Chesapeake Bay Introduction to an Ecosystem
- Published:
- April 1, 1995
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
The Chesapeake Bay receives about half its water volume fro the Atlantic Ocean. The rest drains into the Bay from an enormous 64,000 square-mile drainage basin or watershed. The watershed includes parts of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia and the entire District of Columbia. Freshwater from springs, streams, small creeks and rivers flows downhill mixing with ocean water to form this estuarine system. Soil, air, water, plants and animals, including humans, form a complex web of interdependencies that together make up this Chesapeake ecosystem. The 15 million people living in the Chesapeake watershed play an important role in this ecosystem. The activities and problems occurring thoughout the entire watershed significantly impact the functions and relationships of the Bay proper. We must choose whether our role will be destructive or productive.