucester

Point, and away from piers and pilings, was most vividly demonstrated in the fall

of 1971. A very heavy natural spatfall occurred in September 1971 in the lower

York River with counts of hundreds of spat per shell on weekly test strings.

Nearly 100 trays of oysters on the oyster ground also caught many spat. Within

weeks, hundreds of drills had climbed into the trays, which were held one foot

.off the bottom by four iron legs, using algal and eel grass "bridges." The

abundance of drills living on food other than oysters was dramatically demonstrated.

About a month after salinities below 10%.had occurred from Agnes storm waters,

a preliminary SCUBA survey around VIMS pier pilings revealed that drills were

scarce. A series of traps baited with mussels and oyster spat has yielded about

two drills per trap per week. Most of these are small drills of the 1971 year

class, but both Urosalpinx and Eupleura are present. Egg cases have not been

found. Nearly all the September 1971 oyster spatfall on natural bottom

had been killed by drills before Agnes struck, hence there are not strongly
competitive baits in the area. The timbers in the intertidal zone of VIMS piers
are crowded with yearling oysters that are out of reach of drills. Above the

Gloucester Point area, no drills have been caught yet. They were almost

exterminated in this area which has usual annual salinity ranges of 15 to 25L

and rarely drops to 107. even for a day.

- 109 -

In the James River, trapping and searching began at the Hampton Roads

Bridge Tunnel and Hampton Bar. A few clusters of egg cases were found, most

of which had hatched, and only a few drills have been caught in baited traps.

Furthermore, several small 1972 oyster spat were seen on dredged shell which

is not expected on Hampton Bar where drills formerly exhibited the highest

abundance in Chesapeake Bay. It is most unfortunate, therefore, that oyster

setting has failed--the most nearly complete spat failure throughout the western

shore of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia for the 30 years of record.
Unfortunately, a flatworm predator (Stylochus of newly-set oyster spat

was not noticeably affected by Agnes at Gloucester Point. The small plankton-

derived flatworms were as abundant as usual on test shells and effectively

decimated barnacles in the summer of 1972. Other areas have not been monitored

for this predator but it is more tolerant of low salinities than oyster drills.

6.2 Soft-shell Clams

6.2.a. General

The soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria is a northern species, adapted to live

in cool waters; Chesapeake Bay marks the southern end of its range. During

the summer months Mya in Chesapeake Bay are living under a thermal
stress--when the water temperatures become too high for too long, Mya die.

These so-called "summer mortalities" occur frequently. Also, in recent years

some unknown factor or factors has been depleting Mya populations in several areas

of the bay, notably in the Potomac and Patuxent Rivers. Still, many soft-shell

beds in the upper bay have remained highly productive.

When Hurricane Agnes hit, then, the soft-shell clams may have already

been under a thermal stress. The additional stresses, including high tur-

bidity, low salinity, and, perhaps, low dissolved oxygen, were expected

to produce heavy mortalities.

110 -

6.2.b. Maryland

The first effect of Hurricane Agnes on the soft-shell clam industry was to
pollute the bay waters and the clams with sewage. The bacterial levels -in the bay
quickly exceeded the permissible levels and forced the Health Department to

stop the fishery.

Coinciding with the pollution was a severe drop in salinity and a slight

increase in water temperature. Clams began to die.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) immediately began to

sample the major soft-shell clam beds to determine the extent of the mortalities

and to collect clams for bacterial and pesticide studies. The MDNR research

vessel, however, was only equipped to sample commercial-sized clams, not the

smaller, seed clams. This sampling continued throughout the summer and sampled

every major bed.

Although the data from the MDNR sampling has not been analyzed, it is apparent

that market-sized soft-shell clams suffered heavy mortalities on every major

bed, approaching 100% in some areas. Soft-shell clams began dying after 11 July.

By 16 July the die-off was in full swing. Live clams were bloated and weak.

Normally a temperature of 27 C (80 F) will stress Chesapeake Bay Mya. Three days

before the peak mortality occurred the water temperature on the clam beds
(at a depth of 3 m) reached 31.6 C (89 F), and averaged 30 C (85 F).

Along the western shore, market-sized clams suffered heavy mortalities

from Gibson Island (above Annapolis) to Herring Bay. Along the eastern shore

mortalities were heavy from Kent Island to Bloody Point, in the Chester and

Choptank Rivers, in Eastern Bay, and throughout Talbot County. Although not

all of the market-sized clams died, too few remained to make fishing
economical; survivors will serve as a breeding stock. Figure 6.1 shows the

areas where major lesser of soft-shell clams occurred.
The Ocean Research Laboratory of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation was
holding adult soft-shell clams in a laboratory near Annapolis when Agnes hit.
All the clams died within a week after the salinity dropped.

- ill -

Mortalities appeared to be less severe among the smaller, sub-commercial

Mya. But how well they survived is not yet known. MDNR has equipped its

vessel with a smaller-meshed dredge so that it can determine what numbers

of seed clams are left. The Resource Evaluation Project of the National

Marine Fisheries Service Laboratory at Oxford, Maryland (NMFS) used a

small-mesh dredge to sample some Mya beds. NMFS found seed and some adults in the

Miles and Choptank Rivers, in Eastern Bay near Kent Point, and around Poplar Island.
The Chesapeake Biological Laboratory of the Natural Resources Institute (CBL)

found some seed and a few adults in the lower Patuxent River, near Solomons.

The CBL samples indicated that the clams had grown from 3 to 5 mm between

8 June and 21 August.

These seed clams if they continue to survive and grow will become

commercial-sized by 1973. If they are abundant they could support a

fishery. If few, they will serve as a spawning stock. At any rate, some Mya

survived Agnes. The future of the Maryland soft-shell clam fishery may not

be as grim as was first thought.
Detailed surveys of all areas where soft-shell clams usually occur
are being conducted by state biologists and commercial clammers. These
surveys will provide final assessments of damage and will form the basis

for any rehabilitation efforts.

6.2.c. Virginia

Virginia has relatively small populations of soft-shell clams. No

information is available concerning the effects of Agnes on these populations.

6.3. Hard Clams

Almost all of the hard clams harvested in Chesapeake Bay come from

Virginia waters. In the Maryland part of the Bay, hard clams occur in significant
numbers only on the lower eastern shore; nothing is known about the effect of

Agnes on these clams.
In Virginia, the investigation of hard clam population was conducted

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on both private and public grounds. Mortalities were first reported by private
ground holders, possibly because the dense concentration on their grounds and in
their floats was an additional stress factor. Subsequent to these investigations
public ground sampling began and is continuing.
Mortality on private grounds was determined from the sample ratio of
live hard clams to recent "boxes" (valves still attached by the hinge). On
public grounds, because of the time lapse in which valves could be separated or move
shoreward by wind driven currents, the physical condition of live hard clams was
evaluated. Clams in very poor condition, and possibly dying, were recognized by the
dark and flaccid state of the mantle and gills. Furthermore, the valves of these
clams were easily separated, an impossible feat in healthy clams.

Private Grounds: Estimates of damage were made on grounds of four
commercial firms. One firm with holdings in the Perrin River (a tributary to the
lower York) experienced 58% mortality of clams planted on the bottom and 82% mortality

of clams held in floats. A fi rm located 8 miles above the mouth of the York River

experienced 33% mortality among transplanted cherrystone and chowder size clams

planted in water depths of 3-1/2 - 4 feet (MLW). Inshore in 2-3 foot depths
(MLW) 100% mortality occurred among 1000 bushels of Littleneck clams. (This

was the only planting where total number of bushels lost was known. This loss

was estimated to be $25,000). Two other fi rms with grounds in the Poquoson area

experienced 40-44% mortalities. The mortalities experienced during this period

was far in excess of the 10% mortality normally realized in transplanting and

holding operations. Total dollar value of hard clam loss on private grounds has

not been estimated.

Public Grounds: All clams sampled from a depth of 20 feet or greater in the
James River (MLW) appeared to be in healthy condition. All clams from the

shoaler areas of the James, such as the Middle Ground and Newport News Bar,

however, were weak. A high mortality would probably occur if these clams were

to be harvested, transported and then replanted. (It is mostly Hampton Roads

clams purchased since Agnes that are responsible for the high mortalities on

the private grounds).

- 113 -

Hard clams from deep-water samples in the York River appeared to be in

good condition. In shoal water, weak clams constituted as high as 70 percent in one

sample at Yorktown, and, overall, for the area of Queen's Creek down to the

Perrin River about 40 percent of the clams appeared weak and possibly dying.

Evaluation of Agnes effects on hard clam populations in the Chesapeake Bay

from New Point Comfort to Wolf Trap is presently underway. Field work was

completed by late October but an evaluation of the data is not available for

this report.

6.4. Blue Crabs

Hurricane Agnes apparently caused little damage to blue crabs in

Chesapeake Bay. Highly mobile, most crabs avoided the unfavorable environmental

changes brought by Agnes, although a few died from silt, low dissolved oxygen
levels, or red tide toxins. Reproduction may have been successful even
though the storm destroyed some of the larvae hatched early in the summer.

6.4.a. Maryland

In Maryland, fewer crabs than normal were present before the storm. They

were probably held in the lower bay by the lower than normal salinities and cooler

water temperatures. Sampling by the Natural Resources Institute's Chesapeake

Biological Laboratory in the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and in the Patuxent

River revealed very few crabs immediately after the stom. But the crabs soon

came back, suggesting that they had moved away when the salinity dropped.

Commercial crab fishermen reported that some crabs died in their pots

during and immediately after the storm but the total loss was not great. These
mortalities were probably caused by heavy silt and low levels of dissolved
oxygen. Also, after the storm the catches fell off for a while, possibly
because the crabs were feeding on dead fish and oysters instead of being

attracted to bait in the crab pots.
The storm hit during the crab spawning season. Possibly it destroyed the
larvae released early because few small crabs were found in Maryland until October.
The larvae released after the storm, however, may be adequate to sustain the

- 114 -

population; evidence collected by Virginia biologists indicates that this is so.

6.4.b. Virginia

Blue crab stocks within the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries in 1972 were
made up of the 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972 year classes. The effects of the storm
appeared to differ with each yearclass, depending on the horizontal distribution
of individuals before, during, and after the storm.
The 1969 yearclass supported the commercial hard crab fishery from
September 1970 through August 1971. There would have been too few 3-year-old
survivors in June 1972, less than five percent of the yearclass, to be considered

in the appraisal of damage.

