1. All about the…..Chesapeake Bay Watershed

2. About the Watershed….. • The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is the biggest of 130 estuaries in the U.S. and include the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. • The average depth of the watershed is 21 ft. • Is home to more than 3,600 species plants and animals. • Is occupied by 30 million people.

3. Say WHAT? • A WATERSHED is the area of land where all of the water is under it or drains off of it goes into the same place. I bet you’re wondering what estuary or watershed means….well let me explain… • An ESTUARY is a partly enclosed body of water where fresh water from the river meets ocean salt water and the 2 mix. FUN FACT:The Algonquian Indians named the watershed “Chesepioc” meaning the “Great Shellfish Bay”.

4. Animals in the watershed include blue crabs, oysters, striped bass, sharks, shrimp, snakes, frogs, turtles, ospreys, bald eagles, great blue herons, Canadian geese, and raccoons. Plants in the watershed include zooplankton, plankton, barnacles, sea squirts, and sponges. Animals and Plants The Chesapeake Bay Watershed supports a variety of species…..in fact over 3,600!

5. Pollution Unfortunately, pollution is a big problem in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed…….. • Before European settlement, the watershed was 95% forest. Today, only 65% is forest. • Today, much of the watershed is polluted with excess nutrients, toxic/chemical contamination, car pollution, fossil fuels, and garbage. • Another huge source of pollution is landscape changes.

6. Farmers and other people are helping the environment by making sure cows don’t go into streams and by making sure manure is cleaned up. Other people help by holding events to pick up litter. YOU can help by not polluting and asking other people to do the same. Remember, anything you throw on the ground can effect what will happen to this watershed….because you’re in it! How you can Help?

7. The End