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.

  • Bay 101: Agriculture

    Learn about some of the conservation practices that farmers are using in the Chesapeake Bay region

  • Bay 101: Air Pollution

    What causes air pollution, and how do airborne pollutants affect the health of the Bay?

  • Bay 101: Algae Blooms

    What is an algae bloom, how does it form and how can it impact the health of the Bay?

  • Bay 101: American Shad

    What role do American shad play in the Bay's ecosystem, and how are experts working to restore them?

  • Bay 101: Bay Grasses

    What are underwater grasses, and how are they integral to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem?

  • Bay 101: Blue Crabs

    What role do blue crabs play in the culture, economy and ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay?

  • Bay 101: Climate Change

    People across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are adapting to climate change and building resiliency into the region

  • Bay 101: Conowingo Dam

    How does the Conowingo Dam capture sediment, and what will happen once the reservoir is full?

  • Bay 101: Dissolved Oxygen

    What is dissolved oxygen, and why is it necessary for underwater life to survive?

  • Bay 101: Emerald Ash Borer

    How are experts working to curb the effects of this invasive insect that is decimating ash trees?

  • Bay 101: Fish Food

    What do larger fish like striped bass and bluefish eat to survive in the Chesapeake Bay?

  • Bay 101: Fish Kills

    What is a fish kill, and what causes them to occur in the Chesapeake Bay?

  • Bay 101: Healthy Forests

    What do healthy forests look like, and why are they so important to the Chesapeake Bay?

  • Bay 101: Intersex Fish

    How has exposure to chemical contaminants in the Chesapeake Bay region led to intersex characteristics in fish?

  • Bay 101: Monitoring and Modeling the Chesapeake Bay

    How do scientists use monitoring and modeling tools to paint a picture of the Chesapeake Bay?

  • Bay 101: Ospreys

    How does studying this top predator help scientists understand the effects of toxics in the Bay ecosystem?

  • Bay 101: Oysters

    Why are these bivalves so important to Bay health, and how are scientists helping to restore them?

  • Bay 101: Population Growth

    How does the growing number of people living in the Bay region put pressure on its natural resources?

  • Bay 101: Restoring the Chesapeake watershed

    The Chesapeake Bay Program leads the restoration effort through science and partnership

  • Bay 101: Sediment

    How does too much sediment affect the Bay, its tributaries and the underwater plants and animals that live there?

  • Bay 101: Stormwater Runoff

    What is stormwater runoff, how does it pollute our local waterways and what can we do to prevent it?

  • 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?

  • Bay 101: Wastewater Treatment Plants

    What effect do wastewater treatment plants have on the Bay, and how will upgrades help?

  • Bay 101: Water Clarity

    Why is clear water critical to underwater life, and how to scientists measure water clarity?

  • Bay 101: Waterfowl

    What are waterfowl, and why is the Chesapeake Bay so important for these migratory birds?

  • Bay 101: Wetlands

    What are wetlands, and how are they important for wildlife and water quality in the Bay region?