The Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay. . The Chesapeake Bay , About 35 million years ago a large meteor struck near what would eventually become the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. The meteor forever altered the surrounding area. , 10 to 2 million years ago, our planet went through multiple ice ages which caused a massive glacier to cover much of North America. The glacier expanded and contracted depending on how warm the planet was. , Roughly 18,000 years ago, the glaciers began to melt and retreat which created rivers and streams as the water made its way to the coast. , Climates began to warm and the landscape once dominated ever evergreen trees start to see hardwood species like hickory, maple, and oak appear. , Approximately 10,000 to 7,000 years ago, the glaciers continue to melt and flood many of the rivers of the Bay such as the Susquehanna, Potomac, and James. , As sea levels rose, the area now known as the Susquehanna River Valley was submerged which created the Chesapeake Bay. , Finally, about 2,000 years ago, The Chesapeake Bay assumed its modern day shape as seen in the picture to the left. , , Ecosystem of the Bay , The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in North America! An estuary is where one or more rivers or streams meet and flow into the open sea, creating a very diverse ecosystem. , The Chesapeake Bay's watershed spans 6 states and all of Washington, D.C., is 64,000 square miles, houses almost 18 million people, and supports over 3,600 species of plants and animals. , Protecting the Bay , The Chesapeake Bay has the largest land-to-water ratio of any coastal body of water, that's why our actions on land have such a big impact on the Bay's health. To protect such a valuable resource Maryland enacted the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area Protection Program in 1984. So, what is a Critical Area? , Critical Area is any land within 1000 feet of the tidal waters or tidal wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay. This means most of our park falls within this protected area! , Critical Area is important to the Bay's health because it promotes sensitive and limited land development in order to protect water quality and wildlife habitat. , Classifications of Critical Areas: Land Descriptions , Intensely Developed Area (IDA): Areas of 20 or more adjacent acres where residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial land uses predominate. Has very little natural habitat. , Limited Development Area (LDA): Areas characterized by low to moderate intensity development but also contain areas of plant and animal habitat. Impervious surfaces limited to 15% of site. , Resource Conservation Area (RCA): Areas of natural environments or areas where resource utilization activities are taking place like agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries activities and forestry.