Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Joe Ball , Baltimore , Maryland — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:01:00 GMT

I blame the Bay situation on the govenor of Maryland he shows no regards to making it cleaner. He just makes occasional " photo shots" using old back ground pictures to state what work he is doing. all of this is False he lies about everything

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

DGus — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:02:20 GMT

Praise God!!! This issue is of vital importance to the whole eastern US. It's about time the Chesapeake Bay clean-up was given attention by the President.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Charlie - Inninois — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:46:23 GMT

I'm sorry to post something having nothing to do with your blog entry... but I just wanted to send a quick comment to NBC News: PLEASE don't report ANYTHING about Jon and Kate on tonight's broadcast. Our nation has suffered enough listening to "news" about their disfunctions.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Gregory — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:34:56 GMT

YOU KNOW WHAT WE CAN'T ASK IF WE CAN SAVE IT. IT NEEDS SAVED. WE HAVE TO DO IT AT ANY COST. BECAUSE AT THE END WE HUMAN'S ARE THE ONE THAT WILL SUFFER THE MOST. WE WILL SUFFER THE WORST.... NO DOUBT...

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

John Dough, USA — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:53:22 GMT

Please do a series of articles on the destruction of borderlands being inflicted by illegal aliens as they enter our nation. Thousands and thousands of pounds of trash and discarded belongings are choking the environment there.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Catin Morgan — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:02:44 GMT

Hope this goes well. The bay is the lifeline of the mid-atlantic and its in much wose shape then they let on. I have been in these waters for 55 yrs. the lasr 10 yrs have been the hardest the rampent construction in maryland /pa has caused so much runoff we lost 3 ft of depth in the last 10 yrs (sediment) and the nitrogen wash (farm and lawn chemicals) are causing huge loss of o2 and blloms that are devestating the crab/oyster/fish population of the bay. SO you all know the bay only has 6% of its previous product. YES 6%

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Mike Moore Green Cove Springs FLa — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 20:38:50 GMT

Install Lectra San systems on all boats People with holding tanks pump them when they are full not necessarily into pumpout systems and many places like the Bahamas and the islands have no pumpout so having lectra sans would protect them too.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

JEB, Columbus, Ohio — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:04:21 GMT

What a great article...relatively speaking that is. I recently saw a two-hour Frontline on PBS that focused on the Chesapeake Bay and the physical degradation it has undergone. I think there are a multitude of issues that are contributing to the degradation...uncontrolled livestock runoff to name one. I say regulating, or increasing regulations on livestock runoff should be a major player in cleaning up the Chesapeake. We are starting to have the same issues here in Ohio with inland waters becoming largely 'dead' and 'over productive' with algae and other such oxgen depleting organisms. This will not solve all of the issues in the Chesapeake, but it will be a start.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Robert, NC, Jacksonville — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:48:15 GMT

about time, I lived in the Chesapeake area for s while and i loved it,I would like to return some day. but i knew from a very young age that the Bay was in trouble. Obama has a buffet of issues on his plate and he's handled most of them as well as can be expected. Not all, But most.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Lou PGH — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:28:43 GMT

Twenty five years of agencies, committees and consultants with their hands out. How many billions were spent by these geniuses to give us a bay that's worse off than it was in the 1980's? You can't tell me somebody didn't realize half way into whatever they were doing that things weren't working. Nobody thought to stop wasting money and try something else? Everyone involved so far should have to give back ALL the money they collected and then make restitution for the environmental disaster they perpetuated. Jail would be a nice place too because this is criminal!

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Poisoned for profit - Midland, MI — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:28:23 GMT

Now if only they'd force Dow Chemical to clean up their toxic mess in Midland/Saginaw and Bay City Michigan.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

ms. doe, MD — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:27:27 GMT

As a planner for one of the local governments that is upstream from the bay, I can tell you with certainty that what needs to be done to reduce the nutrient load in the bay will be politically very unpopular, because it would require really making developers act responsibly on the land. The Maryland Homebuilders Association is extremely strong -- probably one of the strongest in the Country -- and every developer gives to every elected official. So bend a regulation here, stretch a regulation there, add an economic crisis where media is tied to the new home sales numbers as a major predictor to recovery, and agency employees who are afraid to highlight the decisions of their superiors that are contradictory to environmental law for fear of reprisal...and we have the bay getting worse, not better. Much of the development in some jurisdictions are approved purely administratively -- no public oversight! It's not the agencies spending money for the hell of it, it is lots of people trying to do the right thing and abide with what the legislatures tell them to do, but it all contradicts. It's a sad state of affairs, and its sad because many of us what to help the situation, but the hands are tied...tied by elected officicals from both sides of the spectrum, no matter how "green" they claim or appear to be!

