There is a wealth of data available from Chesapeake Bay monitoring programs and complimentary information from a variety of basic and applied research efforts. These programs should be better integrated in order to produce and apply more fully information that could improve decision making. Strategic decision making already depends on complex scientific models of the behavior of the ecosystem. Closer collaboration in design, conduct and analysis among monitoring, research and modeling programs would greatly add value to the collective effort. A workshop of leaders in Bay monitoring, modeling, research and technical management was held on November 21-22, 1996, in Solomons, Maryland to address this need. Objectives of the workshop were: To identify innovative approaches to the analysis of monitoring data which effectively integrate modeling predictions and research findings and address important management questions. To foster productive collaboration among the monitoring, modeling and research communities.