The Bay itself, its rivers, wetlands , trees and land all provide homes, protection or food for complex groups of species. Fish of all types and sizes either live in the Bay and its tributaries or they use the waters as they migrate along the East Coast. Young crabs hide from predators in underwater grasses , while oysters filter water as they feed on plankton . The intertwined combinations of relationships are countless. Most of those relationships depend upon good water quality .
Humans also impact waters.
Each time a person uses electricity, drives a car or even drops a piece of trash, a chain of events that can affect the Bay occurs. Along the way, there's been a call to balance the needs of the ecosystem and the needs of the people who live, work and play in the Bay watershed. As the Bay Program moves into the 21st century, citizen understanding of and involvement in the Bay's restoration will become increasingly important.