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Patrick, Dover, De — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:18:12 GMT

DuPont destroyed the Delaware river, too!

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

toxic mine drainage — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:38:03 GMT

Let's not forget about the mines that drain MILLIONS of gallons of toxic water EVERYDAY DAY into the streams that feed the bay. Farm management is small when compared to the impact mine's acid run off has. How about the coal companies? History has shown they are immune to any law and has just recently shown that immunity again. When will the lobbyists who blind our politicians to the destruction their companies cause be kicked out of DC? Why does money talk more than a dead bay? A dead coast? A dead world?

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

SGC — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:43:03 GMT

I once knew an elderly lady who grew up in Philadelphia during the early part of the 1900's. She said she remembered being on the Bay and that the water was crystal clear; she could see to the bottom! And I sailed there alot in 1970's thru early 1990's...the water was always Army green...The Bay truly is a national treasure and surely hope it can be saved, even if we start anew now.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Holly Larcey, Catawba Island on Lake Erie, Ohio — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:14:11 GMT

Lake Erie used to be a toxic polluted mess. Now, it is crystal clear and CLEAN. The Chesapeake Bay can be turned around too. NO EXCUSES! Make the change a positive one for industry, business, tourism and all the lives underwater as well as the surrounding area.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Johny Docko, Norfolk, VA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:13 GMT

IT'S ABOUT TIME A PRESIDENT LOOKS TO BETTER OUR OWN LAND INSTEAD OF LAND IN WHICH WE DO NOT CONTROL. THE BAY HAS BEEN BEGGING FOR THIS! DON'T STOP HERE OBAMA, THERE'S SIMILAR PLACES ALL AROUND OUR COUNTRY IN THE SAME OR EVEN WORSE CONDITION. MONEY SPENT THAT'S ACTUALLY WORTH SPENDING.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Richard Hilliard, Glen Allen, VA — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:29:29 GMT

A few weeks ago as I was kayaking on the Chesapeake, I sat and watched a lawn service spray fertilizer/weed killer on a golf-course-perfect lawn within 50 feet of the Bay. Yes, it's going to take some unpopular, politically risky changes to save the Bay. But, if we don't start making progress soon I'm afraid it's going to be too late.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

RDC, Madison AL — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:38:40 GMT

I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay over 60 years ago. I fished the bay and it tributaries for many years before moving from the area. I return frequently to the Bay area.
Not many years ago there were limited residential and commercial industries on the Bay. Over the ensuing years this has changed dramatically and the shore lines are filled with high density habitats. The run off off of agricultural pesticides and fertilizers along with chemical waste from factories and debre from recreational users has lead to the current deplorable state. The Bay is worth saving at any cost but will require a herculean effort to do so by all parties. I sincerely hope it happens.

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Troy C. Glen Burnie, MD — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:01:17 GMT

I grew up a few minutes from the bay. I love that area of the country. Most of the polution seems to come from PA. Where they do not feel the effects of pultuion as much as the people of Maryland and Virgina do. The life blood of MD is the bay. It is one of the first things people think of when they think of Maryland. Please save the bay. I wold rather spend billions on it then on companies that can not manage their finances!

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Ben Schwartz, Hurleyville, NY. 12747 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:00:31 GMT

Dear Fellow Americans,

70 years ago the bay was a four hour trip from Washington D.C. ( no Bay Bridge) and was the summer place for Washington Elite.Ironically all the senators,presidents, and congressmen can't put humpty dumpty together again.

sadly Ben

Saving the Chesapeake Bay

Paul, Norwalk, CT — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:45:25 GMT

Long Island Sound is an example of what can be done. I've sailed it for 40 years and have seen the waters go from a hull-staining sludge brown to relatively clear and clean. Bow waves and wakes are now sparkly white. There's more to do and it needs to be constantly monitored, but it shows that it can be done. Not overnight, but with the right effort it's possible. Hope to live long enough to see it happen.