Our trip in 2003 was to the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.  Historically, Chesapeake Bay was one of the nation's most productive fisheries, famous for its oyster, crab and striped bass.  It has been an important center of commerce since colonial days.  The nation's capitol lies on its shores as do other metropolitan areas.  As an estuary, the Chesapeake is noteworthy for its high area, but low water volume; in other words it is broad and shallow. This leads to its biological richness, but also has made it terribly susceptible to contamination.  Today, all the fisheries are in decline, beset not only by contaminants, but also by invasive species, over- exploitation, and storm damage. 

Our trip explored both the estuary and its watershed, looking at factors contributing to the decline of the Bay, talking to people working to restore its ecosystems, and appreciating the habitat that remains. 

Next: The Watershead