Version 1.0 of COAST provides information about nutrients related to several source sectors to help identify restoration areas, which is based on the SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) models.

The data used for identifying areas for restoration are based primarily on SPARROW (SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes) model results. Users can select areas based on the major sources (source sectors) of nutrients affecting the Chesapeake Bay, which include:

• agricultural lands
• developed lands
• point-source discharges
• atmospheric deposition

Selecting areas to enhance restoration actions: Go to the COAST Restoration Mapper and for watersheds of interest: Review the range of nitrogen or phosphorus yields to the Bay and tidal rivers. Review nutrient information by “source sector” to help identify the major sources of nutrient and sediments in different areas. Begin to select areas to focus management actions based on source sector. Review additional information in the COAST Restoration Mapper to: Determine if there are local water-quality impairments in these areas. Understand the potential lag time between implementing practices and a water-quality response by examining the base-flow index Assess availability of on-going monitoring in an area so improvements to water quality can be evaluated. (If not available, monitoring will have to be established). Assess the opportunities for additional management practices to be implemented. For assessing the extent of current riparian forest buffers, go to the USGS Riparian Buffer Mapping Tool Select areas to focus management actions based on high nutrient loads, local-water quality impairments, potential monitoring, and opportunities to implement actions. Go to the "Choose and Implement Actions" component of COAST.

Learn more:

• The Restoration Mapper provides access to several pieces of information listed above including:
• The distribution of nitrogen and phosphorous yields from the USGS SPARROW model. Users can look at maps of the entire watershed, Tributary Strategy Basins, or state areas within the Bay watershed. 
• Information on local water conditions (based on state integrated assessment reports)
• Base-flow index—provides an estimate of the amount of runoff and ground water contributing to streamflow in a watershed.  In general, the higher the amount of ground water, the longer it will take for improvements in nitrogen concentrations in streams.
• USGS SPARROW Model Fact Sheet
• Watershed conditions and State integrated assessments for conditions of local waters