The 1970 hatch supported the hard crab fishery from September 1971 through

August 1972. Most of the females of this yearclass matured in the fall of 1971 and

spawned in the summer of 1972. Large catches of hard crabs were reported in

the Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James rivers from April 1 until the storm

occurred. Catch in the Potomac, lower Rappahannock, and lower York rivers remained

good the following two weeks, while catch decreased in the upper York and in the

James River and Hampton Roads. In the 2-week period following the storm, some

fishermen caught too few crabs to justify the cost and effort of baiting and fishing

pots.

Crabs moved downstream and to deeper water after the storm, and some time

elapsed before fishermen relocated concentrations of hard crabs and reset their pots.

The flood caused little mortality. Fishermen on the Potomac, Rappahannock, York

and James rivers found a few dead crabs when pots were fished after the storm.

Dissolved oxygen in the deeper waters of the river channels was reported to be

below normal but rarely low enough, i.e. 2 ppm, to suffocate crabs. Landings of

hard crabs in Virginia in July and August, as provisionally reported by the

National Marine Fisheries Service, were about equal to those reported for the

same months the two previous years despite the disruption of the fishery.

- 115 -

Crabs of the 1971 yearclass were located primarily in the Virginia

tributaries and in Maryland waters of the upper bay before and during the storm.

Size of these crabs ranged from one-half to three inches. Decreases in numbers

of crabs of the 1971 yearclass in the Rappahannock and James rivers occurred

in July and August. These decreases must be due in part to natural deaths

unrelated to effects of the storm and to normal downriver displacement of

females as growth continues and maturity is attained, and in part due to delayed

effects of the storm. Oxygen sags occurred in various sections of the

rivers at least through the end of August. Several crab kills were reported,

for example along the southern shore of the lower end of the Potomac in

late August, probably from a combination of oxygen deficiencies and the toxin

produced by a naked dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium splendens. Crabs in the

York River seemed least affected, probably because the river has a relatively

small drainage area and freshwater flooding was less than in other rivers.

Reports from commercial soft and peeler crab fishermen and dealers of a

decrease in numbers of crabs during the summer substantiate the results of

trawl surveys. Catches of peelers (1971 yearclass) in middle and lower Rappahannock

River and in mid-bay at Tangier in late April and May were better than average

and shedding occurred with little accompanying mortality. Following the storm

and throughout the remainder of the summer and early fall peelers were scarce,

except for a brief small increase in mid-July.

Provisional landings reports of the National Marine Fisheries Service showed

substantially lower than average peeler catch in July and August in Virginia.

Pushnet catches in shallow water at VIMS up to the end of August each

year consist almost entirely of juvenile crabs hatched the previous year, but

after early September the crabs are mainly young-of-the-year. Smaller numbers

of juvenile crabs were caught in 1972 from April to August than in 1971.
suggesting that the 1971 yearclass was smaller than that of 1970 (Table 6.1).

Noteworthy is the decrease in numbers beginning in early July 1972, substantiating

- 116 -

the results of trawl surveys and commercial fishermen's reports of a general

decline soon after the flood.

Spawning of blue crabs began about mid-June, 1972, and eggs were hatching

or about to hatch at the time Tropical Stom Agnes was passing through the

Chesapeake Bay area.

Table 6.1. Pushnet samples of blue crabs at VIMS, York River in 1971 and 1972.

Number of Crabs
Date (approximate) T9-n- 1972

April 5 2 0
12 27 4
19 36 12
26 1
May 3 239 15
10 136 23
17 96 41
24 93 -
June 1 46 27
7 92 is
14 56 55
22 114 23
28 38 39
July 5 47 31
13 - 10
20 - 9
26 - 4
Aug 2 - 13
9 - 19
17 - 6
23 - 11
30 - 7
Sept 6 12 28
14 36 69
21 11 6
28 9 44
Oct 4 9 28
11 25 30
18 - 84

Hatching of crabs apparently continued throughout the summer and
growth appears normal, judged from the presence of numerous crabs 9 to 36
mm wide in the latest samples of October 11 and 18. The 1972 yearclass appears
to be of average size. Small crabs, 5 to 17 mm wide, appeared in pushnet samples

- 117 -

by the first of September, in larger numbers than were caught on comparable

dates in 1971 (Table 6.1). Samples of crabs from several sites on July 19 and

20 showed the presence of DDT and its metabolities in crab muscle was well

below critical levels. High mortality among hard, soft and peeler crabs

through the Chesapeake Bay in 1971 was attributed to a combination of low

dissolved oxygen, high temperature and the presence of a bacterium Vibrio

parahaemolyticus. This bacterium was unreported in 1972.

6.5. Finfish

6.5.a. Maryland

Little is known about the effects of Hurricane Agnes on fish in Maryland's

part of the bay; and the long-term effects will probably not be evident for a

year or more. The biggest effect was flushing out the nursery areas; the eggs,

larvae, and post-larvae were swept away and probably-destroyed, as were many of

the food organisms. The loss of eggs and larvae was not measured, and the
seriousness of the loss may never be known. The juveniles and adults of most
fish species apparently moved down the bay to saltier water. Also some typically
fresh-water fish, such as carp and pumpkinseed sunfish, were caught near Solomons
in water that was nearly fresh but would normally have a salinity of 10 to 15%..

Few dead fish were reported.

6.5.b. Virginia

In Virginia, two programs designed to measure both direct and indirect

effects of Agnes on finfish were mounted within a few days after Agnes rainfall.

The first began June 24 and consisted of sampling the heavy runoff for planktonic

fish larvae and fish food orqanisms in the Rappahannock River and the James River.

The second program began June 28 and consisted of a bottom trawling program to

determine the extent of displacement of larger fishes by the downstream runoff and

subsequent salinity decrease. A follow-up trawl survey was made between August 8

and September 7 after the rivers had experienced some recovery.

Plankton Studies: During the early part of the survey for larvae and food
organisms, all planktonic organisms in the water column were being carried out of
the rivers and into the mainstem of Chesapeake Bay. No flood tides of any

magnitude occurred for many days.

The fish larvae segment provided 268 quantitative samples of drifting larvae
collected between 24 June and 7 July in the James and Rappahannock rivers. The

collection has not been processed in detail but examination of four samples and

visual observation of others discloses that tremendous number of young fish

were swept out by the flood. Identification of the organisms in the samples

is time-consuming. One sample represents only 10 minutes of fishing effort but

required one day of processing effort. The following analysis of some samples

should provide some idea of the mortality experienced.

The larvae catch for 10 minutes on June 27 at midnight in the Rappahannock

was 247, and at 0100 on June 30 was 576. Gobies made up 99% and anchovies 1%. In

the James River at 0100 on June 25, 62 larvae were captured and at 0125 on

June 26, 110 larvae were captured. By principal taxa, gobies made up 64% and
anchovies 30% of the catch. Young of other species, such as alewife and shad,
were also captured but in small numbers. The effects of Agnes on Alosids were
probably indirect, i.e., caused a food shortage, since by late June these fish
have usually used up their yolk supply and are actively feeding.
Converting the fish catches per ten-minute sample to hourly values gave
counts of 1482 and 3456. By using flow rate (which was measured by anchored

current meters) we made preliminary calculations which show approximately

2,811,000 and 6,556,000 larvae passed out of the Rappahannock per hour on

the times and dates indicated. As the larval samples are processed, more

exact estimates of loss will be obtained.

- 119

The planktonic crustacea were also well represented in the plankton
samples. These groups are extremely important as fish food. In the Rappahannock
samples (above) there were 3872 mysids, 1344 Rithropanopeus, and 256 Acartia
(a copepod) in the June 27 sample; and 5712 Rithropanopeus, 2112 Neomysis, and

240 Palaemonetes in the June 30 sample. In the James there were 5140 Leptodora

and 785 Neomysis; and 5608 Neomysis and 896 Crangon for the respective two

10-minute samples.

Until the plankton samples are processed, absolute loss of larval fish

and crustacea cannot be determined. The effects of the loss on future stocks

will be difficult to estimate, particularly those taxa such as striped bass,

gray trout, spot, and croaker that had young in the estuaries but were not

actually swept out of the rivers. For them the loss of important food resources

may have played an important role in population regulation in 1972.

Trawling Studies: The trawl survey conducted just after Agnes and again

two months later demonstrated that the larger fishes moved downstream as the

floodwaters reduced salinities in the estuaries. Our salinity profiles and

species counts show the displacement was approximately 7-12 miles in the James,

the same in the York, and 10-16 miles in the Rappahannock River. Bottom species

such as spot and croaker were just as numerous after the flood as during. No

dead fish were found on the bottom during our surveys. The dissolved oxygen

(DO) on bottom was adequate and normal for the temperature encountered during

both surveys. Since our survey only lasted two days on each river, it is

very possible the extreme downstream displacement may have been missed, and the

DO may have dropped to low levels later. In the Rappahannock low 00 persisted

for several days after the trawl survey had finished. Trawling was done in

mainstream because of draft limitations of the vessel. From other Agnes work

we know the salinities fell first on the upriver shoals and remained normal

longest in the mainstream.

- 120

From our during-and-after trawl survey we can conclude, that the fish were

move d downstream and off the shoals. We could detect no difference in population

number and found no direct evidence of mortality of adults due to Agnes. As

the freshet diminished.1the larger fishes returned to their former distribution

along the salinity gradient. Reproduction was not affected because the fishes

had p4ssed spawning time or were spawning elsewhere in late June. Growth may

have been temporarily affected but this is doubtful. The trawl portion may be

considered finished and the analysis completed. Detailed analysis is to be

included in a report to be submitted to NMFS at a later date.

The displacement of fishes downstream and into deeper water disrupted

the recreational fishery and the food fishery. The economic loss caused by

the disruption has not been estimated.
A better assessment of the effects of Agnes on finfishes will be developed
in retrospect as data accumulate on recruitment from the 1972 year classes.
We know already that the 1972 year class of blueback herring, alewife, and
shad was the lowest since 1969 on all rivers except the Rappahannock,

but we are not ready to blame Agnes completely. As the young of other species

mature we hope to census them and determine an unbiased index of population size

which we can compare to later recruit indices. Th-is should be included at

least for the more important species not presently covered by existing VIMS

programs.

