Maryland is home to an abundance of wonderful biodiversity and a bounty of interesting natural histories. This state is home to hundreds of different mammals, reptiles, birds, plants, and insects, all of which contribute to a healthy ecosystem. Perhaps one of the largest and most influential ecosystems in Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay system is a profound ecosystem that is fed by nearly 64,000 square miles of watershed. Though the Chesapeake Bay is in and of itself a fascinating estuary system — the largest in the United States — there are hundreds of upstream water contributions that also have an interesting role. Many of these tributaries and larger rivers that eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay deposit fertile sediments that contribute to the ecological sustainability of the area.
Human development and land use have had significant impacts on the estuary ecosystem that forms the Chesapeake Bay. Today, hundreds of scientists and volunteers work towards gaining a greater understanding of the system and restoring it to its former glory. Striking a balance between human needs and natural processes has been tough, but the rewards are worth it.
What is an Estuary?
Discerning the difference between an estuary and other physical landscape features isn’t always as straightforward as we’d like to think. For instance, the difference between an estuary and a delta catches a lot of people.
Estuaries are water bodies along a coast that are formed when freshwater from rivers meets the sea. This merging of two water types creates brackish water that supports an abundance of life, including a whole underwater world that we usually can’t even see with the naked eye, typically making it a biodiversity hotspot. Estuaries — which are sometimes also called bays — are unique habitats, fish nurseries, and wonderful fisheries.
Deltas, on the other hand, are landforms that are formed by river-borne sediment deposition as the water slows down and meets a lake or the sea. The currents must be slow enough that sediments aren’t whisked away, oftentimes this means that large marshes and mangrove forests will form along the coastline. Deltas create incredibly fertile soils that humans have capitalized on for farming for centuries, which has had both positive and negative impacts.
The Chesapeake Bay is known for its incredible fisheries and important economic species such as striped bass, blue crab, and oysters. But the bay does so much more than that. Healthy forests and vegetation surrounding the bay can protect against storm surges and tidal grasses can help filter pollutants, for instance. Ultimately, a healthy estuary translates into a healthy ecosystem for humans.
Big Changes
Anyone familiar with the history of the Chesapeake Bay knows that it has been an important location ever since humans inhabited the area. Native American communities benefited from the plethora of natural abundance in the area. As soon as colonizers arrived, they began capitalizing on the land for farming and the waters for fishing. They quickly made it their own.
Over the next couple hundred years, the bay was changed almost beyond recognition as a host of environmental concerns spawned from development. Forested land was converted to farm fields and cities while the bay and surrounding rivers were harvested past the point of sustainability. Poorly designed sewage systems dump waste directly into the bay, while farmland erosion pumps thousands of pounds of chemicals into the water.
Fortunately, scientists and local governments have worked together to begin to address the pollution problems that have plagued the Chesapeake Bay. Though there is still a long way to go towards the improvement of water quality and the restoration of natural habitats in the area, today we can see huge positive improvements.
Protecting and Enjoying the Estuary
We are fortunate to live in an area that retains a lot of natural beauty and many of the restoration efforts along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries have worked to improve upon that. For instance, there have been numerous efforts to reforest undeveloped sections of the Bay and a variety of hiking trails have been put in. Taking the kids out for an afternoon can be a great way to burn some energy, get some exercise, learn about the history and ecosystem, and explore the beauty of the natural areas.
Who knows, the trip may even spark an interest in making small life changes that will help protect and improve the habitat surrounding the estuary. For instance, small things like home landscaping can make a big to the surrounding streams and wetlands. Making use of water runoff of the property, reducing erosion through grading, and/or limiting the use of fertilizers are good starting points here.
If taking an even more active role in protecting the estuary is something of interest, there are plenty of volunteer organizations that work hard to educate the community and complete on the ground restoration work. Roles within these organizations vary greatly from working with the fishing industry to implement sustainable practices, educating landowners on pollution-reducing practices, taking kids out for educational field days, or planting vegetation in targeted restoration areas. The sky is really the limit!
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The Chesapeake Bay is the center of the ecological sustainability of Maryland. Nearly every major stream or river in the state contributes to the flow into the estuary so everyone can play an active role regardless of distance from the coast. Though there have been many hurdles over the years, positive changes are starting to make a real difference.
Bio: Indiana Lee lives in the Pacific Northwest and has a passion for the environment and wellness. She draws her inspiration from nature and makes sure to explore the outdoors regularly with her family and two dogs. Indiana also has experience in owning and operating her own business. Feel free to follow her on Twitter @indianalee3.