We've received a lot of questions lately about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and if it will affect the Chesapeake Bay. The general scientific consensus right now is that it is unlikely that oil from the Gulf will reach the Chesapeake Bay, but experts continue to monitor the situation to stay ahead of any changes in the oil's projected path.

A few Bay Program partners have posted information about the oil spill in relation to the Chesapeake Bay:

  • The Maryland Department of the Environment has set up a Gulf Oil Spill Emergency Response page with detailed information about Maryland's monitoring efforts and cleanup response capabilities.
  • The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has an excellent Gulf Spill FAQ page that answers questions such as "Will Gulf oil reach Virginia?" and "How might any Gulf oil impact Virginia?"
  • Old Dominion University Oceanography Professor Larry Atkinson has created a page about the oil spill that focuses on potential effects to the East Coast.

Additionally, scientists and experts from many Bay Program partners are lending their time and expertise to the response effort in the Gulf region. Some examples include:

Here's a sampling of some recent news articles and blog entries about the oil spill and the Bay:

For more information about the Gulf oil spill, visit the following websites:

We'll update this blog entry with any additional information about the Gulf oil spill and its potential effect on the Bay.

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