The Long Island Sound report card compares 4 indicators (dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, water clarity, dissolved organic carbon) to scientifically derived thresholds or goals. These indicators are combined into an Overall Health Index, which is presented as a subregion percent score.
How is it measured?
The overall health index is the average of the four water quality indicators - dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon, chlorophyll a, and water clarity.
Threshold levels
| Scores | Grade |
|---|---|
| 0% - < 60% | F |
| 60% - < 70% | D |
| 70% - < 80% | C |
| 80% - < 90% | B |
| 90% - 100% | A |
Each grade is then divided into plus and minuses where the 3 lowest scores (eg. 80-82) is a minus and the top 3 scores (eg. 87-89) is a plus. Example: 80-82%=B-, 83-86%=B, 87-89%=B+.