While only two states, Maryland and Virginia, border Chesapeake Bay, the bay's watershed extends much further. Chesapeake Bay, the largest and once the most productive estuary in the United States, and the third largest in the world, is an integral part of our natural and national history. Home to more than 18 million people and 3,600 species of plants and animals, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is truly an extraordinary place. The Bay watershed, which spans six states and the District of Columbia, never ceases to amaze with its rich history, its vital importance economic and its amazing beauty.
Below is just a sampling of some of the impressive facts and numbers about our wonderful watershed. Do you want more? Discover 10 things you didn't know about Chesapeake Bay. Visit our map portal to view a variety of interactive maps about the bay, its geography, land cover and local watershed. The State of the Bay report makes it clear that the bay needs our support now more than ever.
Your gift helps the Chesapeake Bay Foundation maintain our momentum toward a restored bay, rivers and streams for today and for future generations. Founded in 1967, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is the largest independent conservation organization dedicated solely to saving the bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization under Section 501 (c) (of the Internal Revenue Code). Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
Chesapeake Bay, the largest cove on the Atlantic coastal plain of the eastern United States. Created by the submersion of the lower reaches of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries, it is 193 miles (311 km) long and 3 to 25 miles (5 to 40 km) wide. The southern part of the bay borders Virginia and the northern part is bordered by Maryland. Its entrance from the Atlantic is flanked by Cape Charles to the north and Cape Henry to the south.
In addition to the Susquehanna, the major rivers that flow into the bay include the James, the York, the Rappahannock, the Potomac and the Patuxent from the west and the Wicomico, the Nanticoke, the Choptank and the Chester from the east. Most of the bay's irregular eastern coastline is low and swampy, while the straighter western coast is formed, at great distances, by cliffs. The Chesapeake Bay watershed covers more than 64,000 square miles and encompasses parts of six states: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and the entire District of Columbia. More than 18 million people live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Over the past 30 years, the average water temperature in Chesapeake Bay has increased by 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The Susquehanna River basin itself includes about 50,000 miles of rivers, streams, and creeks that flow into Chesapeake Bay. Increase the number and diversity of local citizen managers and local governments who actively support and carry out conservation and restoration activities that keep local creeks and rivers healthy and a vibrant Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay is an estuary in the North Atlantic, which extends between the Delmarva Peninsula to the east and the North American mainland to the west.
Providing area residents with the information and tools they need to make good decisions about caring for the Chesapeake is key to maintaining a healthy bay. To view the final WIP of Phase III and to learn more about the public comment period, visit the DEQ Chesapeake Bay TMDL's Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan webpage. And Chesapeake Bay can expect an additional 1.3 to 5.2 foot sea level rise over the next century. Chesapeake Bay and its watershed provide habitat for more than 3,600 species of plants and animals.
Chesapeake Bay and its vast watershed are home to many special places filled with rich history, natural wonders, beautiful landscapes, and hundreds and hundreds of opportunities to explore and enjoy. The Chesapeake Bay watershed has been heavily affected by natural forces such as erosion, tides, and a history of hurricanes and other storms. There are also more than 6.2 million acres of accessible green space within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Over time, communities around Chesapeake Bay formed confederations such as the Powhatan, Piscataway and Nanticoke.
A good example of how different Chesapeake Bay sites experience different tides can be seen in the tide predictions published by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) (see figure on the right). The Chesapeake Bay watershed covers more than 64,000 square miles and includes parts of six states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia), as well as the entirety of Washington, D. Therefore, as the bay warms, there may be a longer duration of hypoxia each summer season in the deep central channel of the bay.