Well ... A for Effort? 2

Reports say Chesapeake Bay is still hurting

Two new reports show that, despite 22 years of clean-up efforts, the Chesapeake Bay is still in miserable shape. Pollution and population growth are on the rise, sullying the bay and its tributaries. A report issued by the Chesapeake Bay Program -- a partnership between the U.S. EPA and watershed states -- found degraded water and damage to grasses, crabs, clams, and worms. The University of Maryland's Center for Environmental Science also released a river-by-river report card that gave the overall area a grade of D+. Ouch. "The bay is not responding as robustly and fully as we'd hope," says Jeff Lape, director of the Chesapeake Bay Program. As a few positives surfaced, such as sewage-plant upgrades and vehicle emissions laws, you could almost hear the sound of advocates summoning their strength. "I hope [the report card] doesn't give the wrong impression that we're simply not making progress," said Jeff Corbin of Virginia's Natural Resources department. "We're doing this for the long haul."

source: Baltimore Sun, Rona Kobell, 19 Apr 2007

source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Lawrence Latane III, 19 Apr 2007

source: Forbes, Associated Press, Kristen Wyatt, 18 Apr 2007

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  1. Liara Covert Posted 1:46 pm
    20 Apr 2007

    Unconfirmed rumoursMedia will periodically reiterate how much has been done to clean up Chesapeake Bay. As it happens, I'm very familiar with the Washington, DC and Virginia areas. Why is it that the public rarely gets a birds-eye view into what is really happening and insight into the measurable progress made? Media says more about how problems are escalating to play into fear factor syndrome. How can a clean up project which has apparently been ongoing for 22 years be continually funded and seen as effective when destruction and deterioration are described as undermining the clean up? It would appear a complete overhaul of Chesapeake Bay "clean up projects" is overdue.

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  2. paintformoney Posted 6:48 am
    21 Apr 2007

    Chesapeake BayOf course the Bay is not responding as they had hoped.  How can it when corporations like Smithfield Foods is still allowed to build buildings and parking lots in the flood plain.  The run off from these structures goes into the Pagan River, which empties into the James which empties into the Bay.  It is a pity the Army Corp of Engineers did not stop this latest building, they could have.

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