The Susquehanna River in Harrisburg as seen on Aug. 19, 2019. The river is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.
Ian Sterling for WITF
Smart Talk: How healthy is the Chesapeake Bay?
The State of the Bay report is out and the news isn't good
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Merideth Bucher
Ian Sterling for WITF
The Susquehanna River in Harrisburg as seen on Aug. 19, 2019. The river is the largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.
Listen to Smart Talk every weekday at 9am and 7pm on WITF 89.5 & 93.3. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to “Play WITF Radio.”
The Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including the Susquehanna, are recognized as a national treasure. The Bay watershed is vast, spanning more than 64 thousand square miles and covering parts of six states and the District of Columbia.
The Bay itself is the third largest estuary in the world and impacted by everything that happens along its tributaries and coastline. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation tracks the health of the Bay by monitoring key indicators and this year’s report is not favorable. Of the 13 indicators, four showed declines since the last report, earning an overall grade of D plus.
Will Baker is the President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and will join Smart Talk Thursday with Harry Campbell, the CBF Science Policy and Advocacy Director in Pennsylvania.
There was information broadcast today in response to a listeners question regarding livestock fencing. A clarification follows: The Chesapeake Bay Foundation clarifies the answer to a question about streambank fencing in that, “It is not illegal to install livestock exclusion fencing in Pennsylvania. In fact, many do. What the Clean Streams Law says is that no state government agency can create a regulation requiring it.”
Susquehanna River Basin Commission marks 50 years
The Susquehanna River Basin Commission is celebrating 50 years and making plans for the next 50.
The Susquehanna River Basin Compact was adopted by the Federal Government and river states fifty years ago to lead preservation efforts along with river. Some of their tasks include mitigating the potential for flood damage, monitoring development along the river and protecting habitat. How well have they done?
Andrew D. Dehoff, is the Executive Director of the Commission and he’ll join Smart Talk to highlight their accomplishments and plans for protecting the waterway in the future.
