Press release on size of dead zones (areas of low or no oxygen) in Gulf of Mexico and Chesapeake Bay in 2013.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

This report documents flow-adjusted trends in sediment and total nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations for 31 stations in 1985-2011 and for 32 in 2002-2011.  For 2006-2011 period, 65 stations are covered.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Discusses the damage from excessive nitrogen in Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound  and Atlantic coastal plain streams.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment trends at nine Chesapeake Bay monitoring sites have shown a lack of improvement from 1985 to 2010.  The measuring sites included the Potomac and James Rivers.  From the U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Proceedings from a 2011 forum in Baltimore on policies and assumptions for creating alternative future land-use scenarios for the Chesapeake Bay area out to 2025 by which the population is expected to increase by 2 million persons.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Covers 80 years and 30 test sites to compare runoff into the Bay watershed.  Discovers that the 1970-2010 period had significantly different stream flow patterns.  From the U.S. Geological Survey.

Describes federal regulations which require the establishment by states of total maximum daily load benchmarks for pollutants in rivers and lakes.  Focuses in particular on the effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay through TMDL provisions and the need for new legislative attention to the issue of water pollution.  From the Congressional Research Service, posted by the Federation of American Scientists

Cites progress in submitting Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan, reducing point source pollution from sewage treatment plants, and reducing phosphorus content of poultry litter in improving the quality of water in the Chesapeake Bay.  From the Secretary of Natural Resources

Describes the importance of managing urban storm water runoff to protect water resources like the Chesapeake Bay.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

Chart showing abundance of blue crabs in annual surveys since 1990.  From the Governor’s Office

This report describes the coastal environmental technical assistance program of Hampton Roads, including environmental impact review, participation in state and federal programs, and coordination of regional environmental programs relating to the Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, and the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuaries in North Carolina.  Discusses program objectives and accomplishments during a state grant.  From the Hampton Roads Plan District Commission

Documents the efforts of the Hampton Roads region to participate in Virginia’s Phase II plan for safeguarding the quality of water in the Chesapeake Bay and managing land use in the Bay area.  From the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission

Latest consolidated report on Virginia’s efforts to clean up impaired state waterways, meet commitments for restoring the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay, and carrying out related agricultural and forestry management practices to prevent run-off and pollution.   From the Offices of the Secretary of Natural Resources and the Governor

Describes the results of recent surveys of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay , the total 2010 Virginia harvest, current main research priorities, and the effectiveness of the Virginia blue crab fishery management plan.  From the Marine Resources Commission

Describes the purpose and goals of a Conservation Effects  Assessment Project to collect information about farming and conservation practices on cultivated cropland in the Chesapeake Bay area from November 2011 to January 2012.  From the National  Agricultural Statistics Service

Latest management report for the blue crab in the Bay.  Develops new formulas for assessing the abundance of blue crab species in the Bay and a suitable exploitation rate.  Recommends continued limits on harvesting of blue crabs, especially females.  From the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others

Reports that nutrient pollution in the majority of the Bay’s rivers and streams has decreased over the last 25 years.  Despite this improving health of the tributary streams and rivers, pollution loads to the Bay were higher in 2010, due to more rain, snow, and river flow.  From the Chesapeake Bay Program Office

Provides assessments of the existing Chesapeake Bay Program effort and offers advice to the states and the Environmental Protection Agency on improving nutrient tracking and sedimentation control practices.  From the National Research Council

Reports that the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population is at its second highest level since 1997 and well above the target for the third consecutive year. Also reports that crab abundance declined in recent months due to this past winter’s deep freeze.   From the Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Argues a new approach is needed to restore the bay due to the increasing population in the bay watershed.  Describes a computer program, called the UVA Bay Game developed as a teaching and learning tool.  From the Cooper Center of the University of Virginia

Reports on Virginia’s progress in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay and waters designated as impaired by the Environmental Protection Agency.  Covers nutrient control activities from wastewater treatment plants, TMDL implementation plans, and more.  From the Secretary of Natural Resources

News release about the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) which identifies the necessary reductions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment which Bay area states such as Virginia must meet with their Bay clean-up plans.  From the Environmental Protection Agency

Subtitled: Revision of the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Tributary Strategy.  The final plan submitted to the EPA by Virginia that identifies actions the state will pursue to reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment entering the Bay from all major sources. From the Office of the Secretary of Natural Resources

Reports on the status and current implementation of the management plan.  Reports major improvement in the abundance of blue crabs for the second consecutive winter, following the December 2009-March 2010 Bay-wide Winter Dredge Survey. From the Virginia Marine Resources Commission

Plan submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency by the State of Virginia for revision of the Chesapeake Bay nutrient and sediment reduction tributary strategy, known as the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load plan. [From the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality]

Creates a daily pollution diet  or total maximum daily load  for nitrogen and phosphorus pollution.  The draft document TMDL is designed to ensure that all pollution control measures to fully restore the Bay and its tidal rivers are in place by 2025.  From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Office.

Discusses the activities, past and planned, for restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, following the issuance of Presidential Executive Order 13508 in May 2009  and the strategy document of May 2010.  From the United States Geological Survey

Describes a geophysical survey on the Chesapeake Bay and Potomac River estuary to test hypotheses about groundwater flow under and into the Bay that might be contributing to eutrophication.  From the U.S. Geological Survey

The goal of this study is to formalize an approach to inventory and analyze management decisions in order to produce useful information targeted toward effective adaptation to climate change.  The pilot study applies this approach to the Chesapeake Bay Program.  From the Environmental Protection Agency

(Chesapeake bay   climate change   environment)

Presents the most effective tools and practices to mitigate nonpoint source pollution that is currently contributing nutrients and sediments from federal land management activity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Focuses on six areas of activity including agriculture, forestry, and riparian areas management.  From the Environmental Protection Agency.