Cape St. Claire, MD – The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science released the Chesapeake Bay’s report card May 17, and it was the highest the ecosystem has scored in years.
Cecil Daily reports that the Bay scored a C on the report, which is a 53%.
Area scientists have determined that the improved score was caused by various reasons, including better sewage treatment, a decrease in extreme weather, and a decrease in the atmospheric nitrogen deposition, as well as more farmers using winter cover crops.
“We should take the opportunity to celebrate these results,” Nick DiPasquale, director of the federal Chesapeake Bay Program, said. “But we should also recognize that the long term success of our work to restore water quality and the health of this vitally important ecosystem will depend on stepping up and sustaining our efforts over the long-term.”
One of the most common issues regarding water levels is hardness, typically associated with an increase in calcium and magnesium, which is then dissolved into the water.
DiPasquale went on to add that one of the main goals for continuing to improve the ecosystem is to reduce sediment pollution discharges throughout the watershed.
Along with the improved score, the Bay also faces more improvements at the hand’s of the State Highway Administration (SHA).
According to Fox Baltimore, the SHA, working with Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay Restoration Program, plans on replacing all excess pavement with turf grass.
The project will cost approximately $2.9 million, as the SHA plans to remove about six acres of excess pavement.
“Removing excess pavement and replacing it with grass is beneficial to the overall environment and particularly that of the Chesapeake Bay,” Gregory Johnson, SHA Administrator, said. “As part of the federal Clean Water Act, SHA has an obligation to reduce nutrients from entering the bay watershed.”
The project is expected to be completed by spring of 2017.