The Chesapeake Bay is one of the largest estuaries in the United States, and is currently in great danger. This used to be considered one of the most diverse and productive estuaries. However, there is currently an abundance of pollution and many native populations are on the decline because of unsuitable living conditions. Both the crab and oyster are examples of populations that are in harms way. Declining oysters populations are of particular concern because they help to filter and clean the bay. I feel as if humans are one of the main factors contributing to the Chesapeake Bay’s degradation.
I have lived on the bay my entire life and have watched the bay’s quality diminish over the years. Such high population densities surrounding the bay have contributed to its issues. Mass amounts of the present pollution are caused from both storm runoff and urban runoff. Much of this can be traced back to the land development methods used, and urbanization. The combination of these processes brings about some major pollutants such as nitrogen,sediments, and phosphorous. Once these pollutants enter the watershed they cause algae blooms. Once this algae dies the decomposers utilize lots of oxygen, thus creating dead zones. This depletion of oxygen can lead to the death of animal life. This process is commonly referred to as Eutrophication.
In my opinion, the individuals living around the bay need to change their lifestyles in order to get the bay back to healthy conditions. I think the best way to do this is through the implementation of a Smart Growth Plan. This plan would entail several different factors. One of these things is preserving open space, natural areas and farmland. Also creating compact development patterns. Much of this will be accomplished by changing policy and creating new zoning ordinances. The overall goal of Smart Growth is to reduce the footprint of the individual developments. In Smart Growth individuals would be given smaller lawns, ultimately requiring less fertilizers and pesticides. Since less fertilizer would be being used nitrogen runoff into the bay would be greatly reduced. Smart Growth also implements that forests and wetlands should stop being developed, and be left to maintain their original ecosystem function. If a Smart Growth Plan was put into action then expected growth would still be able to take place; it would just happen in a more bay friendly manor.
Aubrey Cross
Aubrey – I agree with your idea that open space should be preserved, like farmland and natural areas as well as the idea of not doing anything to develop forests and wetlands to allow those ecosystems to function at their best. I do have some questions though.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your blog, I noticed that you did not say anything about erosion control and suspended sediment in the water column of the Bay – which is a major factor contributing to the degradation of the Bay’s water quality. In the Smart Growth Plan, how is farmland regulated in terms of nonpoint source pollution? You touch on people having smaller lawns so that they use less fertilizer and pesticides in residential areas, but what regulation changes do farmers face in all of this? You agree that people should have smaller lawns in order to have less of an environmental impact and that this could be accomplished by a few zoning changes. My question to you is what will happen to the land that is no longer developed? Will it turn into farmland that does not experience sediment control thus contributing to a murky water column or will society allow it to grow up into a wooded area that will, for the most part, eliminate erosion all together?