WASHINGTON — July 7, 2014 — Each year scientists and natural resources mangers study the size and duration of so called "dead zones" in the Chesapeake Bay in an effort to figure out the impact on life in the Bay.
But the dead zones in the Chesapeake are growing. Scientists who predicted the increase aren't surprised. Tom Parmham, a scientist with the Maryland Department of a Natural Resources, says, "It's nothing to be alarmed about. It's slightly higher than average."
Dead zones are areas deprived of oxygen and that means crabs, fish, oysters and other Bay life can't survive there.
"Dead zones are caused by excessive nutrients from farms, sewage plants, fertilizer and sewage plants," says Parmham.