The "dead zone" is an area of little to no oxygen that forms when excess nutrients enter the water through polluted runoff and feed naturally occurring algae. This number is above 70 … Data from the state's Department of … Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from human activities cause "dead zones"—or areas with low amounts of oxygen in the Bay. Terms of Use | In the annual Dead Zone Report Card, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) announced that the 2020 Chesapeake Bay dead zone covered an average of 1.0 cubic miles during the summer and reached a maximum size of 2.7 cubic miles, smaller than most recorded in the past 35 years (80%). What does the Bay, its rivers and streams mean to you? The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. With little or no oxygen, fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic animals literally suffocate. "Heavy rains since last fall have led forecasters to predict near-record dead zones this summer in the Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico — which could affect crab and oyster populations.The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects the low-oxygen dead zone in the Chesapeake will grow to 2.1 cubic miles and the no-oxygen dead zone up to 0.63 cubic miles, the Among these institutions, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality conduct 8-10 monitoring cruises between May – October to keep an eye on the dead zone. Nine months after the Bay’s wettest fall on record, the negative consequences of all that rain are still coming to light. While some researchers try to date when the largest known asteroid impact in America occurred, others are interested in measuring the extent of dead zones in water, or areas in the ocean where the oxygen concentration is so low that animals can suffocate and die. The Bay’s oxygen-poor “dead zone” was back down to average size in late August– after reaching near-record size earlier in the summer. According to the summer 2019 blue crab advisory report covered by Patch, the overall Chesapeake Bay blue crab population has actually increased nearly 60 percent from 372 million in 2018 to 594 million in 2019. 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. The dead zone is most pronounced in the deep waters of the Bay's mainstem during warm summer months. Now, the numbers are in, confirming … Scientists took measurements of the extent of this year’s dead zone from onboard the R/V Pelican over July 23–29, 2019. The western part of the bay is full of factories and urban centers that emit nitrogen into the air. The Chesapeake Bay experiences hypoxic conditions every year, with the severity varying … Privacy Policy, Chesapeake Bay Program Synopsis of 2019 Dead Zone Size. The area of the dead zone was … 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. An annual model-based report on “dead-zone” conditions in the Chesapeake Bay during 2019 indicates that the total volume of low-oxygen, “hypoxic” water was on the high end of the normal range for 1985 to 2018, a finding that scientists actually consider relatively good news. 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. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from human activities cause "dead zones"—or areas with low amounts of oxygen in the Bay. If you have a lawn to take care of, use fertilizers properly: do not use more than needed, and do not apply to dormant lawns or frozen ground. This drives the growth of algae blooms, which eventually die and decompose, removing oxygen from the surrounding waters faster than it can be replenished in the process. The average size, in cubic miles, of the 2020 Chesapeake Bay dead zone. In … Not only is the Chesapeake Bay dead zone living, it's thriving. 2019 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report November 2019 Hypoxia Background The “Dead Zone” of the Chesapeake Bay refers to a volume of hypoxic water that is characterized by dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 2 mg/L, which is too low for aquatic organisms such as fish and blue crabs to thrive. Please see the 2019 Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report for a summary of hypoxia in 2019 relative to historic conditions and other recent years. The results of the monitoring cruises are posted on the Eyes on the Bay website for the Maryland portion of the Bay and the VECOS website for the Virginia portion. Between 1985 and 2019, the average was .84 cubic miles. “While this year’s zone will be larger than usual because of the flooding, the long-term trend is still not changing. Overall, the 2020 dead zone lasted for 95 days—41 days shorter than 2019. What impact have the Bay and its local waters had on your life? The predicted volumes are larger than the dead zone observed during the summer of 2018 and would be … By Bay Bulletin / June 17, 2019 . No, it's not another Stephen King novel or Grateful Dead cover band. Donations are tax-deductable as allowed by law. 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. The 2019 'dead-zone' report card for Chesapeake Bay indicates that the volume of low-oxygen, 'hypoxic' water was on the high end of the normal … Experts warn of ‘dead zone’ in Chesapeake Bay from pollution. ANNAPOLIS, Md. To reduce nutrient pollution, consider reducing the amount of pollution that can run off your property: install a rain garden or rain barrel to capture and absorb rainfall; use porous gravel or pavers in place of asphalt or concrete; and redirect downspouts onto grass or gravel rather than paved driveways or sidewalks. The “dead zone” is a very real environmental threat and has serious impacts on our Bay. Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY (968-7229) Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. Join our digital community. By DAVID McFADDEN July 7, 2019 GMT. — Maryland scientists have been warning of a growing "dead zone" in the Chesapeake Bay. When nutrient-fueled algae blooms die and decompose, the resulting low-oxygen conditions—known as “dead zones”—can suffocate underwater life and shrink available habitat.