THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH THE DIVERSE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

[♪♪] >> Jeff: OYSTERS BOUNCING BACK.

>> WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE COULD CONSIDER TRIPLE THE POPULATION WE SAW BACK IN 2005.

>> Jeff: RESTORING THE SHORE.

>> THE GOAL IS TO SLOW STORMWATER DOWN, SLOW EROSION, CREATE HABITAT HAVE AS MANY BENEFITS AS POSSIBLE.

>> Jeff: AND WHAT ARE THE BAY'S DOLPHINS TELLING US?

>> SOME OF THE POPULATIONS THAT WE KNOW THAT COME INTO THE AREA HAVE NUMBERS ESTIMATED OF UPWARDS TO 20,000.

>> Announcer: CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: HELLO FROM NATIONAL HARBOR AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL EDITION OF "STATE CIRCLE" WITH STORIES ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, THIS BODY OF WATER, THE POTOMAC, SUFFERED ONE OF THE WORST ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTERS IN STATE HISTORY.

FAILURE OF A SEWAGE PIPE SPILLED THE EQUIVALENT OF HUNDREDS OF OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOLS WORTH OF RAW SEWAGE INTO THE RIVER AND ON TO THE BAY.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE POTOMAC RIVERKEEPER NETWORK, BETSY NICOLAS.

>> WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SEWAGE GO INTO THE POTOMAC RIVER.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICKLY.

IMAGINE, ANY TYPE OF THING LIKE A FLOOD, IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT IT OF A FOOT OF WATER COMING DOWN IN RAIN, IT'S VERY DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES DOWN OVER SIX DAYS, VERSUS IF IT COMES DOWN OVER THE COURSE OF A YEAR OR SEVERAL MONTHS.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE HAD HERE IS 243 MILLION GALLONS IN A SIX-DAYTIME PERIOD AND WHEN THE RIVER WAS LOW WE WERE AT DROUGHT CONDITIONS PLUS THEN WE HAD TWO DAYS INTO IT, THE BIG FREEZE.

SO IT REALLY TRAPPED IT IN PLACE A LOT MORE THAN YOU WOULD NORMALLY SEE.

>> Jeff: HOW BAD WERE THE BACTERIA COUNTS?

>> THEY WERE THE SAME AS IF YOU JUST STUCK THE TESTING EQUIPMENT INTO RAW SEWAGE ITSELF.

14,000 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE LIMIT THAT IS CONSIDERED SAFE FOR RECREATIONAL CONTACT.

>> Jeff: AND NOT TO BE TOO GROSS BUT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THE STUFF PEOPLE FLUSH ANYTHING THEY FLUSH, AND -- >> AND YOU SEE IT.

>> Jeff: REALLY?

>> THERE WAS TOILET PAPER ON THE GROUND AND FEMININE PRODUCTS, CONDOMS, ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO BE UNTREATED SEWAGE LIKE THIS BECAUSE IT'S COMING DIRECTLY FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES INTO THIS PIPE ON ITS WAY TO THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.

NOTHING WAS FILTERED OUT.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS THE LONG-TERM IMPACT, DO YOU THINK?

>> THE LONG-TERM IMPACT, HOPEFULLY, WON'T BE TERRIBLY SIGNIFICANT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE AN IMPACT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, I THINK, IF A FEW AREAS.

ONE CLEANING UP THE SITE WHERE IT HAPPENED.

THERE IS A BIG MESS THERE.

AND THAT CLEAN UP IS UNDERWAY BUT IT WILL TAKE A LONGTIME TO GET ALL OF THE SEWAGE AND THE MATERIALS OUT OF THE LAND, OUT OF THE CANAL AND OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE POTOMAC RIVER WHERE THEY MAY HAVE SETTLED.

IT ALSO COULD HAVE IMPACTED SPAWNING SEASON THE STRIPERS WERE RUNNING AND THAT IS THEIR SEASON.

SO IT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN GOOD HABITAT AT THE TIME BECAUSE THERE'S ALL.

THIS MATERIAL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE RIVER AND WE COULD SUFFER LARGER ALGAE BLOOMS THIS SUM AMERICA WHICH COULD LEAD TO LOW OXYGEN LEVELS OR A DEAD ZONE.

