december 2005 the chesapeake bay: how is it doing?

December 2005

The Chesapeake Bay:How is it Doing?The Chesapeake Bay:

How is it Doing?

Why Are We Here?

The Chesapeake Bay is a beautiful place. By protecting the Bay, we are more likely to preserve our economy and the

health of the living things that call the Bay home.

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Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Maryland

Delaware

New York

District of Columbia

Virginia

West Virginia

Pennsylvania

The Bay is Economically Important

The Bay is important for many reasons.It helps to support the region's economy as a major source of

seafood and a major hub for shipping and commerce.

The Bay is Important for Recreation and Tourism

It offers a wide variety of recreational opportunitiesfor residents and visitors.

The Bay Provides Important Habitat for Wildlife

It provides a huge natural habitat for wildlife.

Where Does the Bay Start?

Where does the Bay start?If you are one of the 16 million people who live in the

watershed, then the Bay starts in your backyard!

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Threats to the Bay and Rivers

NUTRIENTS

SEDIMENTS

TOXIC CHEMICALS

HABITAT LOSS

OVERFISHING

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Nutrients

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

are the nutrients causingproblems in the Bay.

What Are the Effects of Excess Nutrients?

What are the effects of excess nutrients?Bay grasses die.

Bay creatures are affected by low oxygen levels

What are the effects of excess nutrients?Low oxygen levels in Bay waters.

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Sources of Pollutants to the Bay

Nonpoint Sources

•Run-off from farmland•Run-off from lawns and paved areas

Point Sources

•Industry•Wastewater Treatment Plants

Cows in Streams

Stormwater and groundwater carry nutrients into rivers and the Bay from a variety of nonpoint sources.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Point sources are the second largest contributors of nutrient pollution to the rivers and the Bay.

Fossil Fuel Power Plant

A significant amount of nitrogen pollution is created when we generate electricity and drive cars. Generating electric power

by burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, releases nitrogen, in the form of nitrogen oxide gas, into the air.

Automobile Exhaust

Nitrogen, again in the form of nitrogen oxide gases, comes out of car tail pipes and gets into the air.

Septic Systems

Another source of nitrogen is septic systems.Many homes in the watershed use underground septic

systems for treatment of wastewater and sewage.

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The Bay and its rivers are doing betterthan they were when the first

Chesapeake Bay Agreement was signed in 1983,but we still have a way to go before we reach our

goals for a restored Chesapeake.

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Phosphorus Concentrations Declining in Some of the

Non-tidal Portions of the Rivers

1985 – 2004

Decreasing

No significant trend

Increasing

Monitoring data shows that concentrations of nitrogen flowing into the Bay are decreasing in many of the Bay’s major tributaries.

These charts use flow-adjusted data, which are ‘normalized’ to account for seasonal and year-to-year variability in weather patterns.

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Nitrogen Concentrations Declining in Some of the

1985 – 2004

Decreasing

Increasing

Monitoring data shows that concentrations of phosphorus flowing into the Bay are decreasing in many of the Bay’s major tributaries.

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Sediment Concentrations Declining in Some of the

Monitoring data shows that concentrations of sediment flowing into the Bay are decreasing in some of the Bay’s major tributaries.

1980s – 2004

Decreasing

Increasing

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Bay Grasses Show Annual Variation

Underwater bay grasses are slowly improving, but further reductions in the pollutants flowing into the Bay are needed to help them flourish.Annual variations in bay grasses show the sensitivity of the Bay ecosystem.

nds) Restoration Goal (185,000 acres by 2010)

*Note – Hatched area of bar includes estimated additional acreage. No Baywide surveys 1979-83 and 1988 Source: Chesapeake Bay Program.

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Rockfish Population Stable

Rockfish have rebounded to levels not seen since the 1950’s, but concerns remain over disease, sufficient sources of food and availability of spawning habitat.

, mill

Fishing moratoria:MD & DE: 1985-1990

VA: 1989-1990

Baywide Female Spawning Stock Biomass

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Bald Eagle Populations on the Rebound!

Actions to control chemical contaminants have led to improved conditions in the Bay.

Bald eagles are no longer endangered due to the ban on the pesticide DDT and subsequent habitat improvements.0

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Bay Waters are Generally Safefor Fishing and Swimming

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The Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership

Governor of MD

EPA Administrator

Governor of VA Governor of PA

Executive Council

Mayor of DC

Chair of Chesapeake

Bay Commission

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Bay Cleanup Has Citizen Involvement

CHESAPEAKEBAY PROGRAM

Scientific and Technical Advisory

Committee

Citizen Advisory Committee

representing the interests of: Business, Industry,

Environment, Agriculture, Fisheries, Local Governments,

Developers, etc.

