The overall health of Chesapeake Bay improved in 2016, a positive sign that recovery efforts are working, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) said in its latest release.
The largest estuary in the nation scored a C grade (54%) in the 2016 report card, one of the highest scores calculated by scientists at UMCES.
“While only a slight improvement, it’s encouraging that the overall health remained steady despite many pressures on the Chesapeake Bay and across its watershed,” the announcement stated.
“We are happy to see that our beloved Chesapeake Bay continues its recovery. These scientifically rigorous report card results are telling us that we are indeed heading in the right direction,” said Dr. Bill Dennison, Vice President for Science Application at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science’s Integration and Application Network produces this report card annually to assess the health of Chesapeake Bay waterways, to enhance and support the science, management and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.