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SECTION 7. SEA NETTLES

The stinging sea nettle, Chrysaora quinquecirrha, is man's worse pest
in Chesapeake Bay. The free-swimming medusa stage has interfered with
commercial fishing and water-contact recreation since Colonial times. A
medusa may grow to 9 inches in diameter and trail numerous stinging tentacles,
each more than two feet long (Schultz and Cargo, 1971).

In recent years, Bay scientists have been studying the sea nettle, look-
ing for some way to control it. A part of these studies consists of monitor-
ing the bay for the medusa, ephyra, polyp, and cyst stages of sea nettles.

Free swimming stages are captured by towing 1/2-meter plankton nets through

the water. The sessile stages are monitored by examining the surfaces of

oyster shells dredged from the bottom of the bay. The monitoring studies have

shown that the troublesome medusa appear early in the year, reach the peak of

abundance by July or August, and disappear by November. Furthermore, these

studies showed that sea nettles live well and reproduce at salinities from 7%,

to 35%. but that below 5%.only the resistant cyst stage can survive.

Another study showed that sea nettle cysts held in water with salinities

greater than 5%,came out of their cysts (excysted) more rapidly as the salinity

increased. For example, at a salinity of 6%.they took 12 days to excyst, where-
as at 12%othey took only 2 days. Thus, the rate that the swimming forms reappear
after a period of low salinity can be predicted by knowing how fast the salinity

of the water increases.

7.1. Maryland

Hurricane Agnes made its influence felt on Chesapeake Bay just as the medusa
stage was becoming abundant. By 1400 hours on 27 June the salinity at a sampling

- 122 -

station in Mill Creek (near Solomons in Calvert County) had dropped to 3.1%.

and the sensitive stages (medusae, ephrae, and polyps) were being destroyed.

During 23-24 June 1971, sampling for ephyrae over a 25-hour period yielded

2009 ephrae. During 27-28 June 1972, almost one year later and right after

Agnes, a similar sampling effort.collected only 18 ephyrae, about one one-

hundredth of the previous year's catch. By 30 June only cysts remained.

These did not begin excysting until the last half of July when the salinity

had returned to 6%.

A similar pattern developed nearby at St. John Creek. Ephyrae were col-

lected from 12 June until 26 June. The salinity during this period was Mor

greater. On 3 July the salinity had dropped to 3.1%.and no ephyrae were found.

None has been found since. During September a few medusae were found, but by

then the salinity had risen to 10%.

Bay-wide surveys of spawning sea nettles (medusae) also revealed the effects

of Hurricane Agnes, although undramatically. Usually the medusae appear in numbers

by late June. In 1971, however, the population was very low for some as yet

unexplained reasons. Sampling revealed that this low population produced few

larvae. Neverthless, cysts remained from previous years. These cysts should

have produced medusae during the summer of 1972.

Sampling during 10-13 July throughout the upper Bay yielded only cysts,

even in Tangier Sound where the storm's effects were mild. No medusae were

observed at any time during this sampling. Appendix III contains a summary

of this and,the other CBL surveys for sea nettles during 1972. (For contrast,

look at Appendix IV which shows the number of polyps per shell for 18

locations in November 1971. Note especially the number of shells with 50 or

more polyps).

Later, on 24 July-2 August, when a partial recovery had taken place, the

- 123 -

only localities where polyps were taken were the higher salinity stations
where the effects of Agnes were the least marked. During this second survey,
several large medusae, were sighted, two at Matapeake, near the Bay Bridge

and one at McKeil Point in the Little Choptank River.

The third survey, in October, showed continued recovery. Polyps were

more numerous but still confined mostly to the Tangier and Pocomoke Sound

area. One shell from the St. Mary's River also bore some polyps. Salinities

at this time were higher, although still well below the normal for this time

of the year. Swimming medusae were noted at a number of stations at this

time. Individual sea nettles, mostly very large (greater than 7 inches in

diameter) were seen at two locations in the Patuxent River and in the Little

Choptank River, Wye River, at Herring Bay and east of South Marsh Island.

Off Parkers Creek about 20 miles north of Solomons, more than 25 medusae were

seen during a 5 minute period. They were all large (greater than 6 inches)

and appeared to be healthy and robust.

A sampling of the oyster bottoms in Virginia during 30 October to 2

November reiterated the shortage of sea nettle polyps. Only four samples

taken in quiet coves opening directly into the bay showed live polyps. In
one of these areas (Piankatank River) the polyps were quite abundant (up to

50 per shell).

These investigations made it evident that a major temporary effect was

impressed upon the sea nettle population of Chesapeake Bay. Partial recovery

was observed and will provide for some reinfestation in 1973. It appears,

however, that there is little likelihood of an extra large population develop-
ing in 1972. In fact, the storm's effects may affect the sea nettle population

for several years to come.

- 124 -

7.2. Virginia

Analysis of the effect of Hurricane Agnes on populations of Ch saora

quinquecirrha in lower Chesapeake Bay has to include data for several previous

years. Medusa populations were unusually low in most of the lower Chesapeake

Bay in 1970 and 1971. Therefore, data from the more normal years of 1968 and

1969 will serve as a basis for comparisons with the observations made in 1972.

Very few observations on medusa abundance had been made in 1972 prior to
June 22. With the advent of Hurricane Agnes, we decided to, concentrate on

tributaries that were not affected by the freshet as rapidly as the major

tributaries (the James and Rappahannock) were. However, observations made by

VIMS personnel collecting other data in those rivers indicated a nearly complete

absence of medusae at the time of the hurricane and thereafter.

Our observations showed that the jellyfish populations of those tributaries

that empty directly into Chesapeake Bay or Mobjack Bay did not appear to be

affected Oy HOrricane Agnes as seriously as the major tributaries. With the

exception of the North River, medusae were present every time the rivers were

visited, although the medusae numbers were low in comparison to those observed

in 1969.

Ephyrae were present in most of the minor tributaries and in the tribu-
taries of the James and York River near their mouths (Nansemond River and Hampton

River in the James and Sarah Creek in the York) during July and August of 1972.

Polyp populations were determined by counting numbers of polyps on oyster

shells from various areas in Virginia. Comparison with data collected in previous

years and early in 1972 in the James and York rivers shows that Hurricane Agnes

had a very harmful effect on polyp populations in the upper and middle estuaries

of these rivers. We still were able, however, to find three polyps at Wreck

Shoal, James River, on 8 August. These indicate that some polyps have survived

the low salinities prevalent there. Samples from the Nansemond and Hampton

125 -

rivers showed that polyp populations in tributaries of the James near the

Chesapeake Bay were not affected as badly as those in the river proper. A

relative abundance of polyps in Sarah Creek, a tributary to the lower York

River, also indicates that tributaries close to the river mouth were not as

greatly affected as up-river tributaries were.

The data collected in the Great Wicomico River show that medusa and

polyp populations were found there in the spring and therefore suggest that
substantial populations of both (at least of polyps, anyway) would be present

through the summer. However, low salinities drastically reduced their numbers

by August.

Observations made on one visit to the Eastern Shore together with

comments from local watermen indicated that Chrysaora and Aurelia medusa pop-

ulations were very small this summer.

Our observations may be summarized as follows. Medusae populations

were absent from the major river tributaries of the bay and their polyp

populations were almost wiped out. Tributaries of these rivers near the bay

appeared to have escaped these extreme effects. Minor tributaries of the bay

did not appear to be badly affected by Hurricane Agnes, except for a belated

effect on the Great Wicomico River. Through the first part of August the

Piankatank River was still supporting a moderate population of medusae. Of

all tributaries studied, the North and Ware rivers supported the largest

populations of medusae and substantial populations of polyps.

It should be emphasized that it is the high reproductive potential of

existing polyps that poses the greatest problem. A polyp is capable of pro-

ducing more polyps by a sectiorial reproduction through the formation of podo-

cysts and buds. It is the polyp which gives rise to the medusa through the

process of strobilation with as many as forty ephyrae being produced during the

- 126 -

year. The ephyrae develop into the medusae. Although there is a limited

number of polyps available at this time, the high potential for their repro-

duction and formation of cysts and medusae still exists for the coming year.

The major effect of the storm has been to reduce the polyp populations and

medusae populations but not to wipe them out entirely.

- 127 -

SECTION 8. FOULING ORGANISMS AND OTHER BENTHOS

8.1. Sponges
Four species of encrusting sponges are commonly present on oyster beds

and piling in meso- and euryhaline waters. These species are Microciona

prolifera, with the most low-salinity tolerant, persistent, and longest-lived

colonies of the four; Lissodendoryx isodictyalis, the greenish-yellow "stinky"

sponge; Halichondria bowerbanki, the common yellow "sun" sponge seen on

pilings at low tide; and Haliclona loosanoffi, a delicate, soft, violet- or

lavender-tinged "volcano" sponge. The latter three are casually referred to

as 11yellow" sponges in lower Chesapeake Bay although the colors are quite

variable with state of health and growth, and also with regions. All four

species are regular and common on trays of oysters and pilings at Gloucester

Point although the yellow sponge colonies tend to vary in size with seasons.

Yellow sponge "spots" representing new colonies from pelagic larvae are
common in summer on weekly test plates and shells (new substrates each week).

The distributions of the encrusting sponges are determined more by the
intensity of spring runoff (size of drainage basins) than by summer salinities.

They usually persist where summer salinities are above 15%., except in the

James River where distribution is basically confined to Hampton Roads below

the James River bridge. In the York, sponges extend almost to the head of

the river, and in the Rappahannock River well above Towles Point (Urbanna) and

often red sponges as far as Morattico bar.

Perhaps in no other phylum did species experience such drastic changes
of distribution and abundance from Agnes runoff as in the sponges. In the

Rappahannock River, no sponges could be found in mid-September 1972. Dead
colonies of Microciona were intact and abundant but the other species had

- 128 -

disintegrated and disappeared. No new encrusting colonies could be found on

the Rappahannock River bridge pilings by SCUBA to 30-foot depths. The huge

oyster bed at the mouth of the Corrotoman River called Drumming Ground, which

probably comprises 1000 acres or more, was notorious for two decades for its

massive growths of red and yellow sponges. It was nearly impossible to catch

oysters and shells in late fall, even after spring shell plantings, because

the dredge quickly filled with sponges and red algae (Agardhiella mostly).

Dredging at shallor Corrotoman Point, where red algae always filled the dredge,

revealed clean shells and no algae. Only sea anemones and encrusting bryozoans

were abundant. Dredging in the Corrotoman River and as far down as Butlers
Hole at the mouth of the 'Rappahannock River yielded nothing but dead colonies

of Microciona.

