THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TURBIDITY, CHLOROPHYLL A, AND FECAL COLIFORM IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

Abstract

Water clarity is often used as the sole indicator of water quality, even though it is only one of many parameters examined. In this paper, a relationship between fecal coliform indicators, chlorophyll a, and turbidity was explored in detail. Data from the Maryland Department of the Environments Shellfish Harvesting waters were analyzed using scatter plots, box-and-whisker plots, Pearson Correlation, and Quantile Regression. Fecal Coliform Most Probable Number (MPN) indicators were used to represent water quality, and secchi disk depth was used to determine turbidity. No relationship between Fecal Coliform data and secchi disk depth were observed, negating examination of Chlorophyll a data. Quantile Regression techniques suggest that when secchi disk depth is equal to or greater than 2 meters, the fecal coliform MPN will not be greater than 3 MPN. This relationship should be explored further as it utilizes a sampling technique that requires little training, no equipment calibration, and is inexpensive.