EPA903-F-03-OOI
CBP/TRS 266/03
March 2003
THE
CHESAPEAKE
BAY PROGRAM
Leading the
Restoration of the
Bay and its Rivers
Chesapeake Bay Program
A Watershed Partnership
www.chesapeakebay.net
800-YOUR-BAY
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The
Chesapeake Bay
Ihe Chesapeake Bay is the largest
cstuarv in North America. More
j
than 100,000 creeks, streams
and rivers in parts of Maryland,
Virginia, Pennsylvania, \\''est
Virginia, New York, Delaware
and the District ot Columbia
eventually drain into the Bay.
The Chesapeake and its rivers
have been an important part in
the regions culture, economy
and history. And today, the Bay
remains an important recreation.il
and economic resource lor the
region.
The Chesapeake
Bay Program
has become
a model for
other estuarine
restoration
programs
The Chesapeake Bay
watershed covers
64,000 square miles in
parts of six states and the
District of Columbia.
Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Watershed
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What is the
Chesapeake Bay Program?
The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique, regional
partnership leading and directing the protection and
restoration of the Bay. Formed in 1^83, ihe Bay Program
coordinates efforts among the states of Maryland,
Virginia, and Pennsylvania; the District of Columbia;
the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a iri-state legislative
body; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
which represents the federal government. I he partnership
welcomed Delaware, New York and West Virginia as
"headwaters partners" in 2002 to better coordinate
efforts in all parts of the watershed.
The Bay Program works on a watershedwide level with
researchers, policymakers and resource managers from
universities, conservation organizations, business and
industry, and local, state and federal governments to
implement programs to insure the future health and
sustainability of the Bay. As a result, the Chesapeake Bay
Program has become a model for other estuarine restora-
tion programs across the nation and throughout ihe
world. A great deal of the Programs success is due to its
emphasis on reaching across state boundaries to coopera-
tively develop restoration programs aimed at improving
the entire Bay watershed.
What's the Bay Program's plan for
bringing back the Bay?
In the most recent Bay protection and restoration agree-
ment, Chesapeake2000, Bay Program partners outlined
some 100 commitments that will guide Bay restoration
well into the 21st century. Chesapeake2000 aims to
protect and restore the Bay and its rivers by addressing
five key areas:
protecting living resources
" restoring vital habitat
" improving water quality
encouraging sound land use
expanding community stewardship.
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BOOKMARK THE BAY!
Are you fishing for Chesapeake Bay
information on the
internet?
Bookmark the Chesapeake Bay Program website at
www.chesapeakebay.net for the latest news and
information on the Bay and its restoration.
www.chesapeakebay.net is the most thorough and
informative website about ( 'hesapeake Bay.
You can learn about:
* Bay Facts and History
Chesapeake Bay Plants and Animals
Chesapeake Bay Habit.us
Chesapeake Bay Water Quality
Chesapeake Land and People
Bay Restoration
Bay Pollutants
Local Watershed Issues
* How to Get Involved in Improving
Local Water Quality
www.chesapeakebay.net makes learning
about the Bay fun and easy by allowing visitors
to browse the site according to their interests.
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0
The site is specifically
tailored to:
Citizens
Teachers
Students
Watershed
Organizations
Businesses
* .
Xocat Governments
Scientists
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Are you
fishing for
Chesapeake Bay
information on
the internet?
Be sure to visit the
Chesapeake Bay Program
website, your up-to-date
source of news and
information about the Bay
and its restoration.
www.chesapeakebay.net
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BAY FACTS
More than 3,600 species of plants and
animals call the Chesapeake Bay
watershed home.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest
estuary in North America and one of
the most productive in the world.
The Bay's drainage basin covers
64,000 square miles, including parts
of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
New York, West Virginia and Delaware
plus all of the District of Columbia.
* Everyone in the watershed lives just a
few minutes from one of the 100,000
streams and rivers that feed into the Bay.
* The biggest problem facing the Bay is
nutrient pollution. When too much
nitrogen and phosphorus flow into the
Bay, the entire ecosystem can be thrown
out of balance. Nutrients enter the Bay in
many ways, including runoff from farm
fields, suburban lawns and storm drains,
and the discharge from wastewater
treatment facilities.
Excess nutrients cause algal blooms
which block sunlight needed by Bay
grasses to grow. And, as algae die and
decompose, they deplete oxygen
needed by the fish, crabs and oysters
that live in the Bay.
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What can I do to help
the Chesapeake Bay?
Minimize your impacts on the land and
waterways around you. With nearly
16 million people living on the land that
drains into the Bay, each person's individual
actions have an impact on the quality of
their local waters and the Bay. By simply
changing a few activities we do everyday,
each one of us can help keep our local
waters clean. As a start, drive fewer miles,
recycle, or use less water.
Join your local community watershed
organization. Throughout the watershed,
hundreds of local groups are doing their
part to improve local waters . . . give them
a hand! Visit the Bay Program website for a
listing of organizations in your part of the
watershed.
Learn more about Bay issues. Call the Bay
Program at 800-YOUR-BAY or e-mail us at
bayinfo@chesapeakebay.net for more infor-
mation about the Bay and its restoration.
Chesapeake Bay Program
A Watershrd Partnership
Chesapeake Bay Program
410 Severn Avenue Suite 109
Annapolis, MD 21403
www.chesapeakebay.net
800-YOUR-BAY
Cover photoM.E. Warren
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