MARACOOS in Maryland
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest shallow-water estuary in the western hemisphere, encompassing 64,000 square miles and including parts of six states—New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia—and the District
of Columbia. The Bay is home to over
3,600 species of plants and animals, ten million people, and a strong regional economy.
Over
97 million tons of imports and exports pass through the Port of Baltimore and Port of Virginia annually. In addition to the shipping and maritime transportation industries, commercial fishing forms a large part of the Chesapeake
regional economy. According to the most recent
NOAA Fisheries Economics of the United States Report, the commercial seafood industry in Maryland and Virginia
contributed nearly $8 billion in sales, $1.8 billion in income, and over 60,000 jobs to the local economy.
Explore more Maryland waters:
Delmarva waters
Flood Monitoring and Forecasting
Partnering with the University of Maryland, MARACOOS is installing new water level sensors across the state. These sensors deliver real-time flood data to improve coastal and inland flood forecasting—helping communities better prepare for extreme weather and rising seas.
Enhancing Maritime Safety
A MARACOOS-operated high-frequency radar on Assateague Island tracks ocean surface currents, aiding U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations. This reduces search areas by up to two-thirds, saving lives and cutting operational costs.
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecasting
Through the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Forecast System (CBEFS), MARACOOS delivers forecasts of currents, hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, and sea nettles—critical for watermen, tourists, and emergency response. CBEFS supported recovery efforts following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.
Featured Chesapeake Bay Data Tools
If you have a tool to add please email info@maracoos.org
Tidewatch
The Tidewatch network provides an effective way to measure, visualize, and predict the magnitude and impacts of coastal flooding at locations within Chesapeake Bay and along Virginia’s seaside Eastern Shore. Use Tidewatch charts to better prepare for storm tides and minimize their potential impacts.
MARACOOS OceansMap Chesapeake Bay Portal
MARACOOS OceansMap is a dynamic data visualization tool integrating near real-time observational assets and model forecasts that contribute to ocean monitoring in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS) – VIMS
The Virginia Estuarine and Coastal Observing System (VECOS) is a website designed to distribute water quality data sampled from the Chesapeake Bay and associated tributaries within Virginia.
Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Forecast – VIMS
The Chesapeake Bay Hypoxia Forecast model simulates dissolved-oxygen levels in the bottom waters of the Bay’s main stem. It simulates 3 conditions: Nowcast: present-day levels of dissolved oxygen in Chesapeake Bay, 2-Day Forecast: levels of dissolved oxygen in the Bay 2 days from now, and Forecast Trend: difference between nowcast and forecast (% change over 2 days.
Old Dominion University Surface Current Mapping
Surface current mapping is sponsored by MARACOOS but based out of the Center for Coastal Physical Oceanography, Department of Ocean, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences , Old Dominion University.
Chesapeake Bay Operational Forecast System (CBOFS)
As a product of NOAA CO-OPS, CBOFS provides water level nowcast and forecast guidance, as well as currents, water temperature and salinity and interpolated winds from National Weather Service products. CBOFS runs four times per day and generates 6-hour nowcasts and 48-hour forecast guidance.
Maryland DNR – Eyes on the Bay
Run By Maryland DNR, Eyes on the Bay offers Maryland tidal water quality data and information.
Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal
Browse over 4,000 maps showing fishing grounds, marine life habitats and much more. Managed by MARCO.
Chesapeake Bay Sentinel Site Cooperative Surface Elevation Table
This map is a collection of Surface Elevation Table (SET) sampling stations throughout the tidal marshes in the Chesapeake Bay.
