Bay 101
The Chesapeake Bay is rich in history and natural beauty. It is the largest estuary in the United States and home to a huge number of plants, animals and people. Watch the videos below to learn about some of the critters that live here and the issues that affect Bay restoration.
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Bay 101: Agriculture
Learn about some of the conservation practices that farmers are using in the Chesapeake Bay region
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Bay 101: Air Pollution
What causes air pollution, and how do airborne pollutants affect the health of the Bay?
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Bay 101: Algae Blooms
What is an algae bloom, how does it form and how can it impact the health of the Bay?
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Bay 101: American Shad
What role do American shad play in the Bay's ecosystem, and how are experts working to restore them?
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Bay 101: Bay Grasses
What are underwater grasses, and how are they integral to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem?
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Bay 101: Blue Crabs
What role do blue crabs play in the culture, economy and ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay?
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Bay 101: Climate Change
People across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are adapting to climate change and building resiliency into the region
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Bay 101: Conowingo Dam
How does the Conowingo Dam capture sediment, and what will happen once the reservoir is full?
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Bay 101: Dissolved Oxygen
What is dissolved oxygen, and why is it necessary for underwater life to survive?
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Bay 101: Emerald Ash Borer
How are experts working to curb the effects of this invasive insect that is decimating ash trees?
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Bay 101: Fish Food
What do larger fish like striped bass and bluefish eat to survive in the Chesapeake Bay?
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Bay 101: Fish Kills
What is a fish kill, and what causes them to occur in the Chesapeake Bay?
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Bay 101: Healthy Forests
What do healthy forests look like, and why are they so important to the Chesapeake Bay?
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Bay 101: Intersex Fish
How has exposure to chemical contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay region led to intersex characteristics in fish?
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Bay 101: Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay
How do scientists use monitoring and modeling tools to paint a picture of the Chesapeake Bay?
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Bay 101: Ospreys
How does studying this top predator help scientists understand the effects of toxics in the Bay ecosystem?
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Bay 101: Oysters
Why are these bivalves so important to Bay health, and how are scientists helping to restore them?
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Bay 101: Population Growth
How does the growing number of people living in the Bay region put pressure on its natural resources?
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Bay 101: Restoring the Chesapeake watershed
The Chesapeake Bay Program leads the restoration effort through science and partnership
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Bay 101: Sediment
How does too much sediment affect the Bay, its tributaries and the underwater plants and animals that live there?
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Bay 101: Stormwater Runoff
What is stormwater runoff, how does it pollute our local waterways and what can we do to prevent it?
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Bay 101: Striped Bass
What role do striped bass play as both a sought-after catch and a key predator in the Bay food web?
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Bay 101: Wastewater Treatment Plants
What effect do wastewater treatment plants have on the Bay, and how will upgrades help?
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Bay 101: Water Clarity
Why is clear water critical to underwater life, and how to scientists measure water clarity?
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Bay 101: Waterfowl
What are waterfowl, and why is the Chesapeake Bay so important for these migratory birds?
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Bay 101: Wetlands
What are wetlands, and how are they important for wildlife and water quality in the Bay region?