Chesapeake Bay: Causes of Pollution and Restoration Solutions, Quizzes of Communication

Download Chesapeake Bay: Causes of Pollution and Restoration Solutions and more Quizzes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 intro 1 DEFINITION 1 D+, that was the overall health health rating of the Chesapeake Bay as of the 2014 State of The Bay ReportThe Chesapeake Bay which is located in Maryland and Virginia is a very important feature for the ecology and economy of the 6 states that come in contact with it, just received a barely passing grade TERM 2 intro 2 DEFINITION 2 The Bay has become dangerously out of balance from the runoff of pollutants from the states that either touch the bay directly or are part of the the Chesapeake Bay Basin Unfortunately, Pennsylvania can have a major negative impact on the Bay because as quoted from the website last updated 2009 of the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts(which is the collective voice for Pennsylvanias 66 county conservation districts) TERM 3 intro 3 DEFINITION 3 About half of Pennsylvania (52%) lies within the Chesapeake Bay Basin. Within Pennsylvanias portion of the Chesapeake Bay Basin, the Susquehanna River drains 92% of the watershed, that means that many on the pollutants that affect the bay can come from us. TERM 4 intro 4 DEFINITION 4 Ive become interested in this topic and the plight of the organizations who have been trying to save this Bay through my time spent researching this topic. And what really caught my attention is that what these groups are doing ,is actually having a positive impact on the environment. TERM 5 intro 5 DEFINITION 5 The Chesapeake Bay needs its overall health rating to reach a 70 on the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Health Index. This can be done by addressing the main contributors to the pollution, applying a solution to the problem, and seeing the potential outcome that can happen if all the goals are met TERM 6 Transition/ Problem DEFINITION 6 Now that you have been given some basic information about the Chesapeake Bay we can move on to identifying two of the main causes of pollution in the bay. The first and biggest problem that the Chesapeake Bay faces is something as simple as too many nutrients. TERM 7 problem 1-1 DEFINITION 7 The nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus are essential for the growth of all living organisms in the Chesapeake Bay. However, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus degrade the Bay's water quality TERM 8 problem 1-2 DEFINITION 8 In the 1600s the Chesapeake watershed , which defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency website which was last updated on Tuesday, March 06, 2012 the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place,had forested buffers, wetlands,and other land types that could absorb and filter nutrients TERM 9 problem 1-3 DEFINITION 9 But with development the buffers were stripped away, and today the pollution flows unchallenged into the BayAs land use patterns change and the watersheds population grows the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that enter the bay every year increases tremendously TERM 10 problem 1-4 DEFINITION 10 Quoted from the Chesapeake Bay Foundations website as of 2014 , which was founded in 1967, and is the largest independent conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the Bay, Each year, roughly 300 million pounds of polluting nitrogen reaches the Chesapeake Bay...Water quality is so poor that the Chesapeake Bay is on the Environmental Protection Agency's "dirty waters" list. TERM 21 solution 1-3 DEFINITION 21 Streamside buffers are areas bordering stream banks that are not used to grow crops, but are instead planted with native trees, shrubs, or grasses.These buffers will filter and absorb runoff pollution like excess fertilizers, while also proving food and homes for wildlife . TERM 22 solution 1-4 DEFINITION 22 Streamside Fencing keeps livestock and their waste outside of streams or other forms of water sources.This will reduce pollution ,erosion, and the spread of waterborne diseases. TERM 23 solution 1-5 DEFINITION 23 NMP will help farmers know how much and when fertilizers should be used on crops.With this plan farmers can minimize fertilizer cost and reduce nutrient runoff into local waterways TERM 24 solution 1-6 DEFINITION 24 CBF states that Continuous no-till (also known as conservation tillage) reduces erosion and runoff by minimizing soil disturbances.This practice also builds the soils health and its ability to hold moisture. Traditional plowing and tilling, on the other hand, disturbs the soil, leaving it unprotected and allows more erosion to occur. TERM 25 solution 1-7 DEFINITION 25 Cover crops are planted to absorb any excess fertilizer left over in the fields after the main crop is harvested.They help reduce runoff and erosion, while actually enriching the soil with organic matter. TERM 26 soltion 2-1 DEFINITION 26 There are other solutions for the different nitrogen and phosphorus producersThis can be done just by upgrading stormwater systems and sewage treatment plants, using nitrogen removal technologies on septic systems, and decreasing fertilizer applications to lawns. TERM 27 solution 2-2 DEFINITION 27 Since almost 1/3 of the nitrogen pollution comes from the air, this can be reduced by conserving energy.This will result in fewer demands on power plants that emit nitrogen.And simply driving less will reduce vehicle emissions that also contribute to airborne nitrogen loads. TERM 28 oppositions 1 DEFINITION 28 Although this seems like a good cause that should have no backlash, there is of course some people who don't approve or like what the CBF is trying to accomplish. Efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay are being attacked by special interests with enormous political influence, and now by the attorneys general from 21 states. TERM 29 op-2 DEFINITION 29 The national agricultural and development industry groups that are working to derail pollution limits for the Bay includes- American Farm Bureau-Fertilizer Institute-National Pork Producers Counciland many more TERM 30 op-3 DEFINITION 30 Their main argument is , as stated by John Light a writer for Moyer & Company on November 17 2014, that would allow the EPA to usurp this traditional state authority over economic development and land-use management decisions.The legislators also said the suit would have a negative impact on bay states economies. TERM 31 op-4 DEFINITION 31 Even now these groups, organizations, and people continue to challenge the CBF and other like minded organizations every step of the way. TERM 32 transtion 3/ viz 1 DEFINITION 32 Now that we've looked at the possible solutions to the problems while also looking at the opposition, we can move on to what the future might holdThe Bay's fishing industry used to harvest tens of millions of bushels of oystersToday, harvests have fallen to less than one percent of historic levels TERM 33 viz 2 DEFINITION 33 With a decrease in pollutants, more fish and aquatic animals will be able to live in the Bay.This will have a direct positive relation to the economyIn which if theres more fish and sea life, there will have to be an increase in the fishing industry to catch and acquire the new explosion of sea life TERM 34 viz 3 DEFINITION 34 This will lead to a better quality for everyone who has some connection to the Bay.Not to mention there will be more and healthier version of the types food that could be harvested from the Bay, then there is now. TERM 35 viz-4 DEFINITION 35 The Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers, broadly recognized as a national treasure, will be highly productive and in good health as measured by established water quality standards.