The History of the Chesapeake Bay

This bay is the largest estuary in the United States. With its northern portion in Maryland and the southern part in Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay is a very important feature for the ecology and economy of those two states, as well as others within its watershed. More than 150 major rivers and streams flow into the Bay's 64,299-square-mile drainage basin, which covers parts of six states and all of Washington, D.C.
In 1524, Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, in service of the French crown, (famous for sailing through and naming the entrance to New York Bay as the "Verrazzano Narrows”) sailed past the Chesapeake but didn’t enter the Bay.
Captain John Smith was the first European-American to extensively explore and map the waters of the Chesapeake.
Unlike the murky summer waters in today's Chesapeake, the water during Smith's time was substantially clearer. Trees formed a thick, continuous canopy around the Bay’s shoreline, holding soil in place and absorbing rainfall from storms. Algae grew but did not overwhelm the Bay’s ecosystem as it does now. In the 17th century, the Bay constantly shifted with the rhythms of nature—a delicate yet dynamic balance.
Known for both its beauty and bounty, the Bay has become "emptier", with fewer crabs, oysters, and therefore fishermen since the mid-20th century. Nutrient pollution and urban runoff have been identified as major components of impaired water quality in the bay, stressing ecosystems and compounding the decline of shellfish due to overharvesting. Restoration efforts that began in the 1990s continue today and show potential for the growth of the native oyster population.
The health of the Chesapeake is improving with three years of gains over a four-year period, according to a 2016 report by the University of Maryland.
The Bay is famous for its rockfish, a regional name for striped bass.
Once on the verge of extinction, rockfish have made a significant comeback because of legislation that put a moratorium on rock fishing, allowing the species to re-populate. Rockfish can again be fished, albeit in strictly controlled and limited quantities.
The bay is experiencing other environmental concerns, including climate change which is causing sea level rise that erodes coastal areas and infrastructure and changes to the marine ecosystem. These changes have already changed the coastline, eroding islands and threatening local infrastructure and economies.
Today, groups like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation are working hard to save this National Treasure.

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