When oxygen levels are reduced, fish and other species that require oxygen must either leave or die. Exactly how all that will affect fish and other resources this year remains to be seen. Spawning surveys are still going on, but biologists have indicated that surveys do not appear to reflect any impacts directly related to this year's flow. But some fisheries officials have indicated that the high flows and last winter's cold temperatures have taken a toll on adult blue crabs. Maryland crab catches in June alone were 47 percent below the seven-year average.
Biologists are also worried about the oyster population.
One of the most significant indicators will be how the beds of Bay grasses hold up after being hammered for three out of four years by abnormally high flows and the associated nutrients and sediment. The near record spring flows of 1993 and 1994 have been blamed for two straight years of declines in the acreage of Bay grasses. After reaching a 12-year high of 73,081 acres in 1993, grass beds fell to 59,894 acres last year. The grasses, known as submerged aquatic vegetation, are not only important to the Bay ecosystem, but are considered leading water quality indicators. Grasses require sunlight to grow, but sediment in the runoff clouds the water.