Data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show an increasing volume of hypoxia—waters with less than 2 mg/l of oxygen—in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Maryland and Virginia from early to late June. No hypoxia was observed in May, marking a later start to low dissolved oxygen conditions than in recent years. This year was one of nine years with no monitored hypoxia in May during the past 41 years. Hypoxia increased from below average levels in early June to above average in late June following heavy rains in May and hot temperatures during June. Historically, heavy rainfall early in the year can precede greater levels of hypoxia–areas of water with low dissolved oxygen levels–due to rain runoff carrying excess nutrients into the Bay, which can contribute to algal blooms and reduce water clarity. Late June had the largest historical volume of hypoxia seen within Maryland for the time period of the monitoring program. Both June monitoring cruises showed a greater than average volume of anoxia – waters with less than 0.2 mg/l oxygen – with late June reaching triple the normal average. Summary results from combined Maryland and Virginia mainstem Bay monitoring cruises […]
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