Eroding the Chesapeake Bay | Teen Ink

Eroding the Chesapeake Bay

September 12, 2009
By 9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments

As more people move into the Chesapeake Bay watershed, development of new homes, roads, and businesses continues. We are choosing to move away from city centers and live in bigger houses on larger lots, causing wetlands, forests, and other valuable lands to be transformed into subdivisions, shopping centers, and parking lots-severely impacting the health of the Bay.

Development has been the largest cause of forestland clearing over the past 20 years. Where they used to cover 95% of the Bay watershed, forests now cover only 58%. Clear, exposed land is especially prone to erosion. The excess sediment clouds the water, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches Bay grasses. Without enough sunlight, these underwater grasses are not able to grow and provide habitats for young fish, blue crabs, and other important Bay life.

In the Bay watershed, river basins with the highest percentage of agricultural lands yield the highest overall amount of sediment annually, while basins with the highest percentage of forest cover yield the lowest amount of sediment. However, on a per-acre basis, construction sites contribute the most sediment of all land uses-as much as 10 to 20 times that of agricultural lands. As forests and wetlands are being destroyed to make room for roads and buildings, their ability to stabilize soils and the important habitat they offer are lost as well.

The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay depends on us citizens to do our part. To better understand the importance of studying the Bay, we need to be more involved. Maintaining a healthy lawn, planting gardens, and reseeding bare areas are all easy ways to conserve soil. By doing all we can to prevent erosion, we can not only save the Bay, but also conquer a challenge as a community.


The author's comments:
Hillay was inspired this piece when she became concerned about the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

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This article has 21 comments.


AHHH said...
on Mar. 17 2012 at 9:53 pm
omg me same!

on Mar. 29 2010 at 8:18 am
Oh_My_Buda SILVER, Parksburg, Pennsylvania
5 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
The only thing certain is uncertainty.

I use to go there during the summer but then it just changed.  We dont go there anymore but if it got cleaned up I would love to go back.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 30 2010 at 12:09 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
this inspires me

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 29 2010 at 12:43 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
nice job! :D :P :)

on Jan. 23 2010 at 10:18 am
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
lol yay virginians!

on Jan. 22 2010 at 12:45 pm
kindyxkandy BRONZE, Richmond, Virginia
3 articles 0 photos 31 comments

Favorite Quote:
"You have to suck before you get to success. It's about the journey."

Great Article, especially for those of us in Virginia :)

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:42 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
*high fives* spot on

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:42 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
i 100% agree...though the bay still is beautiful you can definitely tell the places where it is deteriorating.

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:41 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
thanks! and i agree

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:41 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
me too :-/

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:40 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
im so pleased it means something to you. I live in the bay watershed too, and it's something that is very vital to me.

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:39 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
love that you've read my other pieces ;]

on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:39 pm
9CatsPerLife101 PLATINUM, Fairfax, Virginia
20 articles 0 photos 96 comments
thanks! will do!

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 20 2010 at 6:18 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I think this is somethign really special.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 9:31 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
This is so important to me and it shoulkd be to everyone else!

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 6:51 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
i live somewhat near the chesapeake and let me tell you if ppl would stop polluting it, it would be amazign gorgeous beautiful and not just beatiful.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 19 2010 at 6:33 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
keep the bay healthy. in fact keep everything healthy. i appreciate your work.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 9:48 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
I hate erosion. ><

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 9:44 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
This means a lot to me since i live in the Chesapeake watershed and it's true the chesapeake is in horrible condition.

kellyisgr8 said...
on Jan. 7 2010 at 9:34 pm
kellyisgr8, Fairfax, Virginia
0 articles 0 photos 125 comments
Another gr8 work from you.