"Record heat and volatile storm patterns have pushed the Chesapeake Bay’s health score down, sparking debate over recovery efforts and the need for granular monitoring." 

"The Chesapeake Bay’s health has taken a downturn, according to a new report card, with the estuary relegated from a “C+” to a “C” as climate extremes and runaway pollution limit restoration efforts.

The annual scorecard, produced by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), evaluates the state of the bay and its watershed using ecological, social and economic indicators. The 2025 report lays out a mixed picture: Some long-term trends showed improvement but the effects of record heat, erratic rainfall and persistent nutrient pollution from fertilizer runoff undercut recent gains.

Overall, the bay’s health score dropped from 55 percent in 2024 to 50 percent this year. Eleven of 15 monitored regions registered declines. The report described the deterioration as “unfortunate but not surprising,” attributing much of the regression to the hottest year on record in 2024, combined with inconsistent precipitation patterns alternating between drought and intense storms."

Aman Azhar reports for Inside Climate News June 14, 2025. [2]