Despoiling the Chesapeake Bay.

I happen to be re-reading James Michener's novel CHESAPEAKE, and then seeing this on the news site NEWSER is I must say disheartening. To read Michener's description of the bay in it's unspoiled beauty when his novel begins in the 1600's and see what man has done to it in 400 years is sad indeed. The despoilers would not have started in earnest until the twentieth century so they have done their dirty practices in under 200 years.

This July 31, 2010 photo provided by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation shows Algae blooms (dark colors) flourishing along the shore of the York river in Yorktown, Va.
(AP Photo/Morgan Heim, Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Chesapeake 'Dead Zone' Could Be Largest Ever
MARINE LIFE THREATENED IN OXYGEN-STARVED PORTION OF BAY

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff
Posted Jul 25, 2011 8:08 AM CDT
STORY COMMENTS (7)


(NEWSER) – High nutrient pollution levels have caused the Chesapeake Bay's underwater "dead zone" to expand unusually quickly this year: It covers a third of the bay and will likely become the bay's largest-ever area of oxygen-starved water. The dead zone, which sucks oxygen from deep waters and kills any marine life that can't escape it, stretched from the Baltimore Harbor to the bay's mid-channel region in June, a distance of about 83 miles. It has only grown since then, the Washington Post reports.

Nutrient pollution comes from chemicals, like fertilizer, and causes an increase of bay algae. In turn, the algae decomposes into a black, oxygen-sucking glop that kills oysters, shellfish, and any fish or crabs that can't get to surface waters. Dead zones occur annually, but this year saw an especially heavy flow of polluted water due to heavy rains and melted snow mixed with chemicals and sediment. The EPA has finalized an aggressive "pollution diet" to reduce the levels of chemicals and sediment allowed into the bay, but the plan will cost billions and is being challenged by lobbies and other groups.