Ecological

  • Nitrogen – measures the amount of nitrogen in watershed or Bay waters.
  • Phosphorus – measures the amount of phosphorus in watershed or Bay waters.
  • Turbidity – is the amount of particles in the water measured as NTUs.
  • Water Quality Index – indicators include total phosphorus, total nitrogen, conductivity, and turbidity.
  • Conductivity – measures the ability of water to conduct electricity and is a general indicator of water quality.
  • Benthic Community – or the Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity, measures the condition of the organisms living in or on the bottom areas of the Bay.
  • Fish community – Fish community, an index developed by the EPA, examines river health in categories including native species and pollution tolerance. 
  • Temperature Stress – measures if summer water temperatures are too hot for many aquatic organisms. 
  • Protected Lands – measures the amount of valuable lands that are protected in the watershed.

Societal

  • Social Index – uses data about social vulnerability from the U.S. Census and measures how a community can respond to hazardous events.
  • Walkability – measures how many people can walk to a park in 10 minutes and includes metrics for the total population and for diverse groups.
  • Heat Vulnerability Index – indicates climate-safe neighborhoods and includes metrics for tree canopy, impervious surface, land surface temperature, and households in poverty.

Economic

  • Household income – is a traditional measure of economic vitality and uses data from the U.S. Census.
  • Affordable housing – measures how much housing is available at a cost that is less than 30% of people’s income.
  • Income equality – measures disparity between low and high earners.
  • Jobs growth – measures the percentage of jobs gained or lost (net) from the previous year.

Other