In the York River near Gloucester Point, SCUBA diving on pilings and

oyster beds revealed colonies of Microciona partly alive in very irregular

patterns--not necessarily the tip or the base dead but spotty arrangements of

dead and live tissue.. New encrusting colonies increased in size and abundance

between August and September surveys. Microcionalis well on its way back at

Gloucester Point as of September but branching colonies are small yet. Of

the yellow sponges, only young Lissodendoryx colonies were found in low abundance

on the'York River bridge pilings. Yellow sponge "spots" occurred sparingly

on monitoring substrates at VIMS Pier this summer but were not identified by

genus. The usual massive growths of Halichrondia and Litsodendoryx on pilings,

trays, and oysterbeds are gone. Haliclona is fragile and usually less con-

spicuous and less persistent than the other yellow sponges. New growth was

found on oysters in an old undisturbed tray at VIMS Pier on 10 October 1972.

Dredging and SCUBA surveys on Hampton Bar and the Hampton Roads bridge-

tunnel pilings revealed only Microciona., apparently unharmed by low salinities

but less massive and less abundant than expected. Yellow sponges, which

- 129 -

regularly present cleaning problems in trays of oysters there for monitoring

disease, were not found in three areas of the bridge-tunnel and Fort Wool

complex, or on Hampton Bar.

One may predict that the vagile sponges with their rapid colonizing

capabilities will be back in their usual distributions and abundances in a

year or two. Microciona has an early start, but is slower growing, more

tolerant of estuarine fluctuations, and may require longer to recoup substrate

area than the yellow sponges. The Rappahannock River may be an exception to

this prediction and may require more time.

Meanwhile, large areas of substrate on oyster beds have been released

for oysters and short-lived opportunistic species to utilize. Unfortunately,

oyster setting appears to be the poorest in decades on the Western Shore of

Chesapeake Bay for current-year spat were quite rare. Intensive surviving

spatfalls of the 1971 yearclass occurred on pilings of bridges in all three

rivers in a zone about one foot wide near the low intertidal level.

It is difficult to assess the effects of Agnes on boring sponges in
oysters. Cliona celata, the large-hole species, has conspicuous yellow
papillae protruding from perforations of the shells. Boring sponges do not

appear on oysters until about the third year unless spat are set on old shells
containing active colonies or gemmules (resting stage). It is a regular

practice at VIMS to immerse live oysters for five minutes in full brine
solutions (saturated) to kill boring sponges, but this treatment usually kills
only the outer Tayers, and in a couple of months, despite anaerobic blackening
of the shells and holes, growth is resumed. Free oysters with no contact
with old shell developed infestations of small-hole boring sponges-in the
third year in trays. Early infestations nearly always occur in the oldest
shell near the hinge and most commonly on the cupped valve. The species that

130 -

produce small holes are inconspicuous with papillae so small and retracted that

live sponge is difficult to see without magnification or digging into the shell.

Spicule preparations are required to identify the several species -in Cheseapeake

Bay. The distinction between large and small holes is clear and easy to make.

Boring sponge was not found in the Rappahannock River and it seemed

scarce in Hampton Roads after breaking hole-filled shells.. Most observations

were made at Gloucester Point in trays of oysters. Freshwater exposure tends

to kill sponge layers as does brine, but days of exposure are required. The

boring sponges may have been damaged at Gloucester Point, but by 1 October

1972, Cliona celata was growing profusely in old oysters, and colonies of

tmall-hole species were common in older oysters. C. celata tends to 'dominate

on very old oysters (shell strike), but new infestations on free-spat-type

oysters are usually small-hole species. Yet, earlier studies at VIMS showed

a tendency for mixed infestations to be less common than expected by chance.

It appears that boring sponges have quite strong capabilities to resist

unfavorable environments although further surveys may reveal that they have

been eliminated temporarily from the Rappahannock River.

8.2. Hydroids and Other Coelenterates

The hydroids of Southern Chesapeake Bay have been studied intensively

by Calder. In this report, however, only major conspicuous species will be

mentioned. "Rope grass" is a familiar troublesome phenomenon to watermen,

fouling nets and traps in the low-salinity, upriver reaches of Virginia

estuaries. Post-Agnes salinity regimes permitted invasions of these hydroids

to the mouths of each of the three major Virginia tributaries. Blue crabs

were pushed down into the lower reaches of the rivers where crabbers followed

them with pots. The rope.grass became so heavy on crab pots that the traps

were camouflaged and wouldn't catch crabs. Crabbers removed their pots for

- 131 -

drying and,brushing on shore. As late as mid-September, crabbers in the lower
Rappahannock River were still pulling rope grass off their pots as they fished
the crabs. Crabbers who had spent a lifetime fishing in the same river claimed
they had never seen rope grass before in the lower Rappahannock River.
Rope grass in 1972 was comprised mostly of Garveia (Bimeria franciscana
which stretched out in arborescent colonies up to a foot long. This size
exceeds the maximum reported by Calder, possibly because of the nutrient
abundance following Agnes. Bougainvillia rugosa was also nearly always
present on pilings and stakes but was much less abundant and not as luxuriant.

In the James River, Garveia did not become excessive on the Hampton

Bar trays where the "white" bryozoan was dominant in August and sea squirts
replaced it in September. At the James River Bridge (Brown Shoals), trays
and oysters were excessively covered with rope grass. All stakes and pilings

from Gloucester Point upriver to Bells Rock were heavily covered with the

horny-stemmed hydroid. The bridge pilings in the York and Rappahannock rivers

exhibited rope grass at the mean low tide level, and it increased in density

to almost complete coverage at 20-foot depths. On the York River Bridge

pilings, sea squirts increased similarly with depth although none were found

on the Rappahannock River Bridge pilings. Only at the bridge-tunnel in the

lower James did Bougainvillia approach the density of Garveia. Timing of

observations was important, for rope grass and sea squirts tended to shift

upriver in abundance as salinities increased. However, rope grass was still

extremely abundant and vigorous at Gloucester Point in late September. Other

species were probably affected but only the eruptive Garveia was conspicuously

affected in abundance and distribution. Hydroids usually contribute little

to fouling of oyster beds and trays except on shell bags in shallow low-salinity

creeks. Rope grass is not usually found on oysters on the bottom. It accumu-

- 132

lates in great abundance on trays, underwater lines and pilings. The bryozoan

Anguinella, which exhibits the arborescent habit of hydroids, was regularly

present in moderate abundances on pilings at all stations visited in this

fouling survey.

Sea anemones seemed to thrive on the salinity and nutrient changes

produced by Agnes. At Gloucester Point on tray oysters, they seemed

especially abundant and large. Many were survivors from 1971, hence rates

of recruitment were obscured. At the bridge pilings in all three rivers,

anemones appeared most abundant in the first two meters below low tide level,

and individuals often extended out 1-1/2 inches from pilings. All anemones

on oysters and bridge pilings were Diadumene leucolena..

The purplish soft coral Leptogorgia virgulata was never abundant in

lower Chesapeake Bay but was usually seen on SCUBA dives in the lower York

River and occurred fairly regularly in dredge hauls on oyster beds. The

black "core" of colonies is very tough and persistent. Only dead colonies

have been seen in all post-Agnes surveys including patent-tong rig clam

catches in deep water at Gloucester Point where it is usually collected for

classes.

8.3. Tunicates

Three species of tunicates foul oysters and trays at Gloucester Point.

Perhaps the worst fouling organism in Virginia waters is the solitary sea
squirt @qgula manhattensis which grows to full size in 60 to 90 days. In

typical years Mogula covers all subtidal substrates off the bottom with

layers of sea squirts up to one or two inches thick. The weight of a tray of

oysters may be doubled or tripled in one month. Sea squirts have a long

reproductive period from May to October in Virginia and a wide distribution

in summer when salinities are favorable and maturity and reproduction are

attained quickly.

- 133 -

In 1972 after Agnes, Mogula at Gloucester Point was suppressed by
salinities fluctuating between 10 and 15%. until August. Some 100 trays of
oysters that were usually brushed clean every three weeks in summer had only
a very few sea squirts as late as 10 August 1972. In early September a heavy
coating of half-grown sea squirts was found on all trays. Diving revealed

that all shells on the bottom in the vicinity of Gloucester Point were covered

with Mogula, and on bridge pilings they increased in abundance with depth to

a full mat at about 20 feet. Also in late August and early September, a
state shell planting (one-quarter million bushels) inshore of Brown Shoals

above the James River Bridge became coated, and coverage extended to Hampton

Roads Bridge tunnel at the mouth of the river. Mogula is one of the species

that is pushed downriver by low salinities but recovers its abundance and

distribution quicly as salinities become favorable. A tray on Hampton Bar

covered with an unrecognized bryozoan with stiff, erect, white fronds in

early August was unbelievably loaded with sea squirts in early September.

The full usual distribution had not been attained in the James River by mid-

September and no sea squirts were found in the whole Rappahannock River, a

favorable area in normal years.

The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri has an interesting history

in lower Chesapeake Bay. It requires higher salinities than Mogula and the

sponges previously discussed. For nearly 20 years it was considered to be a

rare inhabitant of deep waters near the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. It never

occurred on oyster beds, even those planted in 20 to 30 feet of water on the

western shore of Chesapeake Bay proper. During the drought years of the mid

1960's, Botryllus suddenly appeared at Gloucester Point on tray oysters and

eventually erupted to cover nearly all tufts of eel grass and Ruppia in the
lower York River and Mobjack Bay. It is a fast-growing pernicious pest in the

- 134

cool months of spring and fall but barely survives hot summers in Virginia.

It apparently requires a substrate off the bottom and out of heavy siltation

for it was never observed on oyster beds. Botryllus was not vigorous in the

wet year of 1971 but it was still present on trays of oysters in the spring

of 1972. After Agnes it disappeared and no trace of it has been found at any

fouling stations. Its second reproductive season for 1972 lies ahead but

salinities probably are unfavorable this year and it may not recover its

distribution of the 1960's until another series of drought years occurs.

The little greenish-yellow colonies of Perophora viridis are usually

seen in late summer and fall at Gloucester Point, and they winter over in

basal strands adhering closely to the substrate. They are more interesting

than important as epifauna. None have been seen in 1972 for the first tine

in many years.

