Restoring the Bay makes environmental and economic sense
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This satellite image shows the Chesapeake Bay watershed in 1999. Del. Harvey B. Morgan (R-Middlesex) says much more needs to be done to preserve and protect this treasured asset. File photo, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
"Freely" became costly as algal blooms sucked oxygen from its waters, and toxins fostered disease and death to its inhabitants. Oysters, fish, clams, and crabs—once in abundance and the pride of our Chesapeake—decimated. The loss in oyster production alone exceeds $4 billion. Bay watermen declined in numbers from 14,000 to 1,500 in less than 10 years, and the crabbing industry lost 4,500 jobs between 1998 and 2006.
Still, even after decades of Bay degradation and pollution, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue Ribbon Finance Panel in 2004 estimated the annual economic value of the Bay watershed—including tourism, agriculture, forestry and fisheries—to be in excess of one trillion dollars per year.
Yet, while the public consistently has voiced support for restoring the Chesapeake Bay, political will has been lacking.
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