Defining the Issue
When rain hits the ground, the landscape can act like a green filter or a gray ______.
funnel
Stormwater runoff is the ________ ___ cause of pollution to rivers and streams.
number one
Runoff can block sunlight from reaching __________ _______, which are underwater plants.
underwater grasses
Stormwater currently contributes 17% of _______ loads and 17% of phosphorus loads to the Bay.
nitrogen
______ _______ should be inspected yearly to ensure they don't leak waste into the groundwater.
Septic systems
These are surfaces like pavement and roofs that prevent water from naturally soaking into the ground.
Impervious or impermeable
____ years ago, the Chesapeake Bay shifted to a "degraded state" which had never happened before.
40
Fast-moving runoff can ______ stream banks, damaging miles of aquatic habitat.
erode
Stormwater is the fastest-growing source of _______ in the Chesapeake Bay.
pollution
These are places where vegetation such as plants, shrubs, grasses, and flowers no longer exist in the soil.
bare spots
This type of source includes all the polluted stormwater within a certain geography, like a watershed.
A nonpoint source
In early July, nearly 20% of the Bay had too little of ______ to support aquatic life.
oxygen
These two types of natural areas can act as a sink for excess nutrients, but are being removed.
forests and wetlands
Sediment can block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and it _________ shellfish.
suffocates
You should use porous surfaces like gravel or pavers as an alternative to_____
asphalt or concrete