Bay FAQ

Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. If you have a question that has not been addressed here, you can ask us by filling out a comment form.

About the Chesapeake Bay

What is an estuary?
What is a watershed?
What is an ecosystem?
How big is the Chesapeake Bay watershed?
How deep is the Bay?
How long and wide is the Bay?
How many miles of shoreline does that Bay have?
How many people live in the Bay watershed?
Where can I access the Bay?

The Bay's Plants and Animals

What is SAV?
Why aren't there as many oysters in the Bay as there used to be?
What birds live in the Bay watershed?
Why are trees important to the Bay?
What fish live in the Bay?
Are the Bay's fish populations declining?
What are algae?
Do whales live in the Bay?
Do manatees live in the Bay?
Do sharks live in the Bay?

Current Bay Issues

Why should I care about the Bay?
Who decided to clean up the Bay?
What are the major problems facing the Bay?
Who is polluting the Bay?
Is the Bay's water quality getting better?
How do stormwater drains affect the Bay?
Is it safe to eat seafood from the Bay?
Is it safe to swim in the Bay?
Are toxic chemicals a problem in the Bay?
How does human population growth affect the Bay?
What is sprawl and how does it hurt the Bay?
How can I help the Bay?

What is an estuary?

An estuary is a body of water, open at one end to the ocean, where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water draining from surrounding land. The Chesapeake Bay opens to the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach, Virginia.

What is a watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains into a particular river, lake, bay or other body of water. We all live in a watershed: some are large (like the Chesapeake), while others are small (like your local stream or creek).

What is an ecosystem?

An ecosystem is a complex set of relationships among all of the living and non-living things in a particular area. All of the elements of an ecosystem interact with each other in some way and, as a result, all depend on each other. The Chesapeake Bay ecosystem includes people, wildlife, fish, shellfish, trees, wetlands, water and all of the non-living elements necessary for the ecosystem to function.

How big is the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

The Chesapeake Bay watershed stretches across more than 64,000 square miles, encompassing parts of six states—Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia—and the entire District of Columbia.

How deep is the Bay?

The Bay averages about 21 feet in depth, but most of the Bay is extremely shallow. A person who is 6 feet tall could wade through over 700,000 acres of the Bay and barely get his or her hat wet. A few deep channels that are over 100 feet deep provide important passageways for ships to get into ports.

How long and wide is the Bay?

The Chesapeake Bay is about 200 miles long, stretching from Havre de Grace, Maryland, to Norfolk, Virginia. The width of the Bay varies from its narrowest point—3.4 miles across near Aberdeen, Maryland—to its widest point—35 miles across near the mouth of the Potomac River.

How many miles of shoreline does the Bay have?

The shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, including all tidal wetlands and islands, is over 11,600 miles. That's more shoreline than the entire west coast of the United States.

How many people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed?

More than 16.6 million people live in the Bay watershed, and it's estimated that the population will grow to nearly 20 million by 2030. Population growth is a major stressor on the Bay ecosystem. All of our daily activities, from fertilizing our lawns to driving our cars, have an impact on the environment. As the population in the Bay watershed grows, so do human impacts on the environment.

Are there public access points on the Bay?

Most people in the Bay watershed live just a few minutes from a waterway that directly or indirectly drains into the Bay. There are many parks and other access points along the Bay and its streams and rivers. For more places to visit, check out the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

What is SAV?

SAV stands for submerged aquatic vegetation, more commonly referred to as underwater bay grasses. More than 16 species of underwater bay grasses grow in the shallow waters of the Bay and its tributaries. Besides serving as a food source for waterfowl, bay grasses also provide habitat and protection for blue crabs, young finfish and other small invertebrates.

Why aren't there as many oysters in the Bay as there used to be?

The oyster population has declined dramatically since the late 1970s due to a combination of over-harvesting, disease, pollution and natural predators. Today, the oyster population stands at about 2 percent of historic levels.

What birds live in the Bay watershed?

Because of the diversity of food and habitats found in the Bay region, a wide variety of birds live and visit the area. From raptors like ospreys and bald eagles to waterfowl like ducks and geese, dozens of species of birds coexist in forests, wetlands, along shorelines and on the water. The Chesapeake region is also an important stop along the Atlantic Flyway for migratory birds during their fall and spring flights.

