The Jamaica Bay ecosystem and wastewater discharges to the bay were characterized during a comprehensive 3-year study. The primary objective of the project was the development of management criteria and procedures for the bay ecosystem, with major emphasis on combined sewer overflow management to provide for water contact recreation in the bay. Analysis of the sampling results and the output of the hydrologic models developed during the project demonstrated that: (1) The four municipal sewage treatment facility effluents are the major sources of organic and nutrient materials discharged to the bay; (2) combined sewer overflows represent significant sources of solids and coliforms to the bay; (3) the Spring Creek combined sewer overflow treatment facility will provide substantial benefit in reducing overall pollution from combined sewer overflows in the Jamaica Bay drainage basin; and (4) treatment of combined sewer overflows from the Paerdegat Basin will provide the next greatest benefit to the quality of the bay. Recommendations are presented on the most cost-effective development of a wastewater management program for the Jamaica Bay drainage basin.