Chesapeake Bay and Watershed report card released by UMCES shows decline from 2024

MARYLAND – The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has released its 19th annual Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card, a comprehensive annual assessment of the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed.

Officials with UMCES say the Chesapeake Bay earned an overall grade of C (50%), with the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Health, including ecology, society, and economy indicators, scored C+ (57%). The overall Bay had a five point decrease from last year, and there were decreases in almost all indicator scores. Officials say one possible cause for the downturn was the extreme rainfall patterns and extreme heat. Parts of the watershed experienced drought, but brief yet intense downpours also caused runoff into the Bay waters.

We’re told the Bay continues to show long term improvement compared to past decades, with six regions trending upwards: the Elizabeth, James, Patapsco and Back Rivers, Upper Western Shore, Upper Bay, and Lower Bay. Additionally, most indicators are improving over time, such as dissolved oxygen, aquatic grasses, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen.

More on UMCES can be found here.