Chesapeake+Bay+History

[|Chesapeake Bay History and Timeline]

GOOD START. YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PARE THIS DOWN TO SOMETHING YOU CAN PUT ON TWO PAGES. YOU COULD CREATE YOUR PAGE EITHER AS A TIMELINE OR AS PARAGRAPHS OF RELATED INFORMATION.

Also read the Chesapeake Bay books for relevant information.

1. After reading and thinking about the history of the Chesapeake Bay, what are some of the most importantant events that have had an impact on the Bay and the animals, plants, and people who depend on it.

35 bp- meteor hit area now lower tip of delmarva penninsula carving 55 mile wide basin not create bay, helped determine that bay would be located

10 to 20 million years bp- series of ice ages lock ocean water in glaciers, mid atlantic coastline extend 180 miles farther east than current spot. glaciers melt coastal plain with sand grave silt clay. colder, forests dominate atracting bears deer mammoth and birds.

15,000 years bp- warm climate spreads freshwater wetlands and coastal salt water marshes small population of paleoindians settle.

-2000 bc- the bay assume current shape- roughly 190 miles long, 35 miles across. bay dominated by oysters,clams,fish. mammoths no longer present. native americans live throughout region and develop sophisticated hunting methods

1500's-native population reaches 24,000 spanish & french explorers reach chesapeake bay

1607-first english settlement established, jamestown, virginia. captain john smith explores chesapeake bay

1600s- influx of european settlers come to bay region to grow tobacco

1650s- colonists establish businesses in ship mass and timber use hook and line to catch fish in shallow bay water

1700's- colonial populations expands, agriculture expands, first signs of damage to the environment.

1750s-colonial population reaches 380,000 one third are slaves

1776-colonial population goes over 700,000

1781-revolutionary war ends british lord charles cornwallis surrenders at yorktown virginia former british colonies about to become beginning of union

1800- bay region population reaches 1 million-oyster harvesting increases

1820-Baltimore is major american port, third largest city-by 1850, baltimore is bustling city population: 1 million

1829- 25 year canal project is done. links chesapeake bay with delaware bay

1835- half forests cut down

1890- chesapeake bay becomes more polluted

1900-railroads consumes most of eastern forest

1918-The University of Maryland Chesapeake Biological laboratory founded

1920-population exceeds 4.5 million

1927-the conowingo dam was built near the mouth of the Sasquehanna river

1930-population goes over 5 million

1945-chemical fertilizers widely used, suburb is "born"

1948-MD VA water pollution control agencies

1950's-developers drain & fill wetlands to build housing, healthy water quality, diseases wipe out oysters

1952-chesapeake bay bridge constructed

1964-chesapeake bay bridge tunnel opens

1965-Lyndon B. Johnson pledges potomac river will become "model of beauty and recreation" for country, construction of interstates finished car becomes choice of most americans for transportation

1967-chesapeake bay foundation created

1970's-federal clean air act passed, enact laws to protect wetlands,dramatic decline in bay grasses

1972- DDT bannned

1980-chesapeake bay commission created

1993-bay program issues orders addressing tributary strategies

1994-almost 1 million acres in chesapeake bay region under nutrient management plans

1995- MD creates 10 watershed-based tributary teams

1996 through 2000- all states in chesapeake bay region under go changes to help environment. Fisheries commission closes sturgeon fishing for next 40 years.

present-clean tributaries, nutrient management, ten watershed based tributary teams, changes in environment, lowest blue crab harvest, historic trail, zebra mussel, 23 million federal funding goes to chesapeake bay, Annapolis, MD ban phosphorus fertilizer