What is at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay?
Benthos are the organisms that live at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay and its streams and rivers. Clams, worms, oysters, shrimp-like crustaceans and mussels are all examples of benthic organisms.
Why is Chesapeake Bay water brown?
Algae blooms are another thing to avoid. These blooms are the result of excess nutrients in the water and look like blue, bright green, brown or red paint floating on the surface. They are especially dangerous for dogs and one of the main threats to the Bay’s entire ecosystem.
What happened in 2011 to the Chesapeake Bay?
In 2011, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources recorded low oxygen levels in 30 to 40 percent of the Maryland portion of the Bay—a much larger dead zone than average. Fortunately, the extreme runoff occurred in early September, when the cooling water will mix more easily and push oxygen into the dead zones.
What color is the Chesapeake Bay water?
-BROWN
THE MUDDY-BROWN WATER in the satellite photo of the Chesapeake Bay, taken from 400 miles up, tells a story about the health of the Bay in 2011 and, perhaps, future years.
How deep is the water under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge?
The depth of the water ranges from 25 to 100 feet, according to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission.
Is the Chesapeake Bay polluted?
According to data submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2016, 82 percent of the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal segments are partially or fully impaired by toxic contaminants.
Why is the Chesapeake Bay so dirty?
The Chesapeake Bay has been on EPA’s “dirty waters” list for decades. This excess nitrogen and phosphorus feeds algal blooms that block sunlight to underwater grasses and contribute to the formation of dead zones, areas in the Bay and its tidal waters without sufficient levels of oxygen.
Is the Chesapeake Bay contaminated?
More than three-quarters of the Chesapeake Bay’s tidal waters are considered impaired by chemical contaminants. From the insecticides that are put on farm fields to the cleaners we use to disinfect our homes, contaminants can enter the Bay and its tributaries and harm the health of both humans and wildlife.
Are there whales in Chesapeake Bay?
The humpback whale is a school bus-sized mammal that occasionally visits the Chesapeake Bay. It is known for its knobbed head and acrobatic breaching displays.
Is Chesapeake Bay a watershed?
The Chesapeake Bay watershed lies on the eastern coast of the United States and is the country’s largest estuary (Fig. More than 100,000 streams and rivers run through the Chesapeake Bay watershed area.
How does pollution affect Chesapeake Bay?
Airborne nitrogen is one of the largest sources of pollution affecting the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Excess nitrogen can fuel the growth of algae blooms, which can block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and create low-oxygen “dead zones” that suffocate marine life.
What is the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Project?
Welcome to Chesapeake Watershed Project. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Project is a citizen science initiative in which community members and students investigate water quality issues on local and regional scales and collaborate across the Bay watershed to analyze data and take action.
What is the size of the Chesapeake Bay?
The Chesapeake Bay is North America’s largest estuary and has a shoreline of more than 12,800 kilometers (8,000 miles). The bay is a long, narrow arm of the Atlantic Ocean that extends northward into Maryland and cuts the state into two parts.