WASHINGTON -- Each year scientists and natural resources mangers study the size and duration of so called "dead zones" in the Chesapeake Bay in an effort to figure out the impact on life in the Bay.
But the dead zones in the Chesapeake are growing. Scientists who predicted the increase aren't surprised. Tom Parmham, a scientist with the Maryland Department of a Natural Resources, says, "It's nothing to be alarmed about. It's slightly higher than average."
Dead zones are areas deprived of oxygen and that means crabs, fish, oysters and other Bay life can't survive there.
"Dead zones are caused by excessive nutrients from farms, sewage plants, fertilizer and sewage plants," says Parmham.
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These dead zones are 90% caused by the western shore and the conowingo dam. leave us alone. period.
ReplyDeleteThese zones are also caused by high heat temps and no rain.
ReplyDeleteIt's that time of the year for enviromental fund raising for the holiday parties.Just tax us another 25 million or so.
ReplyDelete...and sewage plants, and sewage plants, and sewage plants, too!
ReplyDeleteAbout 100 years of watermen combing the Bay dry of oysters is a pretty big contribution to the problem.
ReplyDeleteThe dead zones are all north of the Choptank River so it's kind of hard to blame the poultry industry.
ReplyDeleteyeah, every farmer I know buys and applies like 10 times the needed amount of fertilizer just because they like to spend money..sarcasm..get tired of hearing about fertilizer being the problem....its development and the associated ills that come with it...manicured lawns, human waste, runoff from roads, industry etc....
ReplyDeleteAnd global warming.
ReplyDeletelets just throw more money at it. that'll fix it
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAs earlier noted the population centers adjoining the Bay are North of the Eastern Shore.
If OweMalley and his predecessors and successor in Baltimore had cleaned up their act conditions would be much more favorable. But they spew demagoguery and lay blame on less populated areas with fewer voters.
Hope they rot.