CHESAPEAKE

CLEANUP

ALLIANCE FOR THE

CHESAPEAKE BAY

CHESAPEAKEBAY

FOUNDATION

WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS

LAND TRUSTS

CONSERVATION GROUPS

Phosphate Detergent Ban

After signing the 1983 Bay Agreement , Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and the District of Columbia instituted

phosphate detergent bans.

In 1987, Chesapeake Bay Program partners committed to achieving a 40 percent reduction in controllable nutrient loads

to the Bay by 2000…and in 1992, agreed to stay at or below these nutrient loads

once attained.

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Chesapeake 2000: The New Agreement

“by 2010, correct the nutrient‑ and sediment‑related problems in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries sufficiently to remove the Bay and the tidal portions of its tributaries from the list of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act”.

In June 2000, the Chesapeake Bay Program partners signed a new agreement to guide the restoration and protection of the Bay through the next decade and beyond.

In Chesapeake 2000, the partners agreed to:

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Progress toward Meeting Nutrient and Sediment Goals LimitedThe Chesapeake Bay Program Watershed Model provides program managers with a way to estimate the nutrient and sediment reductions that will likely occur as pollution abatement practices are implemented throughout the watershed. These reduction estimates also provide an indication of the pollutant load that would flow into the Bay in an "average” year. Using the model, managers can project the future response of various management actions put in place today.

Based on Bay watershed model simulations, 58% of the phosphorus, 41% of the nitrogen and 54% of the sediment reduction goals have been achieved.

Source: CBP Phase 4.3 Watershed Model. Estimates of nutrient and land-based sediment reductions that may occur when the reported management practices and reduction technologies are implemented within watershed portions of NY, PA, MD, DC, DE, WV, VA. The model's nonpoint source load reductions are estimates of what would occur under long-term avergaed rainfall conditions based on the years 1985-1994. The point source load reductions are actual measurements and are influenced by the reporting year’s rainfall.

1985 2000 2004

illion

yr) 2010

NitrogenGoal

1985 2000 2004

illion

yr) 2010

PhosphorusGoal

1985 2000 2004

illion

2010 SedimentGoal

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63% of the Point Source Nitrogen Reduction Goal Has Been Achieved

Nitrogen loads delivered to the Bay from municipal and industrial wastewater facilities declined 30.4 million lbs/yr 1985 - 2004 as a result of industrial reductions and installment of nutrient reduction technology (NRT) technology.

80% of the Point Source Phosphorus Reduction Goal Has Been Achieved

Phosphorus loads delivered to the Bay from municipal and industrial wastewater facilities declined 4.9 million lbs/yr between 1985 and 2004 as a result of improved treatment capability and implementation of phosphate detergent bans (MD: 1985, DC: 1986, VA: 1988, PA: 1990).

These reductions occurred in spite of a 20% increase in population 1985-2003.

(milli

Tributary Strategy Load Goal

Municipal Nitrogen Delivered Load

Industrial Nitrogen Delivered Load

Tributary Strategy Load Goal

Municipal P hosphorus Delivered Load

Industrial P hosphorus Delivered Load

Wastewater Treatment Improvements

Best Management Practices

As partners in the restoration effort, many farmers are using a variety of techniques, called "best management practices", to

reduce nutrients and sediment coming from farms into the Bay and its rivers.

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Year 2010 Draft Target: 4.5 million acres

Farmers Using Nutrient ManagementApply Less Nutrients

3.42 million acres of cropland and hayland in the Bay watershed were placed under nutrient management plans between 1985 and 2003.

The effectiveness of the plans is based on how aggressively they are implemented.

Acres Under Nutrient Management

Sediment Control and Stormwater Management

The use of sediment control fencing around building and road construction sites has been very successful in reducing

nutrient and sediment loads from nonpoint sources.

Restoration and Protection of Habitat and Living Resources

Since 1987, the Bay Program has committed to "provide for the restoration and protection of living resources, their habitats,

and ecological relationships".

Fish Migration Blockages

More than 1,000 miles of fish spawning habitat on Chesapeake Bay tributaries are currently blocked by dams, culverts and

other obstructions.

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280019

Year 2014 Goal (2,807 miles)

Year 2004 Goal Achievement (1,807 miles)

Migratory and Resident Fish Habitat Expanding

The removal of dams and the construction of fish passages are reopening native spawning grounds to migratory and resident fish in many parts of the watershed. When combined with stocking efforts, migratory species are beginning to return.

The removal of dams and fishway construction from 1988 through 2005 reopened 1,838 miles of historic habitat to migratory and resident fish.

