We often celebrate trees…

- the biggest redwood,

- the oldest oaks,

- the most beautiful flowering dogwood or fall leaves.

We plant them,

- climb in them,

- recreate among them,

- we make products from them,

- some people even live in them.

The neighborhoods we tend to like the most are filled with them.

But we also rely on trees in less visible ways – they help protect the air we breath,

- the water we drink,

- and streams we swim and fish in.

The process of development – vital to our communities…

– can also destroy the trees, woods, and forests that help maintain our quality of life. Yet, there ARE ways to grow – both trees and development – that sustain forests and support the wellbeing of our communities.

Getting there takes planning and decision-making that account for the valuable role forests have in our daily lives. But first, let’s take a look at some of the trends influencing forest, our communities, and our waters.

Let’s look back a bit…way back Let’s look back a bit…way back! This year marks the 400th anniversary of John Smith’s first explorations of the Chesapeake Bay.

Smith found a very different environment than that of today Smith found a very different environment than that of today. In 1607, the Chesapeake watershed was 95% forested. Here is a simulation of one of the Bay’s tributaries - and the same view today from a Google Earth image. Think of the changes over 400 years.

We can actually chart the change in forest cover over 350 years We can actually chart the change in forest cover over 350 years. Many people don’t recognize that the low point in forest cover was actually late in the 19th century. We have more forests today, but there is a worrisome trend in the past 25 years.

Since the mid-1980s we have lost forestland at a rate of about 100 acres/day – with development as the leading cause.

About 1. 5 million more people come to this region every decade About 1.5 million more people come to this region every decade. And we’re now using more land per person than ever before.

1990s data shows that development – the amount of land converted from forest and farm land to developed uses - outpaced population growth by more than three times - and this rate appears to persist as we continue to move to less dense, more spread out communities.

If current forest loss trends continue, 9 If current forest loss trends continue, 9.5 million acres of Chesapeake forests will be threatened by conversion to residential development by 2030 – including 31% of those most critical for water quality protection.

So what does this mean for the health of the Chesapeake and our local rivers?

The condition of the Bay and its tributaries has changed substantially over time. A recent Report Card that looks at 6 scientific indicators of Bay ecosystem health… Source: EcoCheck

gives the Bay a grade of D+. Source: EcoCheck

And grades for the Bay’s major tributaries range from C- to F; not quite a clean bill of health. What’s causing these habitat and water quality problems?

The main contributors are elevated levels of phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment.

For example, average nitrogen loads flowing into the Bay are almost double the level they should be for healthy water. Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

The same pattern holds for phosphorous. Source: Chesapeake Bay Program

4163650 Nitrogen and phosphorus occur naturally in plant material,

the atmosphere,

and soil…

but elevated levels come from sources like: - sewage treatment plants, [Source: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/stressor1.htm]

- vehicle exhaust,

- industry,

- animal waste, - and runoff from agricultural,

- urban,

- and residential areas - bringing sediment and nutrients directly to our waters.

High levels of these pollutants cause harmful algae blooms, (Image Note: By: STEVE EARLEY, THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT. Caption: “Dark patches in the Elizabeth River are signs of algae blooms. Craney Island is in the upper left; the coal piers in Norfolk are upper right”. According to the article, the algae species is Cochlodinium polykrikoides, commonly called red tide, brown tide, or mahogany tide. http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/print.cfm?story=131419&ran=116770)) Steve Earley, The Virginian-Pilot, with permission

deplete waters of oxygen, sometimes resulting in fish kills,

and cloud the water blocking light from reaching grasses that provide vital habitat for fish, crabs and other creatures.

Why so important? So, what does this have to do with forests, and why are forests so important?

the benefits of forest cover Coming soon – Part 2 the benefits of forest cover

& what to do about it Conserve Minimize Plant Manage Coming soon – Part 3 & what to do about it Conserve Minimize Plant Manage

www.chesapeakenemo.net