Chesapeake Bay Program — Press Release — October 28, 2020. Experts noted that between This occurred in late July as a result of below average winds and the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Maryland, causing hypoxia to increase considerably, resulting in a large dead zone. "Experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources report that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. While the biggest dead zone in the U.S. is found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay has also long suffered from hypoxia, giving rise to the emergence of a dead zone. ... COVID-19 Map WHSV Graduates 2020. Higher river flows bring increased amounts of nutrient pollution into the Bay. In their 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science also reported that throughout the entire Bay this year’s dead zone was … Researchers say that the Chesapeake Bay’s infamous dead zone is the smallest it’s been in years. Dead zones can also impede the growth of underwater grasses, which provide crucial food to waterfowl. This year’s dead zone started later and ended earlier than it has in the past several years. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that this summer’s dead zone, or hypoxic zone, was smaller than in 80% of the years since 1985. In 2020, the score declined one point to a 32, largely due to ineffective management of the Bay's striped bass. A "dead zone" that has plagued the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary on the continent, is expected to … The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is an area of hypoxic (link to USGS definition) (less than 2 ppm dissolved oxygen) waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Dead zones are a result of nutrient pollution. . It also helped that less water and nitrogen than average flowed into the bay from January to May this year, MDE said. In June 2020, researchers from the Chesapeake Bay Program, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of Michigan and U.S. Geological Survey forecasted that the Bay would see a slightly smaller than average dead zone this year, due to reduced spring rainfall and less nutrient-rich runoff flowing into the Bay from the watershed. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the current year (measured from October 1, 2019—September 30, 2020) has been normal, with flows entering the Bay at an average of 77,665 cubic feet per second, which is slightly below the long-term average of 79,000 cubic feet per second. The Chesapeake still has a dead zone, whose size varies with the season and weather. Researchers say that the Chesapeake Bay’s infamous dead zone is the smallest it’s been in years. In contrast, the dead zone in 2019 was larger than average, with July measurements rating fourth-largest for early July and second-largest for late July since 1985. A plan to reduce pollution to a level in which the entire Bay can be hospitable to life is currently being implemented by the seven Bay states and Washington, D.C. with a deadline of 2025. Dead zones occur because of a process called eutrophication, which happens when a body of water gets too many nutrients, such as phosphorus and nitrogen. CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – The Chesapeake Bay Program said the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported the 2020 dead zone is the … CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) – The Chesapeake Bay Program said the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported the 2020 dead zone is the … It is typically the most pronounced in the deep waters of the Bay during the warm summer months. Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay this year. Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay this year. Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund 2020 GRANT SLATE Canvasbacks over the Chesapeake Bay OVERVIEW The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Program, recently announced the 2020 round of funding for Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund projects. . With little or no oxygen, fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic animals literally suffocate. In their 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science also reported that throughout the entire Bay this year’s dead zone was … ." "Experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources report that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. Two-Mile Dead Zone Confirmed in Chesapeake Bay Due to Warm, Wet Weather Posted: Wednesday, August 14, 2019 8:38 PM EDT Updated: Thursday, August 15, … The previous two years have seen above-average river flows, with 2019 setting a record high. A "dead zone" that has plagued the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary on the continent, is expected to be smaller than average this … Average dissolved oxygen conditions this summer in the Maryland portion of the Bay's mainstem were the second best on record since 1985, the agency announced Wednesday. . Dead zones are created when algae blooms — fed by over-plentiful nuitrients like nitrogen and phosphorus — decompose, removing oxygen from the water. Report: Chesapeake Bay Dead-Zone Conditions Reduced 'Considerably' In 2020 Sponsored By Program: Eyewitness News Evening Categories: News , Local News , WJZTV 18, 2020, 5:58 am Join AFP's 100,000+ followers on Facebook Overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, each state must cut back its pollution, or face consequences. There are multiple factors contributing to the dead zone reduction, including nutrient reduction strategies that are being done by Maryland and the other Bay watershed jurisdictions, MDE states. Below normal dead zone predicted for Chesapeake Bay in 2020. Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay this year. While the biggest dead zone in the U.S. is found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay has also long suffered from hypoxia, giving rise to the emergence of a dead zone.. Dead zones are low-oxygen, or hypoxic, areas in the world’s oceans and lakes.Because most organisms need oxygen to live, few organisms can survive in hypoxic conditions. Over the long-term, the continued implementation of nutrient and sediment reduction strategies put in place by the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) and the District of Columbia are continuing to help decrease pollution in the Bay and reduce the size of the dead zone. While the biggest dead zone in the U.S. is found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay has also long suffered from hypoxia, giving rise to the emergence of a dead zone. The Chesapeake Bay dead zones, which have been highly variable in recent years, threaten a multi-year effort to restore the water and habitat quality to enhance its production of crabs, oysters, and other important fisheries. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from human activities cause "dead zones"—or areas with low amounts of oxygen in the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay dead zone Signs of hypoxia were first observed in the mainstem of the Bay over 80 years ago, marking the Chesapeake as one of the first water bodies in the world to have a recognized dead zone. This year’s dead zone in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay was the second smallest since the state began monitoring it in 1985, according … Separately, Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources reported that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. Researchers from the University of Michigan, the Chesapeake Bay Program and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science are forecasting a slightly smaller-than-average Chesapeake Bay “dead zone” this year, due to reduced rainfall and less nutrient-rich runoff flowing into the bay from the watershed this spring. ANNAPOLIS, Md. Researchers at the Virginia Institute for Marine Science also reported this month that the dead zone on the Virginia side of the Bay mainstem in 2020 was smaller than most over the last 35 years. Researchers say that the Chesapeake Bay's infamous dead zone is the smallest it's been in years. "As the 2025 deadline looms, we’re encouraging states to figure out new ways to reach pollution reduction goals, including by adding more natural filters to the landscape such as trees, grass pastures, and wetlands," McGee said. The annual dead zone report for the bay, issued by … Nitrogen and phosphorus scores improved. Page 1 Below normal dead zone predicted for Chesapeake Bay in 2020 Posted by TBN(Staff) On 06/17/2020 Annapolis, MD – Researchers from the Chesapeake Bay Program, the … By Associated Press , Wire Service Content June 17, 2020 Switchgrass: A new cash crop for farmers in Chesapeake Bay area? Chesapeake Bay dead zone smaller than in recent years Chesapeake Bay Program — Press Release — October 28, 2020 Attribution: Core Science Systems , Chesapeake Bay Activities The Chesapeake Bay (/ ˈ tʃ ɛ s ə p iː k / CHESS-ə-peek) is the largest estuary in the United States. Only one out of the eight monitoring cruises showed larger-than-average hypoxic conditions. Of the 13 indicators CBF assesses, four showed declines. Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay this year. All rights reserved. Killing the Chesapeake: A worst-case-scenario Chesapeake could wipe out the millions of dollars and years of effort to improve the ecosystem, Oil spill source still unidentified as cleanup continues in two states. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says this year's Chesapeake Bay dead zone — that is, an area where oxygen levels are so low aquatic life dies — … A Bay-wide assessment of the 2020 dead zone will be available this fall. 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report October 2020 Hypoxia Background The “Dead Zone” of the Chesapeake Bay refers to a volume of bottom water that is characterized by dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 2 mg/L, which is too low for aquatic … Additionally, no anoxic areas were noted in the mainstem of the Bay this year. Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2020. Daily forecasts also provide predicted temperature and oxygen levels for the Chesapeake Bay and Great Lakes in the United States, where dead zones can have big impacts on fisheries. Further, an excess in these nutrients also fuels the growth of dense algae blooms that block sunlight that underwater grasses need to grow in order to continue providing food for waterfowl and shelter for blue crabs and juvenile fish. Thanks to a cool spring, early fall temperatures and the arrival of Hurricane Isaias in August, the Chesapeake Bay dead zone was less severe and lasted for a shorter time in 2020 than in previous years. Not all the news was bad, the 2020 dead zones, low oxygen zones, was the 7th smallest in 35 years. Slightly smaller-than-average dead zone predicted for the Chesapeake Bay in 2020 Published Thursday, Jun. By Associated Press , Wire Service Content June 17, 2020 More:Oil spill source still unidentified as cleanup continues in two states. The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico affects nationally important commercial and recreational fisheries and threatens the region’s economy. Hypoxic and anoxic regions—areas with little to no oxygen, respectively—are caused by excess nutrient pollution entering the Bay. Each year, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Anchor QEA, LLC release a retrospective seasonal analysis of the severity of hypoxia in the Chesapeake Bay. Dead-zone conditions in the Chesapeake Bay were "considerably less" in 2020 than in previous years, thanks in part to cool temperatures, a new report concluded. Date created: Oct 10, 2019. Report: Chesapeake Bay Dead-Zone Conditions Reduced 'Considerably' In 2020 Sponsored By Program: Eyewitness News Evening Categories: News , Local News , WJZTV A "dead zone" in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay has grown to one of the worst in decades, confirming predictions made by scientists earlier this summer. SUBSCRIBE NOW $39 for one year. Environmental watchdog reporter Julia Rentsch can be reached at jrentsch@delmarvanow.com. The Chesapeake Bay (/ ˈ tʃ ɛ s ə p iː k / CHESS-ə-peek) is the largest estuary in the United States. Although different types of nutrients contribute to the annual Chesapeake Bay dead zone, it is nitrogen—which enters the bay from January through May—that is a key driver in how hypoxic conditions can vary from year to year. … Its area varies in size, but can cover up to 6,000-7,000 square miles. One way in which nutrients can enter the Bay is through its tributaries in the watershed that drain into it. “This year’s small dead zone is another positive sign that watershed-wide Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts are working," said Beth McGee, director of science at CBF, in a statement. Published: 1:06 PM EDT June 17, 2020 Updated: 1:06 PM EDT June 17, 2020 ANNAPOLIS, Md. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says this year's Chesapeake Bay dead zone — that is, an area where oxygen levels are so low aquatic life dies — was the smallest it has been in years. Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay this year. "Doing so will increase the resiliency of the Bay and help it handle the influx of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.". In their 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card, researchers from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science also reported that throughout the entire Bay this year’s dead zone was smaller than most recorded in the past 35 years (80%). — Researchers are predicting a slightly smaller-than-average oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay … Chesapeake Bay: Larger-than-average summer 'dead zone' forecast for 2018 after wet spring Jun 18, 2018 Larger-than-average summer 'dead zone' predicted for Chesapeake Bay in 2017 The only year in which the dead zone was smaller was in 2012. The dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico affects nationally important commercial and recreational fisheries and threatens the region’s economy. Chesapeake Bay Mean Surface Salinity (1985-2018) The salinity of the waters in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries varies from season to season and year to year depending largely on the amount of freshwater flowing into the Bay. Read the full press release at the Chesapeake Bay Program Additional News Articles: Bay Journal—Bay's dead zone expected to be smaller this year A "dead zone" in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay has grown to one of the worst in decades, confirming predictions made by scientists earlier this summer. "Rockfish, often called Striped Bass, here in the Chesapeake Bay region are arguably the most important recreational and commercial fin fish we have here in the Chesapeake Bay." Chesapeake Bay's dead zone is expected to be slightly smaller but a big part will likely still suffer from low oxygen this summer. Chesapeake Bay: Larger-than-average summer 'dead zone' forecast for 2018 after wet spring Jun 18, 2018 Dead-zone report card reflects improving water quality in Chesapeake Bay The annual hypoxia, or "dead zone," forecast from University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the University of Michigan shows that the Chesapeake Bay will host the largest dead zone this area has seen in decades. The eastern part of the bay is a center of poultry farming, which produces large amounts of manure. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Chesapeake Bay dead zones, which have been highly variable in recent years, threaten a multi-year effort to restore the water and habitat quality to enhance its production of crabs, oysters, and other important fisheries. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says this year's Chesapeake Bay dead zone — that is, an area where oxygen levels are so low aquatic life dies — was the smallest it has been in years. Experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources report that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. Today, the Chesapeake Bay Program announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources reported that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States and the third largest in the world, is particularly vulnerable to human impacts and has been severely affected in recent decades. © 2021 www.delmarvanow.com. A blue crab jubilee is a sign that something's rotten down below. More:Switchgrass: A new cash crop for farmers in Chesapeake Bay area? Published: Wednesday, June 17, 2020. October 29, 2020 Kyleigh Panetta , MARYLAND – There’s some good news for the Chesapeake Bay: experts say the dead zone in the Bay is the … Report: Chesapeake Bay Dead-Zone Conditions Reduced 'Considerably' In 2020 Last year's massive rainfall delivered more nutrients into the Bay, which fueled more algae growth and resulted in a larger dead zone. (WBFF) -- Experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources are reporting that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay … Chesapeake Bay Activities Newsletter October 2020 The USGS provides research and monitoring to better understand and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. SUBSCRIBE NOW $39 for one year. That is why these areas are called dead zones. Experts from the University of Maryland Center For Environmental Science predict a dead zone could form in the Chesapeake Bay this summer, potentially harming marine life. There is also an annual dead zone in the Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay’s “dead zone” is an area with little to no oxygen where fish, shellfish, and crabs are often unable to survive. Flushing nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich products, like fertilizers, into the Bay or its tributaries is considered pollution because of the effect these substances have on dissolved oxygen. The Virginia Institute of Marine Science found that this summer’s dead zone, or hypoxic zone, was smaller than in 80% of the years since 1985. "Experts from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources report that the 2020 dead zone is the second smallest observed in the Maryland portion of the Chesapeake Bay since monitoring began in 1985. The better oxygen conditions recorded during the summer of 2020 are in agreement with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report, which stated that in terms of total annual hypoxic volume for the full bay, this year the dead zone was smaller than 80% of years since observations began in 1985. Shrinking the dead zone is one of the primary goals of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, the federal/state partnership to reduce pollution and restore the Bay to health. https://www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/maps/pollution/dead-zones The volume and the duration of the annual dead zone impacts aquatic life like crabs, fish and oysters, which all need oxygen to survive. ", Read the full press release at the Chesapeake Bay Program, « Return to Chesapeake Bay Activities — News, Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Mapping, Remote Sensing, and Geospatial Data, 2020 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card, nutrient and sediment reduction strategies, hottest temperatures ever recorded in Maryland. Strong winds from Hurricane Isaias in August helped to mix the waters of the Bay, reducing the dead zone; hypoxia returned in September but quickly dissipated due to cooler temperatures and windy conditions. In spring 2020, Chesapeake Bay received levels of nitrogen pollution that were 17% below the long-term average. Long-term data trends show a shrinking dead zone, … Namely, the crabs are escaping the Bay's dead zone, a wide region of water lying along the estuary's deeper channels that each year becomes stripped of most of its oxygen -- or, as scientists would say, the water turns hypoxic. Estimates of river flow and nutrients entering the Bay can be accessed on the U.S. Geological Survey’s website. Since 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has led a number of programs that aim to improve the bay’s water quality and curb pollution runoff. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is one of the largest in the world, according to NOAA. Fifty-six Anne Arundel County; 06/17/2020; By Press Release, Chesapeake Bay Program Chesapeake Bay's dead zone is expected to be slightly smaller but a big part will likely still suffer from low oxygen this summer. In the short-term, experts believe that several factors, including more average river flows and unseasonably cool temperatures in May and September contributed to the smaller dead zone.