Scientists evaluate Chesapeake Bay health by monitoring important habitats, fish and shellfish, and water quality measures in the Bay and its watershed. They also track pollution, population and other measures that affect the Bay’s health.
The Bay’s health has slowly improved in some areas. However, the ecosystem remains in poor condition. The Bay continues to have polluted water, degraded habitats, and low populations of many fish and shellfish species.
The Bay watershed’s streams, creeks and rivers eventually flow to the Bay, so their health directly affects the entire Bay. The Bay Program uses the most current monitoring data to assess the health of the rivers and streams that flow to the Bay.
Everything that happens on the land affects the health of the Bay and its local waterways. Human activities and natural factors have a significant influence on the health of the Bay and its watershed.
