The Potomac Highlands Watershed School 

Stream Cleaner Environmental Forum 2006

Points of View & Thoughtful Questions - Chesapeake Bay Ecosystem

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AKS FOR ALL

mr.moore- 2nd block environmental science, hhs

Thursday, April 13, 2006

Kristin Sandra Angie The water resources of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers and the Chesapeake Bay’s Ecosystem are having an increase in nutrients and sediments. This in this case isn’t so good. All these places are receiving a high amount of pollution in various ways. This has been going on for some time now but needs to be dealt with, in so saving our Ecosystem and Environment. The District of Columbia and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency try to solve the problem. They have ‘Determined’ the key to the Bay’s health: reduce flow of nutrients, sediments, try to reduce current pollutant loads, restore (CLA) Cap Load Allocations levels by the year 2010, and also load reductions. In our rivers and such, 33% for nitrogen, 35% for phosphorus, and 6% for sediment is required of West Virginia between 2002 and 2010. WEST VIRGINIA POTOMAC TRIBUTARY STRATEGY STAKEHOLDER GROUP A document thought to reduce nutrients and sediment loads. It also minimizes economic and social burdens. Chapter 2, 3, and 4, provide background information on W.V. and use mathematical models to simulate change. These are changes in population, land use, or pollution management. Chapter 5 covers the model of particular importance to W.V. Potomac Tributary Strategy. CBWM This model estimates Bays different challenges in reducing its nutrient and sediment loads. Agriculture identified contributing largest amounts; Nitrogen (48%), Phosphorus (60%), and Sediment (70%) in West Virginia. Estimated that between 1985 and 2002, which is seventeen years, that nitrogen loads dropped 5%, phosphorus increased about 1%, and sediment decreased 17%. During the same period of time; agricultural sector reduced nitrogen 14% and phosphorus 6%. WATER What if there was no water? What if all the water was nasty (undrinkable) to all mankind? Would there be life? If there was no water or it went bad or something there would be no: plants, wildlife, or humans. NONE! All living things, from the tallest trees to the tiniest insects, all need water to survive. Next to air, water is the most important necessity. Humans can live without food for about……….Id say, several weeks, But we can only survive without water for a few days. Water makes up 70% of our bodies and controls body temperatures, helps digest foods, transport body wastes, take in oxygen and lubricate body joints. Why waste it? Why ruin what has control over our bodies? Water is our body. POINT SOURCE POLLUTION It comes from an easily identifiable source. Like factories and sewage plants. The flow of pollutants from point sources is regulated by the state and federal governments. It is fairly constant and predictable. Control measures can be applied at the source. NON-POINT POLLUTION These sources are hard to control and study, because they are everywhere. ( streets, parking lots, lawns, fields, barnyards, and construction sites. It is very hard to determine and is very unpredictable. Occur mostly when rain and snowmelt wash the surface of the land. LOCAL IMPACTS Pollutants generated in a watershed affect the people and environment in that watershed. Bacteria washed from the surface into the river can easily raise the bacteria levels in the river. STATEGYS (WVPTS) 1. Developed Implementation Strategies • For the point source, urban and mixed open, agriculture, and forestry sectors. 2. Urban and Mixed Open Strategy • Covers all urban, residential and rural areas that are not managed agricultural and forested lands. 3. Point Source Strategy • Recommendations to begin the process of characterizing the nutrient loading from point sources.(BMP’s) 4. Agricultural Strategy • Ask W.V agricultural community to continue implementation of a variety of best management practices (BMP’s)……………………………………………………………………………………………. and so on. I just want a healthy environment I want to go swimming in the creak, lake or ocean without worrying about getting sick or something like that. You know the estimated overall cost for W.V to achieve the Cap Load Allocations by 2010 is $873,546,759.


Thoughtful Questions

From: The Amazing Chesapeake Bay

I have finished reading what you have sent to me. I understand your point of view and wanted to let you know that I have not written my solutions, although I plan to get that accomplished and hopefully we can keep in touch.