>> Jeff: I REMEMBER BEING ON THE POTOMAC WATERFRONT IN THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY AREA AND THERE WERE SIGNS THAT INDICATED IF THERE'S BEEN A BIG RAIN TONIGHT'S GO IN THE WATER.

AND IT HAD TO DO WITH THE INTERTWINING, I GUESS, OF THE SEWER SYSTEM AND THE STORM RUNOFF SYSTEM.

IS THERE ANY PROGRESS ON THAT?

>> YES.

ACTUALLY, THE COMBINED SEWER SYSTEM WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THERE, IT OVER FLOODS THE SEWAGE INTO MIXES IT WITH RAIN WATER.

WHEN YOU GET A PIG STORM YOU GET COMBINED RAIN WATER AND SEWAGE AND THAT IS MOSTLY THAT DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AND IT IS ON A CLEAN UP PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE BY 2025 BUT THE DEADLINES WERE MOVED BACKWARDS FOR GOOD REASONS.

AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S ON TRACK FOR 2030 THAT WILL BE CLEANED UP AND IT WILL REDUCE THE POTENTIAL OF OVERFLOWS AND RAW SEWAGE INTO THE RIVER BY OVER 90%.

SOME ESTIMATES AS HIGH AS 96%.

>> Jeff: WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE POTOMAC RIVER AND THE WATERSHED THAT FEEDS INTO IT?

IT'S ALL THE WAY OUT TO WESTERN MARYLAND, PARTS OF WEST VIRGINIA, WESTERN PA, NICE UNDEVELOPED AREAS BEFORE IT GETS TO DC AND ON TO THE BAY?

>> IT'S GORGEOUS OUT THERE.

GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY IT SOMETIME.

FOR PEOPLE GO TO HARPER'S FERRY.

YOU GET WHERE THE POTOMAC RIVER MEETS THE SHENANDOAH RIVER AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

AS YOU GET FURTHER INTO THE HEAD WATERS OF THE POTOMAC RIVER, IT'S SO PRISTINE AND QUIET OUT THERE.

THE LAST TIME I WAS UP THERE GOING KAYAKING, I SAW BALD EAGLE CATCH A FISH AND FLY AWAY WITH IT.

>> Jeff: WOW.

WHAT ARE THE THREATS HISTORICALLY?

WE HAVE THIS ONE HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AND THE BLUE PLAINS SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT WHICH IS ENORMOUS I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY HAVE DONE OVER THE LONG-TERM.

MAYBE YOU HAVE LESS INDUSTRY ON THE POTOMAC THAN IN THE BALTIMORE AREA?

>> I THINK THE BIG DIFFERENCE IF YOU LOOK AT BALTIMORE VERSUS THE POTOMAC IT'S ALSO CONCENTRATED AROUND THE HARBOR.

HERE IT'S SPREAD OUT OVER A LARGER AREA.

THE PRISTINE AREAS IN WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE HEAD WATERS INTO WEST VIRGINIA USED TO BE BIG COAL MINING COUNTRY.

SO WE HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ACID MINE DRAINAGE OUT OF THE OLD COAL MINES AND GETTING INTO THE WATERWAYS.

BUT HERE IN THE METRO REGION WE'VE GOT LOTS OF PROBLEMS.

SEWAGE AND OLD FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE IS CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.

AND WE SEE RELEASES ON A REGULAR BASIS ALL OVER THE WATERSHED.

OF UNTREATED SEWAGE.

THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM.

BUT THERE'S ALSO THINGS LIKE TOXIC CONTAMINATION.

WE HAVE A LOT OF MILITARY BASES AND A LOT OF THEM HAVE THE FOREVER CHEMICALS PFAS, LARGELY FROM THE FIREFIGHTING FOAM THAT THEY USEDED TO USE BUT IT'S LEAD OUT AND THEY ARE CALLED FOREVER CHEMICALS FOR A REASON BECAUSE THEY STAY AROUND.

AND WE HAVE THE BASIC THINGS WITH A RIVER AT THAT TIME HAS SO MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN IT AND IT GOES BACK TO THE INFRASTUCTURE PROBLEMS.

BUT OLD SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS SEPTIC SYSTEMS CAN LEAK.

