November, 1998
On the Bay
Cruising through the Chesapeake Bay Program WEB site www.chesapeakebay.net/bayprogram/data/infobase.htm one is immerged in a formidable, but well presented, amount of data. And just how is the Bay doing? The following is a discussion of some of the indicators concerning nutrients and living resources. If you want to see it for yourself, click on slide show, then environmental indicators, then master list and go from there.
Nutrients: Nitrogen input has decreased from 359 to 331 million pounds since 1985 (1996 data). However, a greater percentage is coming from non-agriculture, non-point sources (forests, urban, atmosphere). It's apparent that farmers are doing a better job at nitrogen control. About 1.7 million acres of cropland were placed under nutrient manage plans in VA, PA and MD in 1997.
Phosphorus input has decreased from 26 to 20 million pounds for the same period but a greater percentage is coming from all non-point sources. The phosphorus ban for detergents is working. Non-point source issues will be the real challenge in getting both nutrients under control.
Point-source Phosphorus input decreased markedly following the Phosphate ban of the late 80's. However, reduction in bay-wide input has not increased for the past five to six years. The story is similar for point-source nitrogen. The use of Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) technologies in sewage treatment will help in the reduction of both nutrients.
The amount of wastewater treated using BNR technology has increased from 500 to about 1200 million gallons per day since 1996. Considering that the Bay receives over 2 billion gallons of wastewater per day, more work must be done in this area.
Nutrient loading in groundwater is a concern due to the long residence time and slow release rate. Even with our best on-ground Best Management Practices (BMP's), this input could markedly affect the Bay's recovery.
It is expected that we will meet the 40% Bay-wide nutrient reduction goal for Phosphorus by the year 2000. However, at the current rate of effort, the Nitrogen reduction goal will not be met. In areas where Tributary Strategies are being applied, nutrient reduction may meet the year 2000 goal. In addition, more will have to be done in the future to compensate for expected population growth.
Oxygen: This parameter is a strong indicator of good water quality. Levels below 5 parts per million (ppm) indicate stressful or lethal conditions for aquatic life. In 1997, almost half of the Bay's lower water layers had reduced oxygen levels, at or below 5 ppm. This eliminates important habitat and releases nutrients that would normally be tied to sediments.
Bay Grasses: The Bay formerly had over 600,000 acres of underwater grasses. By the late 70's, we had lost more than 90% of this important resource. Intensive efforts at restoration had increased coverage to about 60,000 acres by the early 90's. Coverage decreased somewhat during 1994 and '95 but has increased since then. The prognosis for Bay grasses will depend on how well nutrients and sediments are controlled.
Wetlands: Estuarine wetlands were destroyed at a rate of about 550 acres per year between 1950 and 1970. The loss rate in 1989 was just five acres per year. On the other hand, freshwater wetland loss has increased from about 2370 to 2800 acres per year for the same periods. What's wrong with this picture?
Fish Passages: 
About 314 miles of
historic fish passages were reopened by 1997. Dams and other passage obstructions
affect anadromous fish, such as striped bass, shad and herring. The goal
is to open a total of 1357 miles by the year 2003.
Striped Bass: They're back. The recovery was declared a success as early as 1995. Striped bass spawning stocks and juvenile indices are above historical levels. Efforts will now be directed at balancing harvest and recruitment (addition of new fish) levels.
Some researchers are concerned about the possible overabundance of stripers.
A 1997 fish collection on the Pamunkey River (three 50-meter samples) netted
125 juvenile stripers and little else. There should have been a variety
of organisms in the sample.
American Shad: 
This
fish is under very tight regulation at this time. A moratorium is in effect
in MD and one will be in effect in VA within four years. Shad harvests
have plummeted from about four million pounds per year (1930's to 70's)
to just a few thousand pounds (1994). In an effort to replenish stocks,
a record 34 million fry and fingerlings were reared in hatcheries and released
in 1998.
Oysters: A decline in annual harvests from about 20 million pounds during the 70's to one million pounds in 1997 speaks for itself. Over-harvest and diseases have resulted in a historic crash of this resource. Its recovery will be determined by the intensity of restocking programs, harvest management, water quality improvement and the increase in disease resistant populations. This could be considered a cornerstone species that has a great effect on water quality and benthic community structure within the Chesapeake Bay.