8.4. Bryozoans

Several common species of encrusting and arborescent bryozoans are

adapted to low-salinity conditions, and Agnes provided clean surfaces and

nutrients to enhance their abundance and distribution. The most striking

event was the appearance of a dominant bryozoan noticed for the first time as

a fouling organism after 22 years of handling trays. This species laced the

tray frame and top with a network of rigid, white, compressed "fronds" that

felt rough to the touch although fragile. This species appears to be an

unusual growth form of Acanthodesia for colonies encrusting algal and hydroid

stems were- found with lateral frond branches without core or matrix. The tray

was in the usually high-salinity area of Hampton Bar, but salinities were

probably 13 to 15L when the bryozoan set and grew. The growth form almost

disappeared from this tray (cleaned by brushing) but was later found in

abundance on stakes covered with the hydroid Garveia franciscana off Aberdeen

Creek in the York River and on the Rapphannock River Bridge pilings in the

- 135 -

same association. Garveia was not noted on the Hampton Bar tray and certainly

the bryozoan was growing directly attached to chicken-wire mesh of the tray

top without hydrozoan substrate.

During July and August, the encrusting bryozoans Acanthodesia tenuis

and Membranipora crustulenta were the most common organisms setting on fouling

plates at Gloucester Point. SCUBA surveys of stakes, pilings and shells

revealed that Acanthodesia was attempting to cover everything and throwing up

frills and extensions in the process. All stations, regardless of salinities,

exhibit heavy encrustations of this pest on oyster cultch but particularly in

low-salinity areas such as the Rappahannock River. It is easily distinguished

from the other common encrusting species M. crustulenta under SCUBA conditions

by the shiny surface of colonies. Victorella pavida, a low-salinity species,

does not seem to have exploited the areas of depressed salinities, but it

commonly forms complete "felt cushions" on pilings and shells, particularly

in shallow waters of creeks and in salinities as high as at Gloucester Point

(15 to 25%.).

An arborescent species of bryozoan, An_quinella palamata, flexible,

dirty, and masquerading as a hydroid was found in abundance on Hampton Roads

and York River Bridge pilings in mid-September but most notably in Hampton

Roads on shells lying on natural bottoms. It is well known in lower Chesapeake

Bay as a fouling species. It was common on shells and pilings in September
1972 In Hampton Roads where Calder reported rare occurrence on test panels.
Colonies were still common and active in mid-September. Bowerbankia gracilis

which was common on pier structures in recent years has not been noted in 1972

but a definite search was not made. It was easily found previously on spider
crabs but these are gone from trays now. Alcyonidium verrilli, a large,
fleshy, conspicuous, long-lived bryozoan has long been present around piers

- 136 -

and pilings at Gloucester Point and in the lower bay. Its abundance at VIMS,

piers was sharply reduced by Agnes but live colonies were found at the bases

of pilings upon search. It thrives in Chesapeake Bay primarily on man-made,

long-persistent piers and pilings but often survives as well on sandy and

hard bottoms after being broken from its attachment surface, hence it is not

uncommon in oyster bed dredge hauls. New colonies of A. pq)jouR have been

seen at Gloucester Point since Agnes but it is inconspicuous and usually

casual in occurrence in late summer.

8.5. Other Invertebrates

Many species commonly collected with patent-tongs from 20 to 30 feet

of water near the York River Bridge were absent in September 1972. The

echinoderms Cucumaria pulcherrima, Thyone briareus, Amphiodia atra, and

Ceriantheiopsis americanus were absent although collected regularly in

previous years. The three species of blood clams, Noetia ponderosa, Anadara

ovalis., and A. transversa, which became extremely abundant during the drought

years of the mid-1960's in patent-tong catches near the York River Bridge,

are scarce or absent now, although most of these died two or three years ago

from unknown causes. These echinoderms and molluscs are mesohaline species

for which Gloucester Point represents about the upper limit of distribution.

- 137 -

SECTION 9. RECREATION AND WILDLIFE

Hurricane Agnes interfered only temporarily with recreational use of
Chesapeake Bay, although the economic losses were considerable.

The immediate effect was a closure of parts of the bay to water-contact

recreation because of sewage pollution. Boaters were warned to stay off

the Bay because of the massive amounts of debris. The inclement weather and

floods curtailed tourism. Although the immediate effects lasted only a few

days they occurred during the Fourth-of-July holidays and caused marinas,

motels, charter boats, restaurants, and tourist shops to lose business during

this important vacation period.

The short-term effects include the displacement and destruction of

aquatic vegetation, fish, and crabs. The Maryland Department of Natural Re-

sources reports that up to two-thirds of the shallow-water vegetation on the

Susquehanna River flats was destroyed by the flood; the loss of this vegetation

will affect waterfowl distribution and abundance in the bay for some time.

Sportfishing in the upper bay also declined after the storm perhaps because

the fish moved down the bay into saltier water.

Longer-term effects include the changes in the bottom contours by scouring

and filling and the loss of fish and shellfish. If the eggs and larvae of

fish were decimated, the recreational sportfisheries may take several years to

recover. Also, seafood restaurants, unable to obtain adequate supplies of fish

and shellfish, will lose business. Coastal tourism could decline significantly

without the "drawing cards" of good seafood restaurants and sportfishing. On

the positive side, several new islands were formed near the mouth of the Sus-

quehanna by the flood. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources plans to

seed these islands with marsh grass so that the islands will stabilize and
provide resting areas for waterfowl, as well as other wildlife and recreational

use.

- 138 -

SECTION 10. HISTORICAL SITES AND ARTIFACTS

Although Hurricane Agnes devastated many historical sites, structures,

and artifacts along the rivers emptying into the Bay, we have received no

reports of damage to historical sites or artifacts in the tidewater area of
Chesapeake Bay. Knight (1972), for example, in his summary of Agnes' destruc-

tion makes no mention of damage to historical objects on Chesapeake Bay.

Correspondence with local and national historical societies, e.g., The

Maryland Historic Trust, the United States Capitol Historical Society, and

the National Trust for Historic Preservation, confirmed Knight's summary.

The damages to sites and structures along the rivers were caused by the flood-
ing rivers. For historical sites and structures on the Bay the force and

wetness of the flooding rivers had little effect and the moderate winds

and surf presented no problems.

- 139 -

LITERATURE CITED

Beaven, G. Francis.
1960. "Temperature and salinity of surface water dt Solomons,
Maryland." Chesapeake Science 1 (1): 2-11.

Burrell, V. G., Jr.
1968. The Ecological Significance of a Ctenophore, Mnemiopsis leidyi
(A. Agassiz), in a Fish Nursery Ground. M. A. Thesis, College
of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Va. 61 p.

De Angelis, Richard M., and William T. Hodge.
1972. Preliminary Climatic Data Report: Hurricane Agnes, June 14-
23, 1972. U.S. Dept. Commerce, N.O.A.A. Technical Memorandum
EDS NCC-l. iv + 62 p.

Joyce, Edwin A., Jr.
1972. A Partial Bibliography of Oysters, with Annotations. Florida
Department of Natural Resources, St. Petersburg, Florida.
vi + 846 p.

Kammerer, J. C., H. D. Brice, E. W. Coffay, and L. C. Fleshmon.
1972. Water Resources Review for June 1972. U.S. Geological Survey,
Washington, D.C. 17 p.

Knight, Carleton, III
1972. "Hurricane Agnes inundates East Coast." Preservation News,
12 (9): 1, 6.

Marasco, Richard J.
1972. The Chesapeake Bay Fisheries: An Economic Profile, Contribution
No. 4526 of the Agri. Exp. Sta., Univ. of Maryland, College Park,
Md. MP No. 802. ii + 203 p.

Myers, Marvin.
1972. "A picture report." Maryland Conservationist, 48(4): 14-17.

National Marine Fisheries Service.
1971. Fisheries Statistics of the United States, 1968. Statistical
Digest No. 62. 578 p.

1972. Fisheries of the United States, 1971. Current Fisheries
Statistics No. 5900. vi + 101 p.

Schubel, J. R.
1972. The Physical and Chemical Condition of Chesapeake Bay, An
Evaluation. Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland. Special Report 21.

140 -

Schubel, J. R., C. H. Morrow, W. B. Cronin, and A. Mason.
1970. Suspended Sediment Data Summary, August 1969-July 1970, Mouth
to Head of Bay. Chesapeake Bay Institute, The Johns Hopkins
University, Baltimore, Maryland. Special Report 18.

Schultz, Leonard-P., and David G. Cargo.
1971. The Sea Nettle of Chesapeake Bay. Natural Resources Institute,
Educational Series No. 93. 8 p.

Seiling, Fred W.
1972. Statement before the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries
Committee, August 15, 1972. Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, Annapolis, Md.

Taylor, Kenneth R.
1972. A summary of Peak Stages of Discharges in Maryland, Delaware,
and District of Columbia for Flood of June 1972. U.S.
Geological Survey, Water Resources Division, Open-file Report,
Parkville, Maryland. 13 p.

U.S. Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control.
1972. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 21 (24-33). Public
Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia.

Wallace, McHarg, Roberts, and Todd, Inc.
1972. Maryland Chesapeake Bay Study. A report to the Maryland
Department of State Planning and the Chesapeake Bay Interagency
Planning Committee. vi + 403 p.

- 141

APPENDIX I. Longitudinal distribution of temperature and salinity
along the axis of Chesapeake Bay. (C.B.I.)

Page

A.I.l. Map of the Chesapeake Bay showing locations of stations
used i n Fi gures A. 1 .1 to A. 1 .6 . . . . . . . . . . . . .142

A.I.2. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Bay on 6-7 June 1972 . . . . . . . 143

A.I.3. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Bay on 6-7 July 1972 . . . . . . . 144
A.I.4. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity 145
along the axis of the Bay on 25-28 July 1972 . . . . . .
A.I.5. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity 146
along the axis of the Bay on 3-5 August 1972 . . . . . .

A.I.6. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity 147
along the axis of the Bay on 28-30 August 1972 . . . . .

142

SUSQUEHANNA R.
CHESAPEAKE BAY 9 7
STATION LOCATIONS

921W*

917S* ER R.
913R*
909 10,
903A

39,

848 E

834G

CHOP

818Pk
C. 8(@4 C A

744

724R

10, 4 7070

659 W

gr @51 C

TT' 76'

Figure A.I.I. Map of the Chesapeake Bay showing locations of stations
used in Figures A.I.1 to A.I.6.