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Shad Are Starting to Make a Comeback

but Have a Long, Long Way to Go

Stocking efforts, a moratorium, and fish passage development increased the number of shad counted at Conowingo Dam from several hundred per year in the early 1980s to an average of 101,140 per year in 2003-2005.

Susquehanna River RestorationProgram Goal

Three Year Average

120000

150000

180000

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Streamside Forests Sprouting Up

Forest buffer restoration is improving local waterways throughout the Bay watershed by preventing pollutants from entering the rivers and improving wildlife habitat.

About 60 percent of the riparian area in the watershed is forested. In 1996, the Bay Program partners committed to restore riparian forests on 2,010 miles of stream and shoreline in the watershed by 2010. This goal was met in 2002.

Shad Are Starting to Make a Comeback...but have a long, long way to

In 2003, the partners committed to conserve and restore forests along at least 70% of all streams and shoreline in the watershed, with a near term goal of at least 10,000 miles by 2010.

Riparian Forest Buffer Restoration

Current 2010 Goal:10,000 miles

(established 2003)

Initial 2010 Goal:2,010 miles

(established 1996)

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Wetlands Are Being Restored

GOAL: Achieve a net resource gain by restoring 25,000 acres by 2010 in the Wetlands Restoration Program.

STATUS: We have achieved 40% of the wetland acreage gain goal through non-regulatory programs.

The Chesapeake Bay Program is working to determine if this is indeed a “net gain”.

Establishment: Create wetland that did not previously exist.

Reestablishment: Restore historic functions to a former wetland.

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Establishment

Reestablishment

2010 Goal: 25,054 acres

Wetland reestablishment and establishment (cumulative acres).

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Toxics-Free Bay

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Regions of Concern

The most severe chemical contamination problems in the Bay are generally limited to those areas located near urban centers close to the Bay: the Baltimore Harbor and the Anacostia and Elizabeth rivers.

The Bay Program is directing reduction and prevention actions toward these areas, known as "Regions of Concern".

Regions of Concern: Areas with known chemical contaminant-related impacts.

Baltimore Harbor

Anacostia River

Elizabeth River

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Not characterized due tohistorically low levels ofchemical contaminants

Area with Insufficient orInconclusive Data

Area with Low Probabilityfor Adverse Effects

Area of Emphasis -area with potential foradverse effects

Region of Concern -area with probableadverse effects

LEGEND

Rappahannock

PotomacPatuxent

Baltimore Harbor/PatapscoChester

Choptank

Eastern Bay

Elizabeth

SassafrassMiddle

Nanticoke

Manokin

Mattaponi

Pocomoke

Tangier Sound

Susquehanna

Gunpowder

MagothySevern

Anacostia

Pamunkey

MobjackBay

Chickahominy

Big Annemessex

Wicomico

WyeMiles

Bohemia

ElkNortheast

Status of Chemical Contaminant Effects

on Living Resources in the Bay’s Tidal Rivers

Chesapeake Bay scientists and managers characterized the status of chemical contaminant effects on living resources in the Bay’s tidal rivers based on all available chemical contaminant data.

The result of this characterization, summarized in this map, will be used by Chesapeake Bay Program decision makers to target specific tidal rivers for monitoring and management efforts.

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Industry Reduces Chemical Releases

Bay basin industries have achieved their voluntary goal of reducing releases and transfers of chemical contaminants 65% between 1988 and 2000.

Since the year 2000 goal has been achieved, the Chesapeake Bay Program has consulted with industry to set new targets.

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Year 2000Measurement of

Progress

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We Still Have More Work to Do

The Chesapeake Bay blue crab fisheries are valuable. They provide significant economic benefits for many people in the region.

They are also an important part of the region's heritage.

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Blue Crabs At Risk

Mature Female Blue Crabs

Average

Blue Crab populations have stabilized at below-average levels.

Improved water quality and habitat restoration efforts along with proper management of the crab harvest are needed to restore the Bay’s blue crab populations.

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53 58 63 68 73 78 83 88 93 98 2003

Oysters at Historic Lows

Oyster populations in the Chesapeake are at historic lows due to disease, intense harvest pressure and poor water quality.

Oysters and Aquatic Reef Construction

Bay Program partners are constructing underwater reefs to provide habitat for oysters and the other animals and plants

that rely on these reefs for their survival.

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Forest Acreage Declining

Landcleared foragricultureand timber

EarlyColonies

Landabandonedafter CivilWar and

Depression

1650 1700 1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 20000

Forests provide critical habitat and help prevent pollutants and sediment from reaching the Bay and rivers.

About 59% of the Bay basin is currently forested.

