UMCES’s flagship Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card, developed in collaboration with local stakeholders, is a proven tool for measuring the latest available data and communicating social, environmental, and economic health to inspire action. The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) released its 19th annual Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card, the most comprehensive annual assessment of the Chesapeake Bay and its Watershed. The overall Chesapeake Bay earned a grade of C (50%). The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Health, which includes ecology, society, and economy indicators, scored C+ (57%). As 2025 marks a critical deadline for Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, this year’s report card provides essential data and trends analysis to assess progress. The report card informs leaders and policymakers as they chart the strategy for the next phase of restoration and conservation goal setting. The overall Bay score had a five-point decrease from last year and there were decreases in almost all indicator scores. One possible cause for last year’s downturn was the extreme rainfall patterns and extreme heat. While parts of the watershed experienced drought, brief but intense downpours also caused runoff into Bay waters. “The Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card has become a flagship reference […]
The post UMCES’s Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card Shows Declined Health from 2024, Presents Long-Term Improvement appeared first on Southern Maryland News Net.
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