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Natural catastrophes have also modified environmental conditions 

 adversely in the Chesapeake Bay. The voluminous, unprecedented flooding 

 associated with tropical storm Agnes in June, 1972 significantly diluted 

 its waters altering critical salinity levels and jeopardized the oyster 

 and clam crops. Siltation wasanother major adverse impact in the Bay, 

 courtesy of Agnes. Shellfish have also become inedible because of 

 sewage, pesticide runoff, and the stirring up of trace metals. 



The biological richness and diversity, the multi-use problems found 

 in the Chesapeake Bay, and its general importance to the bordering 

 states of Maryland and Virginia, and beyond, are evident. It is thus 

 surprising to find relatively few quantitative biological limnologic 

 and oceanographic studies, including those dealing with phytoplankton 

 dynamics, in this area. Only recently have estimates of primary production 

 become available, but an energy budget similar to that prepared for Long 

 Island Sound must await basic data for the various tropic levels. 



In Virginia, a conservation needs inventory was published in February, 

 1970, that showed that 52 percent of the land needed conservation treatment 

 of some kind. This included 64 percent of cropland, 70 percent pasture, 

 46 percent of woodland and 33 percent of other land. Susceptibility to 

 erosion and unfavorable soil conditions in the root zone were the most 

 serious problems. This report was based on available data, "grass roots" 

 knowledge, and committee estimates. 



