August 29th, 2023 by WCBC Radio
A report from the Chesapeake Bay Program shows that since 2013, the bay watershed has lost 25,832 acres of tree cover. In Allegany County, the loss of trees has resulted in 246 acres removed from the tree canopy. Trees in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are critical for both the health of the bay and preventing flooding. Stormwater runoff is one of the fastest growing sources of pollution in the Bay. It also results in higher temperatures. While more than 8,000 acres of trees have been planted since 2013, more than 25,000 acres have been destroyed. While planting trees is a move in the right direction, preserving trees that are full grown is just as important to the health of cities and the Chesapeake Bay.
