Chesapeake Bay Journal

After a yearlong re-examination of regional nutrient reduction efforts, it is clear that progress has been made in reducing the amounts of phosphorus and nitrogen entering the Chesapeake-long the centerpiece of the Bay restoration effort.

At the same time, it appears the Bay states will fall short of their nitrogen reduction goal set for the year 2000. Just how short depends on the answer to a question: What is the goal? It can be interpreted two different ways.

Regardless of the answer to that question, many wonder whether either option will achieve the goal of the 1987 Bay Agreement, which is to "provide for the restoration and protection of the living resources, their habitats and ecological relationships."

"Ultimately, we need to reduce the input of the nutrients to optimize the health of the Bay," said Keith Gentzler, associate director for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Office for River Basin Cooperation.

Coastal Creeps: These are some of the organisms responsible for harmful algae blooms in U.S. coastal waters:

They're here!: While stories of a fish-killing, human-sickening phytoplankton that lives in the Bay have dominated news about the Chesapeake lately, the fact that such organisms live here is hardly news at all.

American Heritage Rivers seeking nominations: Declaring rivers "the lifeblood of our nations," President Clinton launched an effort in September to designate 10 waterways as American Heritage Rivers that will get extra federal attention.

Report outlines harmful impacts of NOx emissions: From acid rain and global warming to hazy skies and cloudy waters, there is one form of pollutant that shares at least some of the blame: nitrogen oxides.

NOx in the Air: Multiple Effects: The emission of nitrogen oxides into the air can contribute to a wide range of human health and environmental impacts. Its contribution to some problems are better understood than others.Those identified as being of concern in a recent EPA report include:

Pfiesteria Facts: Facts about Pfiesteria piscicida:

Scientists closing in on causes of pfiesteria outbreaks: Scientists may be moving closer toward understanding the conditions that triggered the microbe Pfiesteria piscicida to turn deadly in the Pocomoke River, killing thousands of fish this summer.

Declaration for Our Rivers: The rivers, streams and creeks of the Chesapeake Bay watershed are the lifeblood of our region. Their condition determines the health of the Bay, affects the quality of human life and strengthens the economy of the region. We believe that we must learn to view rivers and watersheds as the central features in our landscape rather than as political boundaries and we must organize our efforts to manage human activities along watershed lines. In the past decade, promises have been made to protect, restore and enhance water quality and the abundance and diversity of living things and to improve the decision-making processes that allowed our rivers and creeks, and the communities they support, to degrade.

Draft recovery plan completed for shortnose sturgeon: The endangered shortnose sturgeon, which has been reported sporadically in the Chesapeake Bay for more than a century, may finally be on the road to recovery.

Six states unite in effort to combat pfiesteria: Amidst warnings that a tiny, fish-killing microbe is the "canary in the coal mine" warning about problems in the Bay and nearby coastal areas, governors from six states have agreed to act together in combating future outbreaks of pfiesteria.

Groups furious over EPA ruling on airborne water pollution: In a finding that angered environmental groups, the EPA has determined that no additional specific actions are warranted at this time to protect the nation's water bodies, including the Chesapeake Bay, from air pollution.

Watershed groups unite to save rivers, Bay: Watershed groups throughout the Chesapeake drainage are calling on the Chesapeake Executive Council to reaffirm its commitment to meeting nutrient reduction goals in a timely manner and to provide adequate support for river protection and restoration efforts.