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Boaters

Mr. Moore- Environmental Science, Hampshire High School

Thursday, April 13, 2006

We are a commercial boating company. We take groups of people out fishing in the bay. We represent the Boaters Of America. Water pollution has drasticly effected our industries prod- uctivity. As water pollution has increases the number of fish decrease. The male bass fish are now carrying female eggs. The mirky waters and trash floating in the bay doesn't attract customers. What is going to be done about this?


Thoughtful Questions

From: Awsome Ecosystem

Your idea that something needs to be done is correct, but you should offer some ideas of how to fix the problem, instead of just complaining. You should consider adding more information to back up your claims.

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1st Block

Dea, Kyrstin, Heather, Rebecca, Erica, & Nikki

Mr. Moore- 1st Block, Hampshire High School

Thursday, April 13, 2006

The Ecosystem of the Bay The cleanliness of the water is important to us because the water is what provides us with oxygen. The silt and sediment that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay clouds the water, keeping this sunlight from the plant life at the bottom of the Bay. Too much sediment will fertilize the algae and we will die. As we decompose, oxygen is removed from the water. The silt chokes us, keeping oxygen from our lungs. We are directly affected by the decisions of human kind and by the pollution of the Bay. We should have some input because of this. We are the ones that die for human kind’s mistakes.


Thoughtful Questions

From: Awsome Ecosystem

After reading your forum, I thought that it would be interesting to ask you what your references were. I'm not sure that all of your information is correct. Your forum contained some good ideas, but it could use some better information.

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Awsome Ecosystem

Doc. Harman- Biology, Petersburg High

Monday, April 24, 2006

Brooke Hinkle Chesapeake Bay Clean Up Along the eastern coast of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay stretches for two hundred miles, from Maryland to Virginia. It holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water and supports more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals. Now the Chesapeake, along with everything in and around it, is in danger. The bay has been acquiring pollution build up for a long time. Everything we do on the land – including the use of automobiles, fertilizers, pesticides, toilets, water, and electricity - affects the streams, the rivers, and the Bay. There are about 150 major rivers and streams that run into the Chesapeake drainage basin. It is out job to keep these rivers and streams clean, so that we don’t lose the bay forever. (1) I represent the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The accumulated pollution has severely damaged the ecosystem. The Potomac River alone dumps 4.75 million pounds of Nitrogen and .37 million pounds of Phosphorus every year. Sediment is also eroded into the streams at .32 tons per year. Air pollution can contaminate and kill wildlife. One of the worst effects is that these animals carry the toxins up the food change, eventually to humans. (2) How can we save the Chesapeake Bay? Many have asked this vary question. The answer can become very complex as the views of many people are considered. The number one source of nitrogen pollution to the Bay comes from agricultural runoff. This alone contributes 40 percent of the nitrogen and 50 percent of the phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, it will take a great deal of money to reduce pollution. The taxes of people living in the bay region could be raised in order to fund better fertilizes and to place sediment ponds on farms. Another idea that we should consider is the protection of natural filters. Finally, we can conserve energy. This conservation will reduce the demands on power companies’ that emit nitrogen. Farmers can help greatly by putting grass and tree buffers around their fields and pastures. They can also use the cover crop method. Everyone can work together to save the Chesapeake Bay. In time, we just might be able to restore what has been so badly damaged. (3) Resources (1) http://www.chesapeakebay.net/about.htm (2) http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baybio.htm (3) http://www.chesapeakebay.net/baybio.htm


Thoughtful Questions

From: AKS for all

You all put a really good emphaisis on how badly the ecosystem should be fixed, but, I wonder---how? Some actions that should be taken should be included in your POV. It was very factful, though.

