big picture stuff

Question 1

current health of the bay

Answer 1

High nutrient loadings
High nutrient water column concentrations
Large volumes of anoxic and hypoxic waters
Declining populations of finfish and shellfish
Some tributaries document to have lower nutrient loads
Some tributaries documented to have higher loads
Anoxic zone volume’s vary by year and decade

Question 2

causes of the state of the bay

Answer 2

Diet too much of good things
Overharvesting
Climate change
Population growth
Land use change – impervious surfaces
Inconsistent and unequal regulation and
enforcement

Question 3

excuses for why

Answer 3

Some modeled NPS load reductions have not occurred
Some NPDES permitted dischargers have not met permit
Impervious surface cover has increased significantly
Climate change has caused more runoff and higher
temperatures
Must understand the role of ecosystem resiliency

Question 4

What has stalled the restoration

Answer 4

Competing priorities
Economy
Covid
Crime
Education
Climate change
Scientific uncertainty