More good news about the Chesapeake Bay. While still plagued with problems, the Bay’s ecological health continues to improve, reports the 2017 Chesapeake Bay Report Card.
Last year stood out for the spread of aquatic grasses and the highest-ever Fisheries Index. The biggest gains were found in the James River, the Elizabeth River and the Upper Western Shore.
(comments below)
(comments below)
I agree that the Bay is improving but I have some issues with this University of Maryland Report Card. I find it very hard to accept a single grade for a whole river like the Potomac. The Potomac River in Georgetown is a world away from the Potomac River at Point Lookout. We catch 300+lb bull sharks in the Potomac near Point Lookout while all the sharks in Georgetown are on K St.
I am a bit surprised to see the overall grade from 2016 to 2017 stuck at 54. Just the number of dolphin sightings in the northern parts of the bay tell me that there was improvement in 2017. However, I’ll reserve judgement until I see the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s bi-annual grade for 2018 (usually published in January of the following year). 2016 was a “34”, I am hoping / looking for a “36” in 2018. This compares to a “27” in 1998, the first year the CBF kept an overall report card.
We’ll see.
The thing is – the “idea” of a Report Card to start with – did not start with the Govt much less Libertarian types. It’s primarily the work of people who were
environmentalists in general and specifically concerned about the Chesapeake Bay – as well as all the rivers and streams that feed it.
DJ is right a grade for an entire river is dumbing it down to a simplistic level but unfortunately it’s what has to be done to motivate the average person to find out – become informed – and care enough to support the efforts – or, in the case of some politicians – put the focus on them when they actively undermine the efforts by weakening the laws or advocating outright repeal as we have seen with the numerous elected opposing the EPA-led Chesapeake Bay Restoration program.
But I just love it when folks who never really supported the time and money to clean up the bay – put that feather in their cap when the Report Card is released!
Just as important – and just as bad – is our air-shed of which we seem to actually prefer the burning of fossil fuels laden with mercury and other contaminates harmful to humans and critters… to energy conservation and efficiency and solar/wind…
When it comes to the environment – we’ve got some folks who have been at it – as a duty and others who see environmental laws as “costly regulation” that harms the economy and costs jobs…
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has found a philanthropist who will match any donation made by June 30 up to a total match of $250,000. Pull out those checkbooks, credit cards, bitcoin accounts and PayPal apps – double your impact by next Friday!
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