Depth (m) Depth (m)
_N 4S (A CA N) N N - _N (A CA N N) N - -
-n 411 0 m N m -IS 0 m _N 0
-927SS Ui
..... SFOO 8-
(A
9 21 W - _@Q
917 S N
913 R
N) .909 N)
C)i 23-
- 903 A (A
858 C 0-8-
0- z
N Go w
848E N)
C+ N
C+ r_ 0 @: FQ 3 0 (A
CL
-09
ui N) -
0 0 it . . . .
---834G m 0 Z@
x C) 0
CD CD -
(A co-
o
0 3 F)o 0
_+1 C+ 818P 3
C+ 0
=r cr 0
0 8
804 C 0 0 01)
- OR
I co
,< cc) 0 N)
E@o 8 9
0 Z (D 0
0 N)
:3 0
@0_
C+ 0 (A -744 3 0-
m 0 0
C@ OD --j
0- 001 (D
a 0 3
= - =3 0
m C_ C_
C+
@ c D 724R 0 C)i
#0 -1 uj CD (D
-4 -1 --1 (; - ,
N) r\j 0 N)
0 Q 0 Q -0
z z n N
CL
0- 707 0
ui
0 659 W
8
ri 0-8
z J z
@651 C N) .....
T-T

144 -

U) 03:u)a: < 0 w -E@- 3:
r-- 0 Z@ r-- ff) a) r) Co co Id- Co %i- fl- M
U- 00 n NT K) - 0 0 0
C-F) 0- CO
M 01) 01) Co 00 00 OD N- r- p-
o
4- 0:
8 2 21 0 ----19.
o 22 1@ 18.
12-
16 -
-C 20-
OL 24 -
028-
- 6-7 July 1972
32- Temperature K)
36
40-
44- 3 1N 380410'N I 38W'N 37040'N 37-20'N 371000'N
@720'N
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

U) U
Cn C) 3;: U) a-- < C) Uj 0
r-- C) - r- rr) a) ro Co Co 1;3- CD
" LI- C"j - - 0 0 LO IZJ- ro o LO
0) (n 0) M M m M CO 00 00 FD Co r-
0
.01.
4@
7-72 2
4
-24.
8
-26 -
8 10 22 -28
E
_C-20- 10
7@j. 24-
0 28- 6-7 July 1972
32- Salinity Mo)
36-
40-
- '40'N
44 3T-0(3N 38 WOO'N 37040'N 37020'N 37000'N
3S@20'1\1 I I i 'I
I I I- J-- I I- I ! , I 1 1. 1 1 j I L -L I I I @---I - I @ I- L 1
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 W 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Dista nce from Mouth of Bay (km)
0

Figure A.1.3. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Bay on 6-7 July 1972.

145 -

Cf) 0 3. V) a: C) Ui -E)- 39:
r-- o - r- r@@ a) r,,) co CD I- CO r- a)
CQ LL C\j - -0 0 n I;j- ro - 0 CQ 0 0
M U) a) M a) 0) M C() CO CO OD CO rt- rl- I,- w -e,
T . 24
27
27 6: 2
4- 25' 2726 25 25 18
8 -2
2 2 1 17
12- 23 2 0
E 16- 2
20
'L24-
0 28- 25-28 July 1972
32- Temperature ('C)
36-
40-
44 39020'N 39OOdN 3801@'N. I 37040'N
'31@00'1 1 371020'N 371000'N
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

U)
U) 0:3: U) w < 0 Uj 0 a_
r-- 2- r.- ff) a) rf@ co 00 Co si-
N C\j - - 0 0 Ln It - 0 CQ Ln Q0
0 M U) M M 0') M M CO OD 00 CO CO (0 -e@
2
j 14 1 24
4 0
8 -IM
10 24 2
12- -12 --12----
0-- 16. 26
20
24 -
028- 25-28 July 1972
32-
36 - Salinity
40-
44- 39102dN 39100d 3T4dN 38000'N 37040'N 37"20'N 37000'N
I , j
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

Figure A.1.4. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Bay on 25-28 July 1972.

1 46

U) 0 3@: U) X C) Li 0 CL
r- 0 - r-- K) 9) rn CD Co CC) ;1- 0) 0
C\j Li- C\j - - 0 0 n IQ- - 1 C\j 0 Ln (D
0 u) a) a) 0) a) 0) C,0 CO Go CD OD r- r- w -e@
--25 - "26 - @27 v
26-----.-- @@26
4 6. 2
8- 22 .2 24 --------
, @'f- 2 2
23
12- *-21
- 777-
16 - 22 2
-C 20
Z-24-
28 - 3-5 August 1972
32-
Temperature ('C)
36-
40
44 3902dN 39TOOdN 3 N WO@'N 37,o4dN 31*21'N 3TOO'N
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 (60 140 120 (00 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

CO C.)
V) 0 3@: U) G@ C) UJ (D D- -E>. 3: C)
r-- o - r-- K) a) K) co 00 OD M 0
L,-N-- 0 0 Ln ;** - 0 LO (0
U)O)MM M a) co Co co 01) 00 (D -E)-
0 T I I/ I
6/1 1
10' 16
4-- - i _:-- (
0.1:1
-20
F83 2 24 265
I ro - 20 2 7,
20 - 2 22
CL 24 -
028-
- 3-5 August 19-72
32-
- Salinity M.)
36-
40-
44- 3T20'N 39oOON 38o4O'N 38@00 1N 37-40-N 37-20'N 37-00-N
300 280 2 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

Figure A.I.5. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salini .ty
along the axis of the Bay on 3-5 August 1972.

147

U)
(n 0 3: U) w U
r-- 0 - r-- r) a) K) cD CO OD r- M LO
C\j LL C\j - -00LO q- rf) - 0 C\j U-) CO
0 a) U) a) C) 0) 0) a) CD CO C) 00 CO P- w
72 T
4-- 26
-26 5
22(
8_ .25 24 25- 2
12-
16 -
20-
24 -
028- 24
- 28-30 August 1972
32
Temperature @C)
36
40-
44
3S@WN 39OWN 3804dN 38W'N 37040'N 37020'N 37000'N
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

U)
('r) 0 3: V) Ir < C) LLJ C) Cr -e- t@:
r'- 0 - r- n U) rr) CO CO CO It "It T r- a) LO
C\J LL (\j - -0U-) @J- re) - 0 C\j 0 LO (.0
(f) 0) (7) 0) 0') 00 00 CC) 00 00
0 w -e@
lb
4
1- 5 2 26
8 a--*- 14.16-
4-- - I- -
.0 2
2---- 18- 27
12- 14
16 - 16 20 20
20 -
0 -21
24 -
028-
- 28-30 August 1972
32-
Salinity
36
40
44-
39020'N 39000 38040'N 3ErOO'N 37040'N 37-20'N 37000'N
I . A
300 280 260 240 220 200 180 160 140 120 VDO 80 60 40 2() 0 -20
Distance from Mouth of Bay (km)

Figure A.I.6. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Bay on 28-30 August 1972.

- 148 -

APPENDIX II. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary. (C.B.I.)

Page

MIJ. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
28 June 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

MI.2. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on 9 July
1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

MI.3. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potmac River estuary on
14 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 151

MI.4. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
21 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

A.M.5. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on 153
1 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

MI.6. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
22 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

MI.7. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on 155
29 August 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

- 149 -

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER
P2 C\j w OD (0 Co
I- (D It C\j - 0
0._ 0- a- OL Q- CL 0- (1 a. 01- CL Q_
S
2-
4- NOPATA 1 .20 2U
6-
8
10-
E 12-
!-: 14-
cl. 16- 28 June 1972
0 18- Temperature (*C)
20-
22-
0
24- 0
CE
26-
28-
CP
0 0
30- Of
1@
0 10 2'0 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 'P 160 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

CC) C\j W C\1 00 - w co -
r- r- (D (D It C\j - 0 0
a_ a_ a- a_ a- a- a_ a- a_
s
2- 2,@
NO DATA 3
4- 4--
6-
6
8 8
10- 9
E 12- IO__--
:E: 14- 28 June 1972
C,
16- So I i n i t yMo)
18-
20-
22-

o 0
24-
26-
En '0
a) 0
28- X C@ 0
0
0 0 0
30-
0 10 @0 3'0 @O 5'0 6'0 7'0 80 90 A, 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
0 5 Ib 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 510 55 60 65 70 75 80 8,5 9,0 9@
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
7
t, e 1972@
Y
nu,

Figure A.H.l. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
28 June 1972. (C.B.I.)

- 150 -

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER
N @0 a@ @r OD OD
r-- (.0 q- C\j 0
CL CL Q._ a_ EL a_ a- a- Ci-
s I I ,
2 -23--V
N 0 DATA
4-
6-
-8 22
10-
12-
14- -21
2 0-----^,
dc, 16- .9 July 1972
0 18- Temperature C)
20-
22-
0 Of
24-
0
26- 0
E
0
C,
28-
CY, 0
30

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 A@ 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
0 5 I@ 15 2'0 A 30 35 40 45 50 55 6'0 65 70 A 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES PROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER
- co -
C\j w OD C\j 0 0
r- w lzr
Q- n- a_ a_ Ci- a. CL Ci- a_ a-
s - - I I-
-0.5 .7-1-27
2- 140 DAYA fl T
4- 3 4
6- 5
8
to-
12-
14- 9 July 1972
CL 16- Salinity Mo)
18-
20-
22- 0 'S-
24- Q- 0
26-
28
01 0 C
6 Z5 0
3oF
160 170
0 10 @O 30 40 50 90 iO 80 90 100 110 120 16a 140 150
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
5' 10' 1'5 2'0 A 3'0 A 4'0 415 5'0 55 6'0 65 7'0 A 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHIN GTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
Aefluz'

Figure A.H.2. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
9 July 1972. (C.B.I.)

151

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

CD (.0 C\j OD w CD
rl- w w I:r -;j- @8 2 N 0 0
a_ a_ Q- a_ a- CL a_ a- a- 25 a_ 27 CL
I- ? - 7 26
2- 0 DATA 24 24 -
4- 25-
6- 2 3'
8
10- 22
12-
14- 14 July 1972
16- Temperature ('C)
18-
20-
22- Cr
24-
3: 0
Y
26 E
C3 0
28- 01
-0 -0 01
Z,
0 0 0 0
30- Cr

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1, 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
--7 1 t I I I I I
0 5 1 15 20 25 30@ 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POiUMAC RIVER

- (D CD-
OD CQ (D CD C\j - 0 0
a- a- a_ Q- a- Q- a- CL
s / I
2- NO* DAT@ 1.5 -2 3
4- 4
6- 5
8
6
10- 7-
12-
14- 14 July 1972
Salinity Moo)
16-
0 Is-
20-
22-
0
24-
0
26
28- 0
CP
'0 0 0
c 0
30- Cr
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 io 8b @O 160 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 k A 8'0 8'5 9'0 9@
3'
.4
5@
68@
22_
WI @47
July 19
ernpe,at e

NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

Figure A.H.3. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
14 July 1972. (C.B.I.)

