BALTIMORE (AP) - Chesapeake Bay scientists say underwater grasses declined more than 20 percent last year, a blow to many fish and other species that need the grass to live or breed.
Heavy rains and snow melt that sent tons of mud and debris into the bay and extreme summer heat are being blamed for the loss of the key habitat.
Scientists with the federal Environmental Protection Agency's Chesapeake Bay Program are releasing results of their annual survey of bay grasses Wednesday. The losses mean bay grass coverage has dropped to its lowest point since 2006 and is now at historically low levels.
In addition to providing habitat for crabs and striped bass, bay grasses improve water clarity by trapping sediment, add oxygen to bay water and help prevent shoreline erosion.