The forest that regrew from the 19th to the mid-20th centuries is steadily declining. Current losses represent permanent conversions.

Forest Conservation

Many efforts to conserve existing forest have involved responsible management and stewardship.

Wetlands

Wetlands are vital habitats for many plants and animals. Wetlands directly benefit people by improving water quality, reducing flood and storm damages, minimizing erosion and supporting tourism and the hunting and fishing industries.

Wetlands Protection

Protecting our remaining wetlands is vital to restoringthe Bay ecosystem.

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Patterns of Land Use and Consumption of Natural Resources Threaten Our Progress

Since 1950, the Bay watershed’s population has doubled to about 16 million people. As the population of the watershed grows, so does our footprint on the landscape.

In the past decade, population increased by about 8 percent, while the amount of impervious surface increased by 41 percent, representing an area five times the size of the nation’s capital.

Managing future growth will be critical to preserving gains made during the first two decades of Bay restoration efforts.

Impervious Cover

30% Rate Reduction

High Development Pressure (HDP)

Close Proximity to HDP

Areas of Highest Development Pressure in the Watershed

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State and local governmentsplay an important role inland use planning and

development in theChesapeake Bay region.

Stormwater Runoff

As more and more of the watershed is developed, vegetated lands, such as forests, wetlands and farmland are converted to roads, parking lots, rooftops and other "impervious" surfaces.

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River Flow into Chesapeake Bay

1972Tropical StormAgnes

Normal Range

1941lowest flow on record Wet

DryYears

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Water Clarity Improvements Needed in Key Habitat AreasWater clarity is critical to the health of underwater grasses that provide important habitat for many Bay animals.

Water clarity is a measure of the amount of sunlight that penetrates the Bay’s waters and reaches the surface of underwater Bay grass leaves.

The amount needed is determined by the specific underwater grasses which grow in different areas of the Bay.

Increases in sediment and nutrient concentrations in the water lead to declines in water clarity.

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Pfiesteria piscicidais a toxic dinoflagellate

that has been associated with fish lesions and fish killsin the coastal waters from

Delaware to North Carolina, including Chesapeake Bay.

Flagellated FormPhoto courtesy of the

Aquatic Botany Laboratory, North

Carolina State University

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What Can You Doto Help Restore the Bay and its Rivers?

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Conserve electricity and water and reduce the amount of miles you drive.

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Use safer, nontoxic alternatives for cleaningand for controlling pests and weeds.

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Properly dispose of household hazardous waste, antifreeze, oil and boat waste.

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Prevent pollution byreducing, reusing and recycling.

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Prevent pollution from entering the Bay and rivers by planting trees, especially along streams and

shorelines.

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Plant native vegetationthat requires the use of less

(or no) fertilizer, pesticides and water.

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Limit fertilizer useand apply at appropriate times.

Have your soil tested and ask for recommendations for the best time and amount of fertilizer to apply for your particular landscaping needs.

Never apply more than is needed.

Start a compost pile

If you have room, start a compost pile in your backyard.By using a compost pile instead of a garbage disposal, you will

reduce your nutrient inputs to the watershed.

Maintain Your Septic System!

If you have a septic system, be sure to have it pumped out every three to five years. This will allow your septic tank to

operate efficiently.

Be a Sediment Buster!

Be a "sediment buster"!If you suspect violations of sediment control measures, report the

violation. Call your local Planning and Zoning Office.

Participate in clean up and restoration activities

Participate in clean up and restoration activities.

Volunteer to Help Plant Beach and Marsh Grasses!

Volunteer to help plant beach and marsh grasses. This will not only help reduce erosion, but also help reduce nutrient and toxic inputs to the watershed. Beach and marsh grasses also provide beneficial habitat for many creatures that live in the watershed.

Avoid disturbing shallow water areasand Bay grass beds

Observe posted speed limits and be responsible for your wake. This will help prevent erosion and habitat destruction.

Avoid disturbing shallow water areas and Bay grass beds.

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Get involved in community groups and watershed organizations to develop and implement watershed management plans and pollution reduction plans.

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Get involved with citizen monitoring efforts that track progress in the Bay cleanup.

Former MD state senator Bernie Fowler wades into the Patuxent River every year to test improvements in water clarity.

Bernie Fowler's Sneaker Index63

16 1618

41.539.5

s 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 9920

ibilit

Chesapeake Bay Needs YOU!

The Chesapeake Bay needs you!

december 2005 the chesapeake bay: how is it doing?

bay start

bay creatures

bay home

bay ecosystem

chesapeake bay agreement

swimming slide

bay nonpoint sources

concentrations of nitrogen

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