- 152

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER
C\j C\j OD - R w 00
r- w qq- I;r C\j
a- a- a- a- CL Q._ a- a- a- CL
s. T- -429 t
2- /28
NO 6ATA @2
4- 25 24 * 26
6-
8 6 2@
to-
12-
14- 21 July 1972 @5
QCL 16- Temperature ('C)
18-
20-
22- 0
24- 0
0
26- E 0
0
01
28- -0 0,
Z5 0 0
30 Cr -
0 10 20 30 40 50 6.0 70 @10 go 160 110 120 lk 14'0 15'0 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
5 I@ 15 20 25 30 35 4'0 45 5'0 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

00 C\1 co W w
r- rl- @s @f IT Jr C\j -- 0
CL a_ a. Q- a- a- CL a- CL CL a-
S
2- 2 .3
N 0 D,@T A 0.5 1
4- 5
6- .6
8
10- 3
12 -
14- 21 July 1972
16 - Salinity Moo)
18-
20- k
Z k
22- k
0
24-
26- E
-9
C3 0
28-

L)
30 <
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 go 160 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
-T
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

Figure A.H.4. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
21 July 1972. (C.B.I.)

- 153 -

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

OD C\j (D co U0 OD
r- r- (Jo IT C\j - 0 0
a_ a_ a_ a_ a_ 0- a- a- a_ a- a_ CL a_
s I-I-T-I 7-1-
2- T--t-7-T 1-1-1
NO DATA 26
4 -
6-
8
10- 24
12- 1---
14- 1 August 1972 23
Cl- 16-
a) Temperature (OC)
18-
20-
22- 0
24- 0._
26
E
3
28- 0
CY,
a 0
30 - U Of

100 110 130 140 150 IGO 170
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 120
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 9@
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

- (.0 OD
iLD C\j (D C\j co C\1 -
w w IT 0 0
a- QL_ a_ CL a_ CL
S
2 -
NO DATA 3 4
4 - 5
6-

10 -
12
14 1 August 1972 .12 1
Cl- 16- Salinity No o)
14
18-
20-
22-
24-
0 -10,
.2 0
26 E
0
28 -
Z5 01 0
0 0
30 - L) Of
0 10 20 30 40 60 io BC, @O 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
I Au gust 197
Te ,perat,,e (@C)

0 5 1 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 5'0 55 60 65 7'0 A 80 85 9 0 915
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

Figure A.H.5. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
1 August 1972. (C.B.I.)

- 154 -

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

CD C\j w 00 - w (1) 01)
r- r- w IT 10- r1r) R C\j -- 0 0
a- a- a- 0- a- a- ci- CL
s T6- T
2 h 06ATA 25
4
6-
8
to-
12-
14- 22 August 1972
16- Temperature ('C)
18-
20-
Z
22- 0
24- '0
26- CD 0
0
28- 01 -0 0
-0 0 -0 2
0 0 C3
30 C: X C?-

150 160 170
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 go N\ 100 110 12'0 130 140
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
5 10 15 20 25 3'0 35 4'0 415 510 55 6'0 65 7'0 A 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

C\j w C\j co - (D co -
rl- (D W N - 0 0
a- a- a- CL a-
s
2- 'N o b ATA .77- --4 5 6-'
4- .1 2 3 7- 8 9
6- 10,
8
10- 13 12-@
12- 14 1 -
14- 22 August 1972 16
16- Salinity
18-
20-
22- 0
24- 0 -0 0
(D 0-
26-
C:
28- 1.3 .0 >1 / 1 -0 CD 0
'0 -0 (M
8 0 Cr
3+
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 @O It, 160 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
0 5 I@ 15 2'0 A 30 35 4'0 45 5'0 55 6'0 65 7'0 A 8'0 8'5 9'0 95
F
22 rAl @7 2
ugust
Te mpeatue ( C

r2
2 August 1972
Sar, ty
n

NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

Figure A.H.6. Longitudinal distribution of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
22 August 1972.

- 155 -

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

00 C\j Lo C\j OD w w CD
r- rl- LO co 1::r K) 2 C\j - 0 0
QL_ a- a_ a- a- a- a- QL_ 28 CL
S 27::--@ 'Z--27'
2-
NO DATA 26
4- 25 24.
6-
8
0-
2-
14- 29 August 1972
Cl- 16- Temperature (C)
18-
20-
22-
24- -0 a-
0
0 0 2
0
26- En -0 E
a) 0 -9
0 01 0 --
28- X 01 0
0 0
30- L)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1,100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 9@
NAUTICAL MILES. FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

LONGITUDINAL SECTION OF POTOMAC RIVER

co (0 C\j CC) - (D - (D CC) -
0 0
a- a_ a_
s
2-
1@10 bATA 6T/52 7.
4- 5
10
1
8 12 13
10- 114
12- 15--:
14- AugusII972
Salinity Mo)
16-
0 18 -
20-
22-
CL a--
24- 0
-2
26 - E 0-
0 3
28 -
X
30 - < E L)
I t I
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 160 dO 120 130 140 150 160 170
KILOMETERS FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95
NAUTICAL MILES FROM WASHINGTON (CHAIN BRIDGE)

Figure A.H.7. Longitudinal distributions of temperature and salinity
along the axis of the Potomac River estuary on
29 August 1972.
29 A ug'st 1972
Te p ert,,e (@ C

21) A ugusl 1972
Sol, ty (./
n, 0.)

- 156 -

APPENDIX III. Frequency of sea nettle polyps and cysts on oyster
shells from selected sampling areas in Chesapeake Bay.
(C.B.L.)

Paqe

A.III.l. Survey of 5-7 June 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157

A.III.2. Survey of 10-13 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

A.III.3. Survey of 24-26 July 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

A.III.4. Surveys of 24-26 July and 31 July-2 August 1972 . . . . 163

A.III.5. Survey of 23-27 October 1972 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

A.III.6. Survey of 20 October-2 November 1972 . . . . . . . . . 167

157 -

A.III.l: SURVEY OF 5-7 JUNE 1972

Location Number of Nwnber of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells per shell per shell
1-10 11-50 50+ 1-10 11-50 50+

Little Choptank
at Beacon 28 5 0 0 0 0 0

Choptank R.
at Howell Pt. 26 0 0 0 0 0 0

Broad Creek 15 6 1 0 0 0 0

Tilghmann Island
at Bar Neck 14 0 0 0 0 0 0

Eastern Bay at
Bloody Pt. 21 0 0 0 0 0 0

Wye River 24 0 0 0. 0 0 0

Miles R. at
N-12 Buoy 15 2 0 0 0

Parsons Island 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chester R. at
Cedar Pt. 27 0 0 0 0 0

Chester R. at
Corsica 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

Swan Point 21 0 o n 0 0 0

Tolchester 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

Still Pond 21 0 0 0 0 0 0

Bodkin Point 23 0 0 0 0 0 0

Hackett Point 22 0 0 n 0 0 0

Saunders Point 11 0 n 0 0 0
Rhode River 23 0 0 0 0 0 0
Herring Bay 29 0 0 n 0 n 0
Parkers Creek 19 n 0 f) n 0

- 158 -

Location Number of Number of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells per shell per shell
1-10 11-50 50+ T-10 11-50 50+

Calvert Cliffs
at power plant 14 0 0 0 0 0 0

Little Cove Point 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

Honga R.
at mouth 16 0 0 0 0 0

Sharfkin Shoal 21 0 0 n 0 0 0

Halls Point 17 1 n 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Popes Cr. 26 0 0 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Hawks Neck 26 0 0 0 0 0 0

159 -

A.111.2: SURVEY OF 10-13 JULY 1972

Location Number of Number of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells r shell 2er shell
TO- fl - 5 0-5 0 + 1-10 11-50 50+

Patuxent R-.
at Gatton Bar 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Patuxent R.
at Buzzard Island 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Patuxent R.
at Farmers Bar 20 0 0 0 0 n 0

Patuxent R.
at Hog Island 19 0 0 0 1 0 0

Swan Point 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tolchester 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Miles River 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

James Island Point 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Ragged Point 17 0 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Old Farm 16 0 0 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Beacon Bar 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chesapeake Bay
at SW Middlegrounds 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Kedges Straight 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Marumsco 20 0 0 0 0 1 0

Piney Island East 20 0 0 0 0 0

Mud Rock 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lambstrom 20 0 0 0 0 0

Hooper Straight
at Normans 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Little Choptank
at Ragged Pt. 21 0 0 0 1 1 0

- 160 -

Location Number of Number of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells per shell per shell
1-70 11-50 50+ T--7-O 11-50 50+

Broad Creek 13 0 0 0 0

Tred Avon
at Pecks 10 0- 0 0 1 0 0

Choptank R.
at LeCompte 7 0 0 0 n 1 0

Wye River 17 n 0 0 0 0 0

Bloody Point 6 0 0 0 n n 0

Patuxent R.
at Spencers 20 0 0 n 0 0 0

- 161 -

A.III-3: SURVEY OF 24-26 J11LY 1972

location Number of Number of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells per shell per shell
1-10 11-50 50+ T--lo 11-50 50+

Patuxent
at Gatton Bar 19 0 0 0 0 0 0

Patuxent
at Spencers Bar 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

Patuxent
at Green Holly 22 0 0 0 0 1 0

Patuxent
at Hog Island 22 0 0 0 1 1 0

Potomac
at Ragged Pit. 12 0 0 n 0 0 0

Sit. Mary's R.
at Horseshoe Pt. 19 0 0 0 0 0 0

Sit. Mary's R.
at Windmill Pt. 16 0 0 0 1 1 0

Sit. Mary's R.
at Cherryfield Pit. 20 n 0 n 0 0 0

Miles R.
at N-12 Buoy 18 0 0 0 2 0 0

Hacketts Point 20 0 0 0 0 0

Saunders Point 12 0 0 0 1 0 0

Drum Point 9 0 0 0 0 0

Punch Island 16 0 0 0 2 0 0

Little Choptank
at Ragged Pt. 15 0 0 0 0 0

Broad Creek 15 0 0 0 1 0 0

Herring Bay 17 0 0 0 0 0 0

Marumsco 17 1 0 0 0 0 0

Piney Island East 19 1 0 0 0 1 0

Nanticoke R.
at mouth 19 0 0 'n 0 1 0

162 -

Location NumBer of Number of polyps Number of cysts
blank shells per shell per shell
T-75- 11-50 50+ 1-70 11-50 50+

