ALL RIGHT, KATE, THANK YOU. WELL, THE HEALTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY SLIGHTLY DECLINED LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE LONG TERM TREND IS POSITIVE. THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SAYS THE DROUGHT AND HEAVY STORMS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DECLINE. INTENSE RAIN ON DRY SOIL WASHES POLLUTION INTO STREAMS. OVERALL, THE REPORT GAVE THE BAY’S HEALTH A C SCORE. BUT SOME PARTS OF THE BAY IN CENTRAL MARYLAND, LIKE BACK RIVER AND PATAPSCO, EARNED A D SCORE. THAT’S THOUGH, ABOVE LAST YEAR’S F SCORE. IT’S ALSO ONE OF THOSE AREAS THAT IS IMPROVING. WE’RE SEEING THAT SAME IMPROVEMENT OVER TIME. SO OVERALL, WE DO EXPECT THINGS TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE IN THE PATAPSCO AND BACK RIVERS. AND I THINK THAT’S A REFLECTION OF THE THINGS THAT WE’VE BEEN DOING IN THOSE AREAS. RIGHT. THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT UPGRADES. NOW THERE ARE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE AT HOME TO HELP THE BAY’S HEALTH. TRY USING LESS FERTILIZER ON YOUR LAWN. INSTALL RAIN GARDENS TO REDUCE RUNOFF, AND Y
Report: Health of Chesapeake Bay slightly declined last year, but long-term outlook remains positive
The health of the Chesapeake Bay slightly declined last year, but the long-term trend is positive, a new report shows.The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science said the drought and heavy storms contributed to the decline as intense rain on dry soil washes pollution into streams.Overall, the report gave the bay's health a C grade — but some parts in Central Maryland, such as Back River and Patapsco, received a D grade.READ: 2025 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card (PDF)Still, both are an improvement on last year's F score."It's one of those areas that is improving, we're seeing that same improvement over time. So, overall, we do expect things to improve in Patapsco and Back rivers. And I think that's a reflection on the things we've been doing in those areas — the wastewater treatment upgrades," said Heath Kelsey with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. There are steps you can take at home to help the Chesapeake Bay's health, like using less fertilizer on your lawn, installing rain gardens to reduce runoff and recycling or using less plastic.
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. —
The health of the Chesapeake Bay slightly declined last year, but the long-term trend is positive, a new report shows.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science said the drought and heavy storms contributed to the decline as intense rain on dry soil washes pollution into streams.
Overall, the report gave the bay's health a C grade — but some parts in Central Maryland, such as Back River and Patapsco, received a D grade.
READ: 2025 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card (PDF)
Still, both are an improvement on last year's F score.
"It's one of those areas that is improving, we're seeing that same improvement over time. So, overall, we do expect things to improve in Patapsco and Back rivers. And I think that's a reflection on the things we've been doing in those areas — the wastewater treatment upgrades," said Heath Kelsey with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
There are steps you can take at home to help the Chesapeake Bay's health, like using less fertilizer on your lawn, installing rain gardens to reduce runoff and recycling or using less plastic.
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