>> Jeff: WHAT CAN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENTS DO TO PROTECT THIS BEAUTIFUL WATERWAY?

AND YOU DON'T AHAVE TO LIVE ON THE WATER.

YOU COULD BE ANY PART OF THE WATERSHED AND STUFF YOU PUT ON YOUR LAWN, THROW OUT THE CAR WINDOW, WINDS UP HERE?

>> YES.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIG PLACE YOU START THERE IS EVERYONE THINKING ABOUT YOU ALL LIVE IN THIS WATERSHED.

AND YOU ARE DRINKING THIS WATER.

OUR BODIES HERE ARE 85% POTOMAC RIVER.

AND BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE OUR DRINKING WATER COMES FROM HERE.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN THAT PERSPECTIVE, KEEPING YOUR TRASH CONTAINED MAKING SURE IT DOES THAT GET IN THE RIVER, USE LESS SINGLE-USE PLASTICS.

FEWER CHEMICALS ON THE WHOLE.

>> Jeff: YOUR FAVORITE EXPERIENCE EVER ON THE POTOMAC YOU TALKED ABOUT THE KAYAK AND BALD EAGLE.

ANYTHING ELSE?

>> YES, VERY NEAR WHERE THE SPILL HAPPENED IS JUST AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS AREA IMMEDIATELY DOWN FROM GREAT FALLS WHERE I HAVE BEEN DOING WHITEWATER RAFTING.

PRETTY CONSISTENTLY ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR.

AND IT IS GORGEOUS CALLED MATTER GORGE AND YOU HAVE THIS AREA WHERE THESE OLD CLIFFS TIGHTEN THE RIVER.

SO I CAN ACTUALLY SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN ON THE RIVER IN THE PLACE WHERE IT'S THE HIGHEST MEASURED VELOCITY OF WATER ANYWHERE.

I WAS NOT THERE AT THAT TIME.

BUT IT IS JUST A BEAUTIFUL AREA.

AND LOVE GETTING OUT THERE AND SEEING ALL THE NATURE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

>> Jeff: BETSY NICOLAS THE POTOMAC RIVERKEEPER NETWORK.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AFTER DECADES OF BAD NEWS ABOUT THE BAY'S PLENTIFUL OYSTERS, THE TIDE MAYBE TURNING AS NANCY YAMADA REPORTS.

>> WE'VE SEEN A REALLY A LOT OF GOOD YEARS COMBINED.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING WHAT WE WOULD CONSIDER TRIPLE THE POPULATION WE SAW BACK IN 2005.

>> KELLYE, THE MARYLAND OYSTER RESTORATION COORDINATOR FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION AFTER DECADES OF DISEASE AND DROUGHT, THE OYSTER POPULATION HAS MADE A STEADY COMEBACK.

>> NOW WE HAVE A BETTER MANAGED FISHERY.

WE HAVE REALLY GOOD CONDITIONS THAT HAVE ALL ACCUMULATED THIS.

WE ALSO COMPLETED OUR LARGEST RESTORATION GOAL WITH VIRGINIA.

RESTORING MORE THAN 10 TRIBUTARIES 10 WAS THE GOAL.

>> RESTORATION EFFORTS BEGAN IN 2014.

>> WE SET ASIDE A GOAL IN OUTLINED IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED AGREEMENT TO RESTORE 10 TRIBUTARIES FIVE IN MARYLAND AND FIVE IN VIRGINIA BY 2025.

VIRGINIA ADDED ONE TO THE FIVE SO THEY RESTORED SIX WE RESTORED FIVE AND WE'VE DONE MONITORING AND SEEN THE REEFS WHERE WE PLANTED THE OYSTER ARE DOING WELL.

>> SO WELL THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION URGED THE STATE OF MARYLAND TO EXPAND ITS OYSTER RESTORATION EFFORTS TO THREE MORE CONTRIBUTORIES.

OYSTERS ARE DELICIOUS THEY SERVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY.

>> OYSTERS ARE A KEYSTONE SPECIES IN THE BAY HOME TO 300 ORGANISMS AND SMALLER SPECIES.

GREAT NURSERY FOR SMALL FISH, CRABS, YOU NAME IT AND IT WOULD LIKE TO LIVE ON AN OYSTER REEF.

THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE OYSTER REEFS WE HAVE HAD HISTORICALLY HEARING WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS IS GOOD FOR ALL ORGANISMS IN THE BAY.

THEY ARE INCREDIBLE FILTER FEEDERS.

>> ACCORDING TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FOUNDATION ONE ADULT OYSTERS CAN FILTER UP TO 50 GALLONS OF WATER PER DAY.

MARYLANDERS WHO WANT TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE POPULATION ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OYSTER GARDENING PROGRAM OR OYSTERS ARE GROWN AND RECYCLED OYSTER SHELLS AND PLANTED IN A SANCTUARY REEF IN THE BAY.

>> WHEN WE DISTRIBUTE OUR OYSTER GARDENING IT LOOKS LIKE AN EMPTY SHELL I KNOW THERE'S OYSTER LARVIE.

HAVING OYSTER GARDENERS COMING BACK AND SEE THE OYSTERS OR DO LARGE SCALE RESTORATION GETTING VIDEO OF THE OYSTERS.

IT'S GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE LITTLE OYSTERS DOING THEIR JOB AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

>> I'M NANCY YAMADA FOR "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: SAVING THE BAY CAN BEGIN WITH SAVING THE SHORELINE.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY ON THE LONG POINT SHORELINE RESILIENCE PROJECT AT SOUTH RIVER FARMS PARK IN EDGEWATER.

>> THIS IS A GREAT SITE BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY IDENTIFIED THIS PROJECT WHICH IS IDEAL FOR US.

THE COMMUNITY OF SELBY BAY, CONTACTED OUR COUNTY AND SAID WE'RE REALLY SEEING SOME EROSION ISSUES GOING ON AT THE SHORELINE.

>> THE 800,000 DOLLAR EFFORT PAID FOR IN PART BY THE COUNTY AND LED BY THE ARUNDEL RIVERS FEDERATION WILL PROTECT 1600 FEET OF SHORELINE ON SELBY BAY.

THE AREA HAS BEEN ERODING BY TWO FEET EACH YEAR IN SOME SPOTS THAT HAS WEAKENED A BUFFER THAT PROTECTS HOMES, WILDLIFE AND ONE OF THE SOUTH RIVER'S MOST SCENIC AREAS.

>> IF THIS POINT WERE TO DISAPPEAR OR NO LONGER HERE, THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE MUCH MORE VULNERABLE TO HURRICANES, EXTREME STORM SURGE AND STRONG WINDS COMING FROM THAT DIRECTION.

>> IT'S NOT EVERYDAY YOU SEE A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT BUILDS NATURE BACK UP.

BUT HERE AT LONG POINT, THAT IS EXACTLY THE GOAL.

YOU SEE OYSTER HABITATS AND NATURAL BARRIERS TO PROTECT THIS SHORELINE FOR YEARS TO COME.

CREWS WILL INSTALL STONE BARRIERS, LARGE WOOD STRUCTURES AND OYSTER HABITATS DESIGNED TO REDUCE WAVE ENERGY WHILE REBUILDING THE ECOSYSTEM.

THE PROJECT IS PART OF A BROADER PLAN TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE ALONG THE PENINSULA WITH MORE RESTORATION PROJECTS ALREADY COMPLETED IN THE AREA.

>> WHAT IS REALLY COOL ABOUT THIS SHORELINE IS THAT YOU CAN SEE EXAMPLES OF WORKING SHORELINE RESTORATION AND AREAS THAT NEED THE FUTURE SHORELINE RESTORATION.

BEHIND ME, YOU WILL SEE A PROJECT THAT WAS DONE ABOUT 20 YEARSING.

YOU CAN SEE THE SILLS AND THE JEB TILL SLOPE WITH THE BEACH THAT IS IDEAL.

WE WANT A CONNECTED FLOOD PLAIN SO THAT CRITTERS AND SMALL FISH HAVE THE HABITAT OF THAT SHALLOW BEACH AREA.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THE EROSION.

IF YOU HAVE THAT BIG STEP DOWN, IF YOU HAVE TREES FALLING OVER THAT IS WHERE YOU ARE STARTING TO LOSE LAND AND STARTING TO DISCONNECT THE HABITAT.

