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US sues NY state officials over immigration enforcement; NM's national monuments face new development threats from Trump; NC community colleges get 'boost' to bring more students to high-demand jobs; Trump's resignation plan for federal workers can move forward; Advocates push for program to decrease wildlife collisions in VA.

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Deregulation raises environmental and public health concerns, national monuments face potential risks, political neutrality in education sparks protests, and Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation fuels controversy.

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Rural America struggles with opioids and homelessness in unexpected ways, Colorado's Lariat Ditch could help spur local recreation, and book deliveries revive rural communities hit by Hurricane Helene.

Update on Health of Chesapeake Bay: Fragile

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015   

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The condition of Chesapeake Bay is still very fragile, according to a new report just released by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

This year the bay comes in with an overall score of D-plus, the same grade as the last report in 2012. Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, says the report does offer some good news in spite of the poor letter grade.

"Most exciting are the elements of the report we care the most about," says Baker. "Dissolved oxygen, oysters, underwater grasses, and water clarity are all going up."

On the other hand, Baker says the health of rockfish and the bay's iconic blue crab populations have declined.

"In terms of the blue crab, scientists aren't sure what's going on," he says. "It may be climate change, maybe there's a new virus, maybe it's simply a natural variation."

Baker also points out that despite the fact no part of Pennsylvania physically touches Chesapeake Bay, the commonwealth's watersheds play a significant role in the bay's overall health.

"Half of all of Pennsylvania is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed," he says. "So all of the rivers and creeks in the central part of Pennsylvania are part of the watershed, and creating cleaner water quality conditions in Pennsylvania will benefit water quality downstream."

Baker says a restored watershed will provide billions of dollars in benefits, including $40 billion a year in Pennsylvania, in the form of cleaner water, cleaner air, hurricane and flood protection, recreational opportunities and fresh, healthy food and seafood.

"Agriculture has a big role to play," he says. "One of the best ways to reduce agricultural pollution is to plant forested buffers. That is extremely valuable for the quality of local creeks and rivers."

According to the report, Pennsylvania currently plants six acres per day of such buffers, but needs to plant 50 acres a day to fully protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed.


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