Managing Sediments in the Chesapeake Bay

Managing Sediments in the Chesapeake Bay. . In 1988 the Virginia General Assembly enacted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act to implement effective conservation planning and pollution prevention practices when developing environmentally sensitive lands. At the heart of the Bay Act is the concept that land can be used and developed in ways that minimize negative impacts on water quality., Throughout Virginia, stormwater runoff can carry excessive nutrients, toxic chemicals and eroded sediments into the creeks and rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay. Here in Norfolk, eroded sediments from development sites are a common cause of decreased water quality, diminished light penetration for plant growth and reduced navigable channel depths. Proper stormwater management minimizes the accelerated erosion that causes these problems, thereby maintaining water quality and preserving the natural habitat of our shellfish, wading birds, marine animals, wetlands and submerged grasses., Plum Point was formerly a field of grass with an eroding shoreline and a limited fringe of trees. New wetlands and an enhanced resource protection buffer of native trees, shrubs and perennials have not only added to the park's natural beauty, but have also helped to minimize the effects of erosion and sedimentation in the Elizabeth River, and ultimately in the Chesapeake Bay., Image Captions:, Many storm drains transport runoff directly into streams and rivers and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay., Plum Point's improved Resource Protection Area and wetlands slow, dilute and filter sediments from stormwater runoff., Turbid water from storm drains carries sedimentation, which has a negative impact on water quality in Hampton Roads.