The Chesapeake Bay Resources Review

The Chesapeake Bay Resources Review

The Chesapeake Bay

The Bay is a large source for Maryland's natural resources. The Bay provides habitats for thousands of organisms on the land and in the water. It provides protection from erosion, floods, and storms for our communities as well economic benefits in the form of seafood, recreation, and tourism.

The Estuary

The Chesapeake Bay is one of the largest estuaries in the United States. An estuary is a place where water sources meet, mixing fresh and salt water together to create brackish water. Estuaries provide multiple different habitat for land and water organisms, protection against flooding, and support for economies.

The Watershed

The Chesapeake Bay has a large watershed that stretches from New York to Virginia. This means that activities in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia all impact the Chesapeake Bay. The health of the Bay is dependant on, and has an impact on, the health of the waterways surrounding it.

Oysters

Oysters are considered a keystone species, which means they play a critical role in maintaining the balance of the Bay ecosystem. Oysters clean and purify the Bay water, they help to control erosion, and their reefs create habitat. Small organisms live and hide in the oyster reefs. Larger organisms gather at the reefs to breed and hunt for food.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Oysters provided services to the Bay like filtering the water and creating habitat for organisms to live, breed, and hunt for food.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Choose the statements that are true about the Chesapeake Bay.

• The Bay is an estuary, one of the largest in the United States.

• The Bay is not impacted by stated other than Maryland

• The Bay provided economic benefits as a source for seafood, recreation, and tourism.

• The Bay protects communities from floods, erosion, and storms.

• Oysters are not an important part of the Bay ecosystem.

Multiple Select

Choose the states that are part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

• Maryland

• Virginia

• New Jersey

• New York

• Delaware