• Local Produce
  • Buy Local
  • Local Seafood
  • Local Food
  • Local Music
  • Local Art
  • Local Churches

CAPE CHARLES MIRROR

Reflections on Cape Charles and the Eastern Shore

  • Local Services
  • Local Rentals
  • Local Employment
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
  • Pets
  • Contact Us
  • Rant and Rave
  • Asses&Villains

Chesapeake Bay watershed received an overall grade of C+

June 12, 2022 by Wayne Creed Leave a Comment

ANNAPOLIS, Md. WTOP — The Chesapeake Bay watershed received an overall grade of C+ on its latest report card, released Monday by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

The Chesapeake Bay health score improved slightly from 45 to 50 last year, for a grade of C, the report said.

The health of the bay is a reflection of what is happening across its six-state watershed, which includes Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

“This year’s report card is the first to include a range of economic, ecological, and societal factors to help assess progress in improving this vast human and natural system that is a major component of the quality of life for people in the region,” Dr. Peter Goodwin, president of UMCES, said in a news release.

While individual indicators of bay health had mixed results in 2021, the overall trend is improving, the center found.

Seven reporting regions had improved grades due to better water quality — both nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations continue to improve — and the aquatic grass coverage is improving, but water clarity and chlorophyll continue to degrade.

The highest–scoring region was once again the Lower Bay, with 65%. The Patapsco, Back and Patuxent rivers scored lowest, at 23%.

However, long-term trends still show significant improvements in the James River, Elizabeth River, Patapsco and Back Rivers, and Upper Western Shore.

One exception is the Upper Eastern Shore, where the center blames polluted runoff from chicken farms for the first declining trend observed in any reporting region since 2014.

Building on social indicators that were added in 2021, new economic indicators were used to evaluate the health of local economies in the region. These include median household income, jobs growth, income inequality, and housing affordability.

Filed Under: Bottom, News

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Subscribe to the Mirror

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 366 other subscribers

Join the Conversation!

Send letters, opinion, goings on or photos to capecharlesmirror@gmail.com

Mirrors

Recent Comments

  • Scotiagirl on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Scotiagirl on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Doug Luther on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Mary Illinski on US is giving away and selling Lighthouses at auction
  • VA MiMi on Governor Glenn Youngkin to release $30 million in Learning Recovery Grants
  • Eddi on Chesapeake Conservancy Salutes Senator Tom Carper on His Announcement of Retirement from the United States Senate
  • Thomy on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Paul R. Plante on Congress Stock Tracker
  • Paul R. Plante on Asses&Villains: The Covid Whitewash Begins
  • BRAND on Town Manager Responds to Strawberry Street Concert Kerfuffle
  • Herb Thom on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Scott on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Carla Jasper on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Carla Jasper on Sea Turtles Finally Get Protection
  • Carla Jasper on Asses&Villains: The Covid Whitewash Begins
  • Carla Jasper on Congress Stock Tracker
  • Bob on A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Paul R. Plante on At High School Debates, Debate Is No Longer Allowed
  • Paul R. Plante on Asses&Villains: The Covid Whitewash Begins
  • Paul R. Plante on Op-Ed: On Biden’s Rigged ‘Green’ Game

Trending Now

  • A Cape Charles Encounter
  • Town Manager Responds to Strawberry Street Concert Kerfuffle
  • Governor Glenn Youngkin to release $30 million in Learning Recovery Grants
  • Summer Fashion: Is it time to Free the Nipple?
  • US is giving away and selling Lighthouses at auction
  • Asses&Villains: The Covid Whitewash Begins
  • CBES to Present Suzanne Wescoat Award to Senator Lewis-June 11th PICNIC at the BARN
  • Cape Charles Main Street Launches Cape Charles Gift Card Program
  • Jeff Holland of CBBT at Cape Charles Museum
  • FY 2024 Budget Public Hearing and Special Meeting June 1st

Copyright © 2023 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in