>> SHE HAS LIVED ON SHELBY BAY FOR THREE YEARS AND SAYS THIS PROJECT COULD PROVIDE A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HIM AND HIS GROWING FAMILY.

>> MY WIFE AND I WILL GO THERE'S AT THAT TIME GAP RIGHT THERE.

WE HAVE KAYAKS SO WE CAN EASILY MANEUVER.

WE'LL SHOOT THAT GAP AND YOU WILL SEE LIKE THIS RIGHT HERE, WINDY, BUT IT'S NOT TOO HARD FOR US TO NAVIGATE.

BUT AS SOON AS WE GET PAST THE POINT THERE, BETWEEN THE WINDS AND THE WAVE ACTION FROM THE BOATS GOING DOWN THE RIVER, IT CAN GET ROUGH OUT THERE.

>> ONCE COMPLETE, LEADERS SAY THIS PROJECT COULD SERVE AS A MODEL FOR FUTURE SHORELINE PROTECTION ACROSS THE REGION [♪♪] >> Jeff: OUR NEWSMAKERS ARE TWO RESEARCHERS WHO HAVE BEEN TRACKING DOLPHINS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY JOINS US ARE PROFESSOR JANET MANN AND POST-DOCTORAL ASSOCIATE ANNE-MARIE JACOBY BOTH OF GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY.

PROFESSOR CAN YOU GIVE US THE SHORT HISTORY OF DOLPHINS IN THE BAY?

>> PROBABLY BEEN HERE FOR 10,000 YEARS OR CLOSE TO THAT AS LONG AS THE BAY HAS BEEN HERE.

AND THEY USED TO COME UP THE POTOMAC RIVER AND THIS WAS PART OF ANNE'S RESEARCH I DEFER TO HER TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

BUT THEY ARE THE TOP PREDATOR OTHER THAN HUMANS IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND THE POTOMAC BECAUSE THEY ARE THE TOP OF THE FISH.CHAIN THEY EAT A LOT OF- SO THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM.

>> Jeff: AND THEY WERE SCARCE FOR A WHILE AND NOW THAT IS IMPROVING?

>> WELL IT'S GONE UP AND DOWN.

CERTAINLY THE QUALITY OF THE POTOMAC RIVER HAS BEEN IMPROVING SAVE THE SEWAGE.

THAT RECENTLY SPILLED INTO THE POTOMAC.

SO WE WERE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF THE POTOMAC RIVER AND HOPEFULLY THE USE OF DOLPHINS -- THE USE OF THE RIVER BY THE DOLPHINS WAS GOING TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.

>> Jeff: ANNE MARIE LET'S TALK ABOUT DOLPHINS YOUR DISSERTATION TALKS ABOUT DOLPHINS BEING CHARACTERMATIC.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?

>> MEANING THAT THEY ARE VERY SOCIAL AND THEY'RE VERY MUCH LIKE ANIMALS THAT PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO.

THEY ARE VERY INTERESTING.

WE CAN SEE THEM WHEN THEY SURFACE FROM THE WATER UNLIKE OTHER MARINE ANIMALS THAT WE CAN'T SEE BECAUSE THEY LIVE COMPLETELY UNDER THE WATER.

SO THEM BEING SOCIAL THEY ARE INTELLIGENT SO IT MAKES THEM VERY INTERESTING IN TERMS OF THEIR BEHAVIOR AND THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE TO COME UP TO BREAK THE SURFACE TO BREATHE SO THEY ARE MAMMALS THAT LIVE IN THE WATER ENVIRONMENT THEY ARE ALSO INTERESTING FROM A PHYSIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE TO HAVE GONE FROM WATER TO LAND AND THEN BACK TO WATER IS FASCINATING.

THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS IN WHICH THESE ANIMALS ARE INTERESTING THAT MAKE THEM CHARISMATIC.

>> I WAS NOT AWARE THEY HAD MIGRATED FROM WATER TO LAND AND BACK THAT WASN'T RECENTLY, RIGHT?

>> NO, IT WASN'T.

IN TERMS OF AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE, MARINE MAMMALS WENT FROM THE SIZE OF BEING A DOMESTIC CAT TO THE SIZE OF A BLUE WHALE WHICH IS THE LARGEST MAMMAL IN THE WORLD.