 

From: Boaters

We agree with most of the facts you have presented, But there are a few problems that we think should be addressed. “Air pollution can contaminate and kill wildlife.” I’ll have you know air pollution is also killing human beings, I believe the air pollution is the least of our worries right now. “The taxes of people living in the bay region could be raised in order to fund better fertilizes and to place sediment ponds on farms.” Yeah, raise the taxes, I bet that will go over well once your paying those taxes. “Another idea that we should consider is the protection of natural filters.” Finally, a good idea, though how are we to go about saving them? “We can conserve energy. This conservation will reduce the demands on power companies’ that emit nitrogen.” We have been trying to save energy for ages to stop oil depletion. It would be rather hard to get people to try to prevent a little nitrogen from entering the streams “Farmers can help greatly by putting grass and tree buffers around their fields and pastures.” Good idea, but I don’t believe farmers will spend their own money to fix something that doesn’t concern them yet. “Everyone can work together to save the Chesapeake Bay. In time, we just might be able to restore what has been so badly damaged.” Right, but how would we get everyone to work with us? Who even knows about the problems of the bay? We had no idea until we started this assignment. Maybe the first step should be to raise awareness of the problems in how it will effect the population in their everyday lives. Oh and by the way “Awsome” is spelled Awesome


 

From: chesapeake bay lovers

How do you feel about people polluting the whole entire bay?

I have read what you wrote you have good advice but what about the sollutions?

I have read what you wrote and it was very intersting but what about a sollution to the pollution problem??

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The Amazing Chesapeake Bay

Dr. Sharon Harman- Biology , 4th block, Petersburg High School

Monday, April 24, 2006

The Amazing Chesapeake Bay CHESAPEAKE BAY ECOSYSTEM 1 The Chesapeake Bay developed from natural occurrences during the last Ice Age. Around 9000 B.C., melting glaciers filled in the Susquehanna Valley, and about 7000 years later, the Bay assumed its current shape. All along, Native Americans lived in the Bay region, beginning agricultural practices around 1000 B.C. 2 The Chesapeake Bay receives about half of its water volume from the Atlantic Ocean. The bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water. Water also enters the Bay through underground waterways. The Bay itself is rivers, wetlands and trees and land which all provide homes, protection and food for complex groups of species. The Bay is The Bay's width range from 3.4 miles to 35 miles near the mouth of the Potomac River. Overall the Bay is about 200 miles long. There are also many kinds of pollutants that can cause an ecosystem to go downhill. 3 Typically, air pollution is thought of as smog that affects people's health, reduces visibility, and obscures majestic vistas in national parks. But, over time, it has become clear that air pollution also contributes to land and water pollution, which affects the health of the Chesapeake Bay's valuable living resources - its fish, shellfish, and other animals. Over the last thirty years, research has provided us with more knowledge on how air pollution can directly affect the Bay. This is just one type of pollution. Can you imagine what other pollutants are effecting the ecosystem right now? I represent the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. I feel that this large area of about 200 miles is being polluted. The increased pollution of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment caused frequent algal blooms and significantly decreased water clarity that, in turn, caused difficult growing conditions for underwater grasses. The sediment also smothered habitat for oysters, clams, mussels, worms, and other bottom dwellers that form the base of the Bay’s food web. Nearly all of the Bay’s aquatic life, from worms and crabs to perch, spot, and striped bass, depend on oxygen to survive. This dead zone took away much of their natural summertime habitat in the cooler deep waters of the Bay.


Thoughtful Questions

From: Agriculturists

We have provided a solution that we could possibly create. If you read thoroughly we said that we could maybe come up with a better fertilizer. may i ask which entry is yours then i can ask you a question.

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 Final Ecosystem

mr. moore- env. science, hampshire

Friday, April 28, 2006

Our group thinks that the ecosystem should be looked at more closely because if affects everything like oysters, birds, fish, crabs, and all other kinds of sea/land creatures. The contamantated water affects all kinds of creatures. The creatures drink the water, then other animals eat them. Then the population goes down alot. Some of those animals could even go extinct. Not only does it affect animals, it also affects humans because humans drink the water or eat the the fish that comes out of the affected ecosystem. The farmers are some of the problems of the contamanation of the water, and etc.


Thoughtful Questions

 

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