To save bay, we must first save forests
To restore the Chesapeake Bay and its large ecosystem, it is absolutely critical we restore and preserve forests. Coupled with the urgency to curb agricultural pollution, the largest source of bay-choking nutrients and sediment, these threats must be resolved to prevent a cascading ecological collapse.
Why are forests so vitally important?
Forests act like giant sponges, stabilizing soils and greatly reducing stormwater runoff into streams and eventually into the bay. Trees break the erosive impact of rainfall. The extensive system of trees, understory growth, leaves and detritus absorb up to 90% of nutrients, sediment and toxic chemicals keeping them out of waterways. This natural drainage system allows stormwater to slowly percolate into groundwater. During a 1-inch rainfall, a 1-acre forest releases 750 gallons of runoff; an impervious parking lot releases 27,000 gallons!
Mature trees have deep root systems that hold soil in place, stabilizing streambanks and preventing erosion from smothering our creeks and streams. Forests serve as nature’s flood-control system.
After pollutants are filtered out, the retained water replenishes underlying aquifers instead of running off where downstream flooding can occur. These underground aquifers supply almost all of our water. Some aquifers have been drawn down because of the loss of forests helping to replenish them. Excessive water withdrawals for agriculture, residential and commercial use exacerbate the problem.
Wells must be drilled deeper to reach underlying aquifers because of the draw downs and saltwater intrusion. This occurred on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula, costing homeowners and businesses thousands of dollars for new wells.
Forests absorb global warming which helps prevent the impact of warming waters. Forests also produce oxygen. One acre absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and produces four tons of oxygen. Tree cover lowers summertime water temperatures vital to spawning trout and other aquatic species. Woodlands provide habitat and food for many critters including avian species that breed, nest and roost in large forest tracts referred to as FIDS — forest interior dwelling species — which are in decline. Leaf litter and other plant materials fall into streams and form the foundation of freshwater food chains vital to fish and other aquatic species.
Forests provide us with places where we can reflect and experience natural beauty and solitude. They foster outdoor recreation through activities like hiking, biking, camping and birdwatching. Exposure to forests strengthens our immune system, reduces blood pressure, increases energy, boosts our mood and helps us regain and maintain our focus in ways that treeless environments don’t. The Japanese call it “forest bathing.” Even 20 minutes in a forest is enough to produce positive change.
Forests increase property values and lower residential and commercial energy use. They generate billions of dollars annually by supplying wood and paper products. Forestry is Maryland’s fifth-largest industry.
When forests are destroyed and fragmented by development and agriculture their ecological services and economic benefits are lost. The EPA-led Bay Program and scientists connected with bay restoration have recognized the incredible importance of forests to a healthy bay, especially streamside forested buffers. In 1609, when Jamestown was settled, forests covered 95% of the bay watershed. Rampant forest clearing for timber and agriculture began immediately and accelerated to grow tobacco in bay country. Enormous forest clearing led to sedimentation and the demise of major ports, including London Town.
By the late 1800s, industrialized agriculture and the movement of people to urban areas led to an increase in forest land as cleared farmland was abandoned and forests regenerated. This lasted into the 1950s when a second wave of massive forest clearing occurred mainly for development. Now, bay forest cover has been reduced to 57% — a striking 60% loss since 1609. More than 70% should be forested if the waters of the bay are to simply meet minimum Clean Water Act standards.
The EPA Bay Program and its state partners solemnly agreed more than a decade ago to restore 900 miles of streamsides with forested buffers each year and to conserve existing buffers. Another goal was set to increase urban tree canopy by 2,400 acres by 2025. Despite the extreme importance of these modest goals, the EPA and states have failed miserably to meet them.
The 900-mile goal has not been met since 2002, and since 2010, just an average of 25% of the target was met. In 2020, 170 miles were planted, including just 30 miles in Maryland.
A $3 million high-imagery aerial survey of bay watershed forest cover from 2013 to 2018 documented that the watershed lost 83,000 forested acres cleared for development adding 51,000 acres of new runoff-producing buildings and pavement. Another 43,000 acres were cleared for agriculture. There was a net loss of tree canopy in urban areas of 12,000 acres. This loss occurred despite the pledge to increase tree canopy by 2,500 acres.
The abject failure to meet the pledges to increase forest buffers and overall forest cover are another dagger to the heart of bay restoration. When added to many other failed pledges and failures to meet legally required pollution reductions — all without EPA sanctions — the death knell is sounding for improving bay water quality. The consequences are more human flesh-eating diseases and collapsed or collapsing fisheries and bay grasses. The Chesapeake Bay has become full of broken promises.
Maryland is badly failing in its pledges — forested riparian buffers cover just 58% of stream banks. Maryland’s urban and suburban areas lost more than 13,000 forested acres from 2013 to 2018. And the state is violating its 2013 adopted policy of achieving a no net loss of forest (another broken pledge) losing more than 19,000 woodland acres. From 1999 through 2019, Maryland’s forest shrank by 118,000 acres. Forest cover is down to 40% from 95% in Colonial times. Much of the forest that remains is so fragmented its capacity to soak up water-polluting stormwater runoff and absorb climate-warming carbon dioxide has been reduced.
At a minimum, the Maryland legislature and Anne Arundel County should finally enact a parallel law to the Annapolis no-net loss of forest legislation that eliminated loopholes in the Forest Conservation Act I managed to its passage in the legislature in 1991. And a law should be enacted to require the state and counties to reforest 200 miles annually of riparian streams with at least 150-foot forested buffers while prohibiting the clearing of existing buffers.
Anne Arundel County lost 42,000 acres (33% of its forest) from 19861999. This loss continues as a 2019 analysis found that more forest had been cleared than almost anywhere else in Maryland — 2,356 acres from 2010 to 2017. The most recent forest study suggests nearly 40,000 acres more forest could be cleared statewide for development between 2025 and 2055. Anne Arundel, Charles, and Harford counties accounted for nearly half the projected statewide loss.
Elected officials enacting half-measures, doing photo-ops at tree plantings and throwing money around will not turn the tide for the collapsing restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.