Even In Trouble, Bay Shows Promise
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Wish lists in Annapolis are nothing new. But in the case of the bay, some wishes are finally coming true.
Alex DeMetrick reports even with a tight state budget, the bay is poised for improvement.
The Chesapeake is a pretty tough bay, even with everything man has poured into it. Nutrients, like nitrogen, and sediment from soil erosion cloud the water and leave dead zones behind. Still, there is hope.
"Even in its degraded state, it remains among the most productive ecological systems in the world," said Ann Swanson, Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Not that it isn't in big trouble. But this year, experts briefing state legislators on the state of the bay are seeing progress.
"Our State of the Bay Report for 2010 did show an improvement," said Kim Coble, Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
On the plus side are water clarity, underwater grasses and a resurgence in the blue crab population. But runoff continues to carry huge loads of nitrogen from states in the bay's watershed.
Maryland is setting the toughest restrictions.
"Our conversations with legislators to date have not shown any backsliding or hesitancy in moving forward," said Coble.
On the agenda is restricting new septic systems and limiting the amount of fertilizer used on lawns and turf. Both are sources of nutrient runoff.
One new concern being raised by environmentalists this year is the extraction of natural gas from shale deposits in the Appalachians. The worry is chemicals used in the process will pollute water and eventually the bay.
