Chesapeake Bay Program

10/20/2026

Agnes. Irene. Lee. All tropical storms and hurricanes that flooded the Chesapeake Bay region and rocked its ecosystem.

Heavy rains wash massive amounts of pollution into the Bay, depleting oxygen levels and destroying habitat.

Decades of Chesapeake Bay Program data show just how severely these storms degrade water quality—sometimes derailing years of progress in just a few days.

How tropical storms and multi-year droughts have affected water quality scores

10/16/2026

Recent research shows that the Chesapeake logperch has rebounded in the Susquehanna River basin—keeping the rare fish off the Endangered Species List.

The recovery marks a major milestone for state and federal conservation partners who have spent years restoring habitat, breeding the species in captivity, and reintroducing it into native waters.

Populations of a small darter species found only in the lower Susquehanna River have rebounded enough not to warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act, according to a federal review

10/15/2026

A new report from Maryland DNR shows that the state has met numerous goals related to oyster sanctuaries, oyster harvesting, and aquaculture (or oyster farming).

Oyster populations in Maryland waters have more than tripled from 2005 to 2023. The state also met its goal of restoring oyster habitat in five major tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

The following is a press release from The Maryland Department Of Natural Resources MARYLAND — (October 2, 2026) A new Maryland Department of Natural Resources report details the significant growth of the oyster population and substantial progress toward the state’s oyster management goals for th...

10/10/2026

For each tern, a perch along the water on Smith Island.

Terns visit the Chesapeake Bay region in late spring to begin nesting and breeding. They typically migrate away from the region starting in the fall.

Smith Island is one of a handful of islands on the Chesapeake Bay that make for great resting spots for the birds.

Md., on Oct. 28, 2014. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

10/08/2026

Chesapeake forests are starting to change color—but what actually causes this shift in appearance? 🍁

As the weather cools, a tree's growing season comes to an end. During this time, trees cut off the flow of nutrients to their leaves, and disappearing chlorophyll reveals yellow pigments called xanthophylls as well as orange pigments called carotenoids.

Those pigments are actually inside the leaf year-round. The striking red and purple colors you see, known as anthocyanins, are produced only in fall.

(Photos by Chesapeake Bay Program/Will Parson)

10/06/2026

Happy National Seafood Month! 🦀

We all know Chesapeake Bay blue crabs are delicious, but what makes them so tasty?

One factor is that they spend the colder months burrowed under the Bay floor. To prepare, the crab goes on a eating spree and builds up fat reserves.

This causes their meat to be denser, sweeter, and more flavorful compared to crabs living in warmer waters further south.

Would you agree?

10/05/2026

Now's the time to keep an eye out for waterfowl like the Bufflehead as they migrate to the Chesapeake Bay.

Buffleheads are energetic ducks that dive underwater for their food.

You can find them on open waters and adjacent wetlands of the Bay and its tidal rivers.

(Photo courtesy of brian stahls/iNaturalist)

10/03/2026

The Purple Pitcher Plant is a killing machine—about 1% of the time.

This carnivorous plant has pitcher-shaped leaves that fill with rainwater and drown insects caught inside. Downward-pointing hairs inside the leaves keep the prey from climbing back out.

Instead of digesting the prey itself, the plant relies on a tiny aquatic ecosystem of bacteria and larvae living inside the pitcher to break down the insects so it can absorb their nutrients.

However, only a very small number of visiting insects are actually caught inside the plant. The rest live to tell the tale of this murderous plant.

(Photos by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)

09/30/2026

Once a vital railroad line during the Civil War, High Bridge Trail is now a 32-mile haven for hikers, bicyclists, and horseback riders.

High Bridge soars 160 feet above the Appomattox River, offering breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding Virginia countryside.

The trail is a National Recreation Trail recognizing exemplary trails of local and regional significance, connecting people to nature, to each other, and to our shared history and culture.

(Photo courtesy of Virginia State Parks)

09/29/2026

It's starting to feel like fall in the Chesapeake Bay watershed! 🎃

This region has a lovely mix of fall foliage, apple picking, spooky history for Halloween and much more. 🍂

What's your favorite autumn activity?

From apple picking to fall foliage, the Bay watershed is fall-tastic!