In the four centuries since the explorations of Captain John Smith, the Chesapeake Bay has lost half of its forested shoreline, more than half its wetlands, nearly 80 percent of its underwater grasses, and more than 98 percent of its oysters. Across the watershed, approximately 1.7 million acres of once-untouched land were developed by 1950. Development has accelerated dramatically since then, with an additional 2.7 million acres built on or paved over between 1950 and 1980.
The human pressure of these changes has imposed heavy negative impacts on the health and resilience of the Bay. Although we will never return to the pristine territory explored by Captain John Smith during those early voyages, CBF is fighting to return this fragile ecosystem to balance.
Find out more about our oyster restoration centers, other restoration programs and the issues CBF is working on in your part of the watershed or volunteer for one of our restoration projects.
From Our Blog
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Harry Lester: Use Nature-Based Solutions to Address Flooding
November 13, 2018
With his recent executive order, Gov. Ralph Northam wisely directed the commonwealth to prepare for the inevitable impacts of climate change.
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CBF’s Rain Garden Maintenance Specialist Brings Environmental Justice to a Harrisburg Neighborhood
October 17, 2018
Garden mud, rain, and rocks were Rafiyqa Muhammad's playground growing up in a south-Harrisburg, PA neighborhood. Today, she's back in that neighborhood, empowering the community through rain gardens and green infrastructure.
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This Week in the Watershed: An Oyster Revival
October 12, 2018
Before the Chesapeake was first explored by Captain John Smith in 1608, the Bay was known for its oysters. But the magnitude of the Bay's oyster population has dropped precipitously since the days when Smith wrote that oysters "lay thick as stones."
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Renowned Photographer James Balog Talks Climate Change and the Bay
October 11, 2018
For decades, photographer James Balog has focused on the relationship between people and nature. For his latest project, Balog traveled across the country to examine how people are altering the elements of life—from wildfires to air pollution to rising waters.
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This Week in the Watershed: Resisting Rollbacks
October 5, 2018
It was less than a generation ago that America was confronted with the consequences of the degradation of the environment.
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This Week in the Watershed: Living with a Smoker
September 28, 2018
Higher rates of asthma, increased chances of lung cancer, chronic bronchitis. These are just a few of the health impacts caused by the long-term breathing of fine particulate matter.
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