William & Mary’s Batten School of Coastal and Marine Sciences and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, as well as Anchor QEA, have released their 2024 Dead Zone Report Card detailing the volume and duration of hypoxic, or low-oxygen, conditions in the Chesapeake Bay. The annual report suggests this year’s dead zone was somewhat larger than the long-term average from 1985-2023 but had a slightly shorter duration. According to a VIMS release, dead zones are characterized by a volume of deep water with oxygen concentrations less than two milligrams per liter. At these dissolved oxygen levels, marine animals such as fish and blue crabs fail to thrive and can even die from lack of oxygen. The Chesapeake Bay experiences hypoxic conditions every year with primary drivers being nutrient inputs, wind and temperature. The size and extent of hypoxia within the estuary is tracked as a key indicator of bay health. “This year’s dead zone began in early May and reached its highest levels in ...