Annapolis, Maryland (AP) – The health of Chesapeake Bay has seen a decline in its annual report Report Card. As the largest estuary in the U.S., scientists are monitoring the impact of last year’s record-breaking rainfall patterns.
The University of Maryland Environmental Science Center has assigned the Bay a C grade on its report card, a drop from last year’s C-Plus, which was the best score since 2002. Last year, the Bay received a higher assessment.
“Overall Bay Health scores improved significantly in 2024, but this year we saw a slight decline,” stated Heath Kelsey, director of UMCES Integration and Application Network. “Nevertheless, a long-term trend shows improvement since the 1980s. Extreme weather conditions likely influenced this year’s score.”
The report mirrored last year’s findings, noting it was the Hottest Year on Record coupled with unusual rainfall patterns.
AP Audio: Chesapeake Bay Health Grade Dip after the hottest years and extreme rainfall patterns on records
Associated Press correspondent Jennifer King reports that Chesapeake Bay’s latest environmental health report card reveals a decline.
The report indicated that some regions are experiencing drought conditions, with intense, short downpours causing water to flow across the ground, transporting fertilizers, sediment, and debris into waterways rather than allowing them to seep into the soil.
Bill Dennison, UMCES vice president of science applications, emphasized that climate change is having a clear impact on the Bay.
“In Maryland, particularly, we noticed a prolonged spring-to-summer drought, interrupted by these extreme rainfall events,” Dennison explained. “This led to crops having insufficient water to absorb nutrients.”
Consequently, when rain does fall, it brings excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus into the Bay, according to Dennison.
“Unfortunately, this represents our likely future,” Dennison remarked during a press conference at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. “These weather patterns are increasingly common, featuring droughts punctuated by extreme events.”
Milder winters and elevated temperatures lead to lower oxygen levels in the aquatic environment, stressing fish and shellfish populations, Dennison noted.
“These are challenges we must address to build resilience within our ecosystem,” Dennison stated.
Despite the drop in grades, the report highlights long-term improvements in dissolved oxygen levels in the Bay’s waters, which are essential for supporting aquatic organisms.
The report also mentions significant advancements in aquatic grasses, which provide habitat and food for various species, thereby enhancing water quality and preventing shoreline erosion.
Long-term trends indicate improvements in phosphorus and nitrogen levels, which, while necessary for aquatic life, have been detrimental to water quality when in excess, leading to algal blooms that cloud waters and hinder light penetration for underwater vegetation.
Nonetheless, the report notes a reduction in water clarity and chlorophyll A scores, indicating a decline over the long term. Chlorophyll A is a critical measure of phytoplankton abundance and overall water quality.
The positive trends can be attributed to management and recovery efforts at local, state, and regional levels. Upgrades have been made to wastewater treatment plants, and new programs have been introduced to curtail nutrient and sediment inputs.
The health of the Bay reflects conditions in six state basins: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
In its 100th anniversary, UMCES also provided a grade for overall watershed health, rating it as C-PLU. This grading incorporates ecological, social, and economic indicators.
The report highlighted social indicators, particularly concerns about heat vulnerability, noting that communities may face increased heat stress due to high air temperatures, limited canopy cover, and extensive paved surfaces.
Source: apnews.com