“The path of recovery may not be the same as the path of degradation”
Chesapeake Bay Journal has an interesting article about the ecosystem recovery efforts in Gunston Cove, a small tidal cove off the Potomac that had been suffering from an extreme level of pollution, leading to disastrous algae blooms and killing off a lot of the native species. Scientists studying the area came up with a new theory to explain the difficulty in recovering the cove’s flora — that an area can reach a “threshold” of environmental degradation past which it may be impossible to recover the ecosystem through traditional means. Instead, it may take a very long and complicated process to restore an ecosystem which has passed this threshold.
It’s a fascinating read, both depressing and ultimately hopeful for the Bay and its future. Read it here: http://bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=3371