The vertical dependence of the eddy viscosity A(z) is explored using a simple analytical model and data from a closely spaced set of moorings off Long Island. Two different situations are examined, one with fairly steady flow, and the other with fairly steady wind forcing. In both cases the results differed from previous expressions for A(z), for example, in that A(z) increased instead of decreased toward the bottom boundary. This difference is a consequence of treating a baroclinic instead of a non-stratified situation. The omission of baroclinicity also leads to larger column-averaged values of A(z), a fact that becomes more obvious when the full velocity vector is modeled instead of just the main component. Low values (0(10) cm2/s) with an interior minimum were obtained for the steady flow, strongly baroclinic situation; and higher values (0(100) cm2/s) were required for the more strongly wind-forced situation. Comparisons are made with the Munk and Anderson <1948> Richardson number dependency for A(z). Other aspects of the solution and its applicability to the observed flow are also discussed.