Blue Crab: All indications show that this resource is fully exploited. Annual blue crab landings appear as a roller coaster graph. Continued conservation measures and control of fishing mortality rates should be maintained to prevent drastic population declines.
Fishery Stocks: Sixteen of the twenty-five dominant commercial and sports fishery species in the Chesapeake Bay are in trouble. Most have recovery plans in place but long-term management is necessary for their conservation.
Waterfowl: Ten of the seventeen monitored species have increased
populations to or above the 1970 target level. However, some increases
are not desirable (Snow goose, residential Canada goose, Mallard). Black
duck, Goldeneye, Scoter, Oldsquaw, Merganser and migratory Canada goose
populations continue to decline.
And that's the way it is in the Chesapeake Bay. 
Variety is the spice of life - the exotic kind that is.
The Nov./Dec., 1996 issue of Nature Conservancy stated that about 4000 exotic plant species and 2300 animal species (mostly insects) have been introduced into the U.S. About fifteen percent are considered harmful. These invaders are displacing native species (many of which are already threatened or endangered) and upsetting ecosystem balance. The "door prize winners" are:
And more recently, the Rappa Welk from Japan was found in the Chesapeake Bay.
Some very destructive insect pests are on the loose. The Pink Hibiscus Mealybug from Africa and Asia has wrecked havoc on certain vegetable and fruit crops throughout Australia, India, and the Caribbean. It is just a matter of time before it finds its way onto southern U.S. shores. Fruit growers in the southern U.S. are very concerned about this pest.
Another pest making its way throughout the U.S. is the Asian Longhorn Beetle. It was introduced in foreign wood products (pallets, shipping crates, etc.) brought into this country. There are more than 100 species of this pest that attack maple, elm, poplar and willow trees. It attacks healthy trees and once infested, the only cure is to cut the tree and burn it. Entire residential and city blocks in Northern U.S. have lost their shade trees due to this pest.
The real prizewinner goes to the Formosa Termite. Now established in fifteen southern and central states, this little fellow (fellowee) lives in colonies of up to seventy million and can destroy a 2000 square foot house in less than two years. It is more aggressive than our native termite, eats twice as much, able to construct tunnels through pesticide-treated soils, lives in multiple-chambered colonies and swarms in massive numbers. Current termite control measures do not work with this insect.
Mercury A Risin'
Researchers from the University of Azores report an annual increase of up to 5% in marine mercury contamination. The evidence comes from seabird feather samples taken in remote, Atlantic sub-tropical regions. Increases in different bird species ranged from about 1% to 5% each year depending on the bird's trophic level and feeding habits. The cause is elevated levels of methylmercury in fish. This is a major concern due to the associated human health threats with the increased consumption of seafood.
World's Coral Reefs at Risk
Researchers have identified more than one dozen types of bacteria infecting coral reefs in the tropical Atlantic. Commonly called Black Banded Disease (BBD), these infections can kill more coral in one day than grows in an entire year. The infections are rapidly spreading and new types are continually being discovered. The rate of coral loss is unprecedented. In addition, populations of beneficial sea urchins are rapidly declining. The urchins graze over the corals, keeping algae growth in check. As a result, corals are being overgrown with macro-algae and dying. Similar problems have been identified in the tropical Pacific. Human activity is the probable cause, primarily excess nutrient loading and chemical contamination.
News Articles Worth Noting
The following is a list of recent news articles that address a variety of environmental issues. Use these for student research or information for presentations. Articles are from the Richmond Times Dispatch unless otherwise noted.
Newsweek (8/25/98)
Articles of interest from the Bay Journal :
(3/98)
(4/98)
(5/98)
(6/98)
(7/98)
(9/98)
Wondering Through the WEB 
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I hope you have found this newsletter useful. Please send me your comments. There is the possibility of reviving the Virginia Association for Environmental Education. If you have an interest in helping to lead or provide service for this organization, please contact me. "And we thank you for your support."
Barry W. Fox
Extension Specialist
4-H Marine/Aquatic Education
Box 9081
Virginia State University
Petersburg, VA 23806
804-524-5848
FAX: 804-525-5057
Email: bfox@vsu.edu
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