Status yields and trends of nutrients and sediment and methods of analysis for nontidal data-collection programs, Chesapeake Bay basin, 1985-96

Data from more than 200 sites in nontidal portions of the Chesapeake Bay were compiled to
document annual nutrient and sediment loads and trends for the period 1985 through 1996 as part of the
1997 Reevaluation of the Chesapeake Bay Program goal of reducing nutrient loads 40 percent by the year
2000. Annual loads were estimated by use of the Minimum Variance Unbiased Estimator (MVUE) model
at 95 sites with continuous streamflow data. Trends were estimated by use of either the MVUE or the
Seasonal Kendall test at 202 sites and are presented in tables in this report. Trends analyzed in nutrient and
sediment concentrations were reported as non-streamflow adjusted and streamflow adjusted if possible.
Mean yields from the MVUE model and median concentrations from the Seasonal Kendall test were
calculated to help facilitate comparisons between basins.