Chesapeake Bay Pollution Quiz

(Posted by Senator Gerald Winegrad.)

You might have bombed the SATs, but here’s a chance to redeem yourself by testing your knowledge of Chesapeake Bay pollution. Answer these 10 questions to see how much you know.

Click “Show Answer,” then click “Next” to advance to the next question. Click “Show Results” to get your final score, and then share it in the comments. You might just make it to the top of your class!

1. According to the EPA Bay Program, which pollution source contributes most of the Bay choking nutrients--43% of the nitrogen and 45% of the phosphorus, more than any other source?








2. According to the EPA Bay Program, which pollution source contributes most (60%+) of the Bay smothering excess silt that smothers oyster bars and kills other important Bay life?








3. Which pollution source overwhelms other pollutants in many Eastern Shore Rivers e.g. causing more than 60% of the nitrogen and phosphorus in the Miles and Choptank Rivers and 83% or more of the sediment?








4. Which pollution source has added an estimated 3 million pounds of nitrogen to the Bay in recent years due to increasing world food demand and ethanol production in the U.S.?








5. Which pollution source has only met 50% of formal, written Bay Agreement reduction goals for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment despite the expenditure of more than $500 million in federal and state subsidies to the private sector to help accomplish these goals?








6. Which source of nitrogen pollutants has been found to contaminate up to 15% of the drinking water wells on the Delmarva Peninsula?








7. Which source of nutrient and sediment pollutants is the most cost-effective one to reduce on a dollar/per/pound basis?








8. Which source of nutrient and sediment pollutants has the most aggressive organized lobbying campaign representing it against critical Bay legislation in the Congress, even when Democrats and Republicans modify such legislation and agree to it?








9. Which source of nutrient and sediment pollutants has its national and local organized associations suing the EPA to block the major EPA Bay Restoration Plan under the Clean Water Act’s mandatory setting of pollution limits (TMDL)?








10. Which source of nutrient and sediment pollutants did the 58 Senior Bay Scientists and Policy Makers conclude that: Without the mandatory measures to control this pollution that we have suggested in our 25-step action plan, the Chesapeake Bay is doomed?










1 Comment

  1. Phyllis Jordan on April 21, 2011 at 9:58 am

    Great quiz. It really brings home what’s going on with the bay.