Upper Wicomico 17 0 0 0 0 0

Lambstrom 20 0 n 0 0 0 n

Honga R.
at Normans 19 0 0 n 0 0 0

Little Cove Point 16 0 0 0 0 0 0

Tolchester 20 0 0 0 0 0 0

- 163 -

A-IIIA: SURVEYS OF 24-26 JULY and 31 JULY-2 AUGUST 1972

Location Number of Number of polyps
blank shells per shell Cysts Only
1-10 11-50 50+

Patuxent
at Gatton Bar 19 0 0 0 0

Patuxent
at Spencers Bar 20 0 0 0 0

Patuxent
at Green Holly 22 0 0 1

Patuxent
at Hog Island 22 0 0 0 2

Potomac
at Ragged Pt. 12 0 0 0 0

St. Mary's
at Horseshoe Pt. 19 0 0 0 0

St. Mary's
at Windmill Pt. 16 0 0 0 2

St. Mary's
at Cherryfield Pt. 20 0 0 0 0

Miles R.
at M-12 Buoy 18 0 n 0 2

Hacketts Point 20 0 0 0 0

Saunders Point 12 0 0 0 1

Drum Point 9 n n 0 0

Punch Island 16 0 0 0 2

Little Choptank
at Ragged Pt. 15 0 0 0 0

Broad Creek 15 0 0 0 1

Herring Bay 17 0 0 0 0

Marumsco 17 1 0 0 0

Piney Island East 19 1 0 0 1

- 164 -

Location Number of Number of polyps
blank shells per shell Cysts Only
T7--o 11-50 50+

Nanticoke R.
at mouth 19 0 0 0 1

Upper Wicomico 17 0 0 0 0

Lamstrom 20 0 0 0 0

Honga R.
at Normans 19 0 0 0 0

Little Cove Point 16 0 0, 0 0

Tolchester 20 0 0 0 0

u u u 0 0 L PueLSI 60H

0 0 u 0 SL 4ULOd MOO 9L4411

0 0 u u 6 108-AO S-AOIAed

0 0 0 u ZL 4ULOd P966eN le
I@e4dOQ 8MVI

0 u 0 0 9 L 188,Ao PeO.A,R

u 0 u 0 OL CLSI UeWOLU)
SMO-A-AeN sddeu:A

u u u u SL keq BUL.A.OH

0 0 0 0 VL spvp@W *;S ;o *N
'*H s9LM

0 0 0 0 OL -A aA @N 0414

0 u 0 u ZL 4eg padsWd 4e
999 Ua4sR3

0 0 0 u OL 4ULOd SPOOLS

0 u u u OL A8ALN OP0411

0 0 0 0 OL 4ULOd suapune!;

0 0 0 u 6 *4d JRPaJ U
'N J84sKJ

0 0 0 u 9L 4uPd 44813eli

0 u u 0 EL '4d swePV 4e
'H 44406%

u 0 0 u OL *4d UL4POG 4e
*N oosde4ed

u u u u OL 4ULOd uRmS

0 0 0 u EL PeOG -Aa4s84:)LOJ.

0 u u u LL PuOd LLPS

+US US-LL OL-L
XLuO s4sXD LL04s -Aad sLL04s lueLq
sd4Lod 4o jaqwnN _4o AaqwnN uope:)Oj

ZL6L 4380100 LZ-EZ JO A3ANnS :S*III*V

- 99L -

- 166

Location Number of Number of polyps
blank shells per shell Cysts Only
T-1 0 11-50 50+

Patuxent R.
at Green Holly 13 0 0 0 0

Patuxent R.
at Hellens Cr. 13 0 0 0 0

Patuxent R.
at Broomes Is. 11 0 0 0 0

Patuxent R.
at Queentree Landing 11 0 0 0 0

Honga R.
at Dutch Point Cove 13 1 0 0 0

Hooper Strai ts
Sharkfin Shoal 9 3 0 0 0

Tangier Sound
at Hanes Point 10 2 0 0 0

Tangier Sound
E. of South Marsh Is. 11 2 0 0 0

Tangier Sound
at Flatcap Point 10 0 0 0 0

Wicomico R.
at Chaptico 10 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Breton Bay 10 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at Ragged Point 10 0 0 0 0

Potomac R.
at St. George Is. 12 0 0 0 0

St. Marys R.
at Windmill Pt. 11 1 n 0 1

Potomac R.
at Cornfield Harbor 10 0 0 0

Pocomoke Sound
at Marumsco 9 3 0 0 0

- 167 -

A.111.6: SURVEY OF 30 OCTOBER to 2 NOVEMBER 1972

Location Number of Number o? polyps
blank shells per shell Cysts Only
1-10 11-50 50+

Great Wi comi co 1
at Sandy Pt. 13 1 0 0
Fleets Point 10 0 0 0 0
Fleets Bay 14 0 0 0
Rappahannock R. 0
at Parrot Is. 10 0 0 0

Rappahannock R.
at Towles Pt. 10 0 0 0 0
Rappahannock R. a
at Lagrange Cr. 11 0 0 0
Rappahannock R. 0
at Tarpley Pt. 10 0 0 0
Piankatank R. I
at Ginney Pt. 11 1 3 0
Piankatank R. 0
at Godfrey Bay 6 8 6 0
Stingray Point 10 0 0 0

Mobjack Bay
at Mobjack 10 0 0 0 0
Mobiack Bay 17 2 2 0 0
at Ware Neck
York R. 0
at Clay Bank 12 0 n 0
York R. 0
at Bells Rock 11 0 0 0
York R. 0
at Purtan Is. 7 0 0 n
Plumtree Pt. 12 0 n 0 0
James R. 0
at Hampton 10 0 0 0

- 168

Location Number of Number of polyps
blank shells per shell Cysts Only
1-10 11-05 50+

James R.
at Newport News 14 0 0 0 0

James R.
at Blunt Pt. 14 0 0 0 0

James R.
at Mulberry Pt. 11 0 0 0
Willoughby Bank 10 0 0 0 0

Old Plantation Flats 10 0 0 0 0

Powells Bluff - - - - -

Onancock Creek - - - - -

Watts Island 10 0 0 0 0

169 -

APPENDIX IV. Frequency of sea nettle polyps on oyster shells from
selected samplinq areas in Chesapeake Bay. November 1971.
(C.B.L.).

Location Number of polyps per shell
0 1-16 11-50 50+

Little Cove Pt. 7 n 2 0

Calvert Cliffs 12 0 0 0
Power Plant

Herring Bay 11 2 3 1

Black Can-
South River 3 6 3 2

Mouth South Ri ver 14 4 1 0

Off Hackett Pt. 3 7 6 n

Off Tolchester Pier 12 0 0 1

Swan Pt.-
Chester River 17 0 1 0

Eastern Neck
Chester River 6 5 3 0

Prospect Bay 2 4 4- 3

Grace Creek-
Broad Creek 5 4 4 0

Brookes Creek-
Little Choptank 5 6 3 0

Mouth Honga River 7 2 1 1

Fishing Bay 11 0 2 0

Off Deale Island 12 2 0 0

Frenchtown-
Manokin River 11 0 n 0

N. Entrance Canal 10 0 0 0

Entrance Broad
Creek 7 0 0 0

APPENDIX V. LOGISTIC SUPPORT PROVIDED BY VARIOUS AGENCIES

(STATE AND FEDERAL) TO THE VIRGINIA INSTITUTE OF MARINE SCIENCE

DURING OPERATION AGNES

Agency Support Utilization

U.S. Navy

Naval Ordinance Laboratory Vessels Anchor stations mid-Bay
Solomons, Maryland Transect, 3 and 7 July
1972.

Coastal River Squadron Two PT Boats Spine of the Bay, slack
Little Creek, Virginia runs from Bay mouth to
Potomac River, 10 runs
in July and August.

Assault Craft Unit Two LCU's Anchor stations in Bay
Little Creek, Virginia mouth transects, 6 periods,
July and August.

Explosive Ordinance Disposal Divers Equipment Recovery
Unit Two, Fort Story, Va. (two occasions).
Naval Ordinance Laboratory Magnetometer Boon Equipment Recovery
White Oak, Maryland

U.S. Coast Guard

Reserve Training Center Cutter CUYAHOGA Anchor stations, mid-
Bay transect, 4 periods
during July.

Agency Support Utilization

U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard Station Cutter POINT MARTIN Equipment Recovery
Little Creek, Virginia 13 and 14 July.

Portsmouth Supply Depot Buoy Tender RED CEDAR Reset current meter
and buoy boat. arrays.

Light Towers

Diamond Shoal Personnel Hydrographic Observations
Five Fathom Bank July - August
Chesapeake

U.S. Army

Transportation Corps Tugs James River slack runs and
Fort Eustis, Virginia anchor station. June
July 1972. 2 weeks.

National Marine Fisheries Service

Woods Hole, Massachusetts R/V ALBATROSS Shelf Hydrographic Stations

Sandy Hook, New Jersey Vessel and Personnel Hydrographic Observations
Shelf

NASA

Langley Research Center Helicopters and Personnel Bay-surface
Hydrographic Observations

Instrumentation Bay-mouth
Personnel Hydrographic Studies

Agency Support Utilization

NASA

Wallops Island Aircraft Remote Sensing

National Ocean Survey Research Vessel WHITING Set current meter arrays
in Bay mouth, Smith Point-
Tangier Island Transect
29-30 June 1972.

Virginia Marine Resources Vessels Sampling and transportation
Commission throughout study.

Virginia Pilots Association Vessel support Bay-mouth
Hydrographic Studies
(2 weeks)

Chesapeake Bay Institute R/V RIDGLEY WARFIELD Shell Hydrographic Studies 14

OA CO STAL SERVICES CTR LIBRARY

14110336 8

MWAL ZONE
MUNAM