This results in “dead zones,” areas where oxygen is removed faster than it can be replenished. Animals need healthy levels of oxygen in the water to survive. In 2024, environmental groups reported ...

In 2024, environmental groups reported that the Chesapeake Bay dead zone was at a near-average size, but despite progress, officials still warn that the bay will not meet 2025 goals for restoration.

Reducing dead zones and algal blooms in coastal areas ... will result in a 4%–5% increase in runoff to Lake Erie and the Chesapeake Bay. While restricting runoff to all coastal areas is an ...