CHESAPEAKE BAY - A model from the Chesapeake Bay Program shows a decrease in water quality for the Chesapeake Bay.
According to the program, there is a decrease in nitrogen pollution and an increase in phosphorus pollution entering the Bay.
An estimated 28.1 percent of the Bay and its tidal tributaries met water quality standards attainment during the 2019 to 2021 assessment period, according to the program. That score is slightly lower than the previous assessment period between 2018 and 2020 when Bay water quality standards attainment was estimated to be 28.9 percent.
The program says that experts believe the water quality is still recovering from the impacts of unusually wet weather in 2018 and 2019. They say that increased rainfall resulted in more nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollutants flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.
The estimated water quality standards attainment of 28.1 percent is far below the 100 percent attainment necessary to fully support survival, growth and reproduction of the Bay’s living resources.
The program says that tracking this data is helping to improve overall water quality and restore habitats for many of the region's living resources.