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The Living Chesapeake
From the Susquehanna River's headwaters in upstate New York down to the sandy ocean capes of Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries support a rich web of life, a remarkable ecosystem. At the base of this sprawling 64,000-square-mile watershed lies the Bay itself, where river water meets sea water, mixing fresh with salt, in the nation's largest estuary.
We often think of the Bay’s major species, especially oysters
, blue crabs
, and striped bass
— symbols of the Bay’s productivity and of the maritime culture
that evolved on its shores. But they’re not the only important creatures in the Bay — a complex food web
supports all Bay life, including the seafood many of us enjoy.
To understand the Bay is to understand not only the food web, but also the habitats
where species live and die. From oyster reefs to underwater grass
beds, freshwater tributaries to the open ocean, the Bay’s land and seascape is as diverse as the creatures that live there. And from storms
to waterfront development
, these important habitats face natural and human-induced threats alike.
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