Scientists concluded about three decades ago that Atlantic sturgeon had all but disappeared from Maryland’s polluted water. As indicated by The Baltimore Sun, the population of these massive fish—often as long as 14 feet—dwindled during the 1900s amid rising demand for their eggs, also known as caviar. Caviar’s immense value led predictably to overfishing. Overfishing working in conjunction with industrialization essentially depleted Maryland’s population of Atlantic sturgeon.
Or did it? Biologists have been pleasantly surprised recently with watermen and recreational fishermen spotting sturgeon splashing and flopping around the Nanticoke River on the Eastern Shore. The unanticipated bounce back of Atlantic sturgeon in Maryland represents further indication that efforts to restore the health of the Chesapeake Bay are working.
Maryland, of course, has much more to consider than the bay. The state is geographically small. At 12.4 million square miles, it ranks a lowly 42nd nationally concerning land mass. But it still manages to maintain a diversity of ecology that many states lack. To the west, it is home to snow-capped mountains. To the east, it is home to beaches. In the center of the state are densely populated communities that, like all communities, depend on breathable air and drinkable water. And at its heart is the Chesapeake Bay, which forms the largest watershed on the east coast at more than 4.5 million square miles. There are more than 3,000 miles of coastline around the bay. There are also numerous tributaries, of which the Nanticoke River is one.
But being home to so many ecosystems is associated with innumerable risks to economic activity. Warm winters can truncate ski seasons in the west. Waste and runoff produced by populous communities can threaten the livelihood of businesses and create risks to public health. Increasingly violent weather produces more damage to property and higher rates of insurance. In short, climate and other forms of change collectively represent massive sources of risk to Maryland’s future.
In 2007, the Center for Integrative Environmental Research (CIER) at the University of Maryland attempted to measure the economic impact of climate change in the state. There were many findings, including one indicating that higher temperatures would result in a 15–40 percent decrease in the Northeast’s maple syrup industry.
While the effects of rising temperatures will be felt throughout the state, the Eastern Shore is especially vulnerable. A 2017 article published in Washingtonian magazine featured a report released by the Union of Concerned Scientists regarding the long-term impacts of climate change. Because of the state’s abundance of coastline, the number of communities that would be affected by rising sea level ranks second only to Louisiana. Flooding is already a constant problem for many communities, especially those in and around Ocean City. The report states that if water levels rose four feet by 2100, the resulting inundation would make a quarter of the land in Ocean City uninhabitable. The resulting loss of property value and business activity would have a profound impact across the state, including in terms of decimated quality of life. Moreover, the four-feet scenario is considered conservative by some.
In recognition of the threats to Maryland’s future and the need for all communities to contribute to environmental sustainability, some policymakers continue to commit to renewable energy, including in the form of offshore wind power. The Clean Energy Jobs Act would double the state’s commitment to renewable energy by increasing the statewide Renewable Portfolio Standard to 50 percent by 2030. The state hopes to reach its current standard of 25 percent by 2020.