Why are trees important to the Bay?

Forests play a vital role in nearly every part of the Bay ecosystem. They protect streams and rivers, filter air, produce oxygen, provide habitat and supply raw materials for fuel, lumber and paper. Trees also capture rainfall and help reduce stormwater runoff and erosion by stabilizing soil with their roots.

What fish live in the Bay?

More than 350 species of fish can be found in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Some are permanent residents, while others migrate seasonally. Depending on their feeding and spawning requirements, fish may move between shallow and deep waters or between fresh and salt waters throughout the year.

Are fish populations in the Bay declining?

Some fish in the Bay are in trouble because of over-harvesting, contaminated spawning grounds and loss of habitat. State and federal agencies that manage fish stocks are working hard to stop the decline of Bay species.

• Some species, such as Atlantic sturgeon and American shad, are found in such low numbers that fishing restrictions are in place.
• Other species, such as the shortnose sturgeon, have been placed on the Endangered Species List.
• In most cases, restoration programs are underway, including restocking programs for American shad.

However, not all the news is bad about fish in the Bay. Striped bass—once a troubled species in the Bay watershed—was restored after several years of harvest restrictions.

What are algae?

Algae, also known as phytoplankton, are tiny, single-celled plants. They are the primary producers of food and oxygen in the Bay food web. Red, brown and blue-green algae are a few types that live in the Bay and its rivers. Algae become harmful in the presence of excess nutrients, which fuel the growth of large algae blooms that block sunlight that underwater bay grasses need to grow. When large amounts of algae die, they are decomposed in a process that depletes the water of oxygen, which all aquatic animals need to survive.

Are there whales in the Chesapeake Bay?

There are three species of whales that have been found in the Bay: the humpback, pilot and minke whales. Each year these whales can be seen in the waters near the mouth of the Bay as they migrate along the Atlantic coast.

Do manatees live in the Chesapeake Bay?

Manatees have been found in the Chesapeake Bay, even though the Bay is much farther north than the species is thought to travel. In 1994, a male West Indian Manatee from Florida, which affectionately became known as Chessie, was located swimming and feeding on underwater bay grasses in a tidal river on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Biologists captured Chessie and returned him to Florida. After his return to Florida, biologists continued to follow Chessie's travels with the help of a satellite-transmitted signal tag. The following year, Chessie's travels took him to Point Judith, Rhode Island—farther north than any other West Indian Manatee in known to have traveled. Although Chessie had not been seen since 1996, he visited the Bay again in the summer of 2001.

Are there sharks in the Bay?

The most common shark in Bay waters is the sandbar shark, which is harmless to humans. Many other species of sharks travel into the Bay looking for food as they migrate along the North Atlantic coast.

Why should I care about the Chesapeake Bay?

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America and one of the most productive in the world. It is home to more than 3,600 species of plants and animals and more than 16.6 million people. The Chesapeake provides many important economic, recreational and educational resources for those who live, work and vacation in the region.

However, the future of the Chesapeake Bay hangs in the balance. Much of the Bay and its tributaries are cleaner now than they were several years ago, but clean-up challenges are becoming harder to meet. The Chesapeake's future depends on the choices made every day by the millions of people who live within the Bay watershed. What each of us does on the land—including the use of vehicles, fertilizers, pesticides, electricity and water—affects our streams, rivers and ultimately the Bay.

Who decided to clean up the Bay?

The Chesapeake Bay was the first estuary in the United States targeted for intensive government-sponsored restoration efforts. The cleanup effort was first championed by citizens throughout the watershed who fought to stop the pollution that had damaged the health of the Bay.

In 1983, the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement established a voluntary government partnership to direct and manage Bay restoration. This partnership, called the Chesapeake Bay Program, includes Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Chesapeake Bay Program served as a model for dozens of other estuary cleanup efforts throughout the country, such as Casco Bay, Long Island Sound, Tampa Bay, Monterey Bay, Puget Sound and others.

What are the major problems facing the Chesapeake Bay?

