Chesapeake Bay and Land Use

Land Use Issues in Bay Land Use Issues in Bay WatershedWatershed

Herbicides and Herbicides and PesticidesPesticides

FertilizerFertilizer Sediment RunoffSediment Runoff Pet WastePet Waste

Removal of ForestsRemoval of Forests Removal of WetlandsRemoval of Wetlands FarmsFarms Gasoline and Oil Gasoline and Oil

PollutionPollution

Bay and River Water Bay and River Water QualityQuality

Because things on Because things on land are easily land are easily washed into streams washed into streams and rivers, our actions and rivers, our actions on land ultimately on land ultimately affect the Bay.affect the Bay.

Including sediment, Including sediment, pesticides, herbicides, pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizersand fertilizers

Cause of the ProblemCause of the Problem

The amount of nutrients that The amount of nutrients that would naturally enter the would naturally enter the Bay would be okay, but Bay would be okay, but the amount going into the the amount going into the Bay now has been Bay now has been amplified by people.amplified by people.

When we use fertilizers, When we use fertilizers, dispose of sewage, drive dispose of sewage, drive cars, and generate cars, and generate electricity, we harm the electricity, we harm the Bay.Bay.

Sources of Nutrient Sources of Nutrient PollutionPollution

Point SourcesPoint Sources - can - can be traced back to a be traced back to a specific areaspecific area

Waste water Waste water treatment plants, treatment plants, broken sewage pipesbroken sewage pipes

Non-Point SourcesNon-Point Sources - pollution comes - pollution comes from large areasfrom large areas

Farms, lawns, golf Farms, lawns, golf coursescourses

Nitrogen PollutionNitrogen Pollution

Burning fossil fuels (coal, gas, or oil Burning fossil fuels (coal, gas, or oil power plants) puts nitrogen oxide power plants) puts nitrogen oxide into the airinto the air

Vehicle exhaust also puts nitrogen Vehicle exhaust also puts nitrogen oxide into the airoxide into the air

Rain washes nitrogen out of air and Rain washes nitrogen out of air and into the bayinto the bay

What Needs To Be DoneWhat Needs To Be Done

Reduce the amount of nutrients like Reduce the amount of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous entering nitrogen and phosphorous entering the Baythe Bay

Reduce the amount of sediment Reduce the amount of sediment entering the Bayentering the Bay

Who Can HelpWho Can Help

EVERYONE, EVERYONE, DOING DOING EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE!EVERYWHERE!

Water Quality Water Quality Improvement Is NOT The Improvement Is NOT The

Only IssueOnly Issue Must manage fisheriesMust manage fisheries Protect and restore ALL habitatsProtect and restore ALL habitats Effective management of land in the Effective management of land in the

watershedwatershed

Modified From:Modified From:

Restoring and ProtectingRestoring and ProtectingChesapeake Bay and RiverChesapeake Bay and RiverWater QualityWater Quality

June 2005June 2005