The major pollutant to the Bay is excess nutrients, which come from agriculture, urban/suburban runoff, vehicle emissions and many other sources. Excess nutrients fuel the growth of algae blooms, which block sunlight that underwater bay grasses need to grow. When algae die, they are decomposed in a process that depletes the water of oxygen, which all aquatic animals need to survive.

Other major stressors on the Bay include erosion, chemical contaminants, air pollution and landscape changes.

Who is polluting the Chesapeake Bay?

The major source of pollution in the Bay is runoff from the land—nutrients and other contaminants that are washed off lawns, roads, farmlands and parking lots and into our local waterways. Many of our everyday actions—from driving our cars to fertilizing our lawns—have a major effect on water quality in the Bay.

• When it rains, water washes pollutants off our driveways, roofs and yards and into our waterways.
• Tailpipe emissions from our vehicles contribute to pollutants in the air and eventually fall back down to the land and water.

Is the water quality of the Bay getting better?

Generally, the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are cleaner than they were 10 to 15 years ago. Pollution reduction efforts are having a positive effect in many portions of the Bay watershed. However, we still have a long way to go. It will take the actions of everyone who lives in the watershed—from restoration organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Program to everyday citizens like you and me—to fully “restore” the Bay.

How do storm drains affect the Bay?

Anything that can be drained, spilled or dropped into a storm drain can end up in our local waterways and, ultimately, in the Bay. In many cases, storm drains dump directly into a nearby stream or river without being treated. That is how pollutants, trash and debris washed by rain into storm drains can eventually affect the Bay. Street and neighborhood clean-up efforts have a direct positive impact on water quality in our waters.

Is seafood from the Bay safe to eat?

Generally, seafood from the Bay and its rivers is safe to eat. However, some areas have posted fish consumption advisories where fish or shellfish harvested should not be eaten. Any fish that do not appear to be healthy should not be eaten, especially fish with lesions or other signs of disease.

Is it safe to swim in the Bay?

Though people do have some concern about water quality in certain rivers, especially near industrial areas, it is generally safe to swim in the Bay and its tributaries. However, swimmers, boaters and fishermen should obey any signs posted by state officials that restrict certain activities. Because potential human health impacts are an important issue, state agencies regularly test waterways for problems related to human health issues. Where human health concerns are identified, appropriate warnings are issued. For more information about the safety of swimming in your local waterways, contact your local health department.

Are toxic chemicals a problem in the Bay?

Since the 1980s, Bay scientists have agreed that the nature, extent and severity of toxic effects vary widely throughout the Chesapeake system. Based on research, scientists determined that there was no evidence of severe, system-wide problems with toxic contamination in the Bay or its rivers. However, scientists have identified three localized Regions of Concern that are considered “toxic hot spots”:

• The Elizabeth River in Virginia
• The Patapsco River/Baltimore Harbor in Maryland
• The Anacostia River in the District of Columbia.

How will human population growth affect the Bay?

Over 16.6 million people live in the Bay watershed, and the population continues to grow by more than 100,000 each year. More people living, working and visiting the watershed means greater demands on resources and the potential for more pollution. Many of our everyday activities—from driving our cars to fertilizing our lawns—impact the environment. With the influx of more people moving into the Bay watershed, impacts on the Bay increase.

What is suburban sprawl?

Suburban sprawl is development of land further away from populated areas and centers of business. Because this construction tends to be located in more rural areas, open space—including farms, forests and wetlands—is often replaced by new housing developments and the infrastructure needed to support these developments (roads, shopping centers, etc.). The accompanying pollution, which comes from septic tanks, vehicle emissions and runoff from the land, can harm water quality in rivers, streams and the Bay. Sprawl also harms wildlife by building on or near their habitat.

How can I help the Bay?

We all live upstream of the Bay. Almost anything that we do on the land eventually impacts our water sources. This, in turn, affects both wildlife and our own quality of life. There are many fairly simple changes and activities you can take part in to reduce your impact on the Bay, its rivers and its land, including:

• Participating in recycling efforts
• Conserving energy
• Carpooling
• Installing a rain barrel
• Joining a local watershed group or environmental organization