IT IS THEY ARE FASCINATING.

>> JANET TELL US ABOUT THE DOLPHIN PROJECT IN THE BAY?

WHAT DO YOU TRACK?

>> WELL, THE POTOMAC CHESAPEAKE DOLPHIN PROJECT STARTED IN 2015.

AND IT WAS BASICALLY KIND OF BY ACCIDENT ALMOST BECAUSE I'VE BEEN STUDYING DOLPHINS IN AUSTRALIA FOR OVER THREE DECADES.

AND WE HAD BOUGHT A COTTAGE DOWN IN THE LOWER POTOMAC AND THE DAY WE CLOSED ON THE HOUSE, I WALKED IN THE BACKYARD AND SAW DOLPHINS.

AND THE IRONY MY HUSBAND WAS TRYING TO GET ME AWAY FROM MY WORK SO THAT DIDN'T WORK.

AND WE STARTED THE DOLPHIN PROJECT IN PART BECAUSE THEY HAD RECENTLY SUFFERED WHAT IS CALLED AN UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT THE ATTRIBUTED TO A VIRUS SO THAT THOUSANDS OF DOLPHINS DIED NOT THOUSANDS IN THE CHESAPEAKE AND POTOMAC BUT IN THE EPIDEMIC STARTED IN VIRGINIA WATERS THAT GOT US INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND THAT IS HOW WE GOT THE PROJECT STARTED.

>> Jeff: WHAT WAS BEHIND THAT EVENT?

WAS IT ILLNESS OR SOME SORT OF TOXIN IN THE WATER?

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW THE EPIDEMIC GOT STARTED.

IT IS THOUGHT THE VIRUS MIGHT HAVE A RESERVOIR AND PILOT WHALES WHERE THEY DON'T GET THE DISEASE BUT CARRY IT SO WHEN THE ANIMALS ASSOCIATE WITH JUST WITH PILOT WHALES THEY MIGHT PICK IT UP, THAT'S ONE OF THE HYPOTHESES.

BUT WE DON'T KNOW.

CERTAINLY THE WATER QUALITY WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE EPIDEMIC AND BECAUSE THE ANIMALS IMMUNE SYSTEMS WILL BE COMPROMISED IF THE WATER QUALITY IS POOR AND THEIR DIET IS POOR.

>> Jeff: ANNE MARIE WITHIN THE POTOMAC AND THE CHESAPEAKE WHERE ARE THE DOLPHINS FOUND?

>> WITHIN THE CHESAPEAKE THEY ARE FOUND THROUGHOUT THE CHESAPEAKE.

FROM THE MOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE ALL THE WAY UP TO THE HEAD OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY, THEY ARE FOUND DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE POTOMAC THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE POTOMAC SINCE AT LEAST THE 1830s THERE ARE RECORDS.

BUT LIKE Dr.

MANN SAID THEY HAVE BEEN HERE FOR MUCH LONGER.

AND NOWADAYS WE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF DOLPHINS BEING IN THE POTOMAC FROM AT LEAST THE MOUTH ALL THE WAY UP TO THE DAHLGREN 301 BRIDGE.

SO THAT IS ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER.

BUT BACK FROM THE 1830s, TO THE 1930s, THERE ARE ACTUALLY SIGHTINGS THAT WENT PAST THAT POINT AND IT WASN'T UNUSUAL FOR DOLPHINS TO BE SEEN OFF OF THE ALEXANDRIA HARBOR.

NOW, THIS WASN'T NECESSARILY AN OCCURRENCE THAT HAPPENED ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN THE CONDITIONS WERE RIGHT THEY WOULD GO UP THE POTOMAC.

THAT FAR.

AND THERE'S ONE INSTANCE OF A DOLPHIN BEING PAST THE KEY BRIDGE IN WASHINGTON D.C.

SO RIGHT BY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WHICH IS ALWAYS A FUN STORY TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT.

BUT THEY ARE LIKELY GOING FURTHER UP THE RIVER DUE TO PREY BEING THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT DOLPHINS THE ATLANTIC REGION WHERE THEY ARE FOUND IS DRIVEN BY CERTAIN PREY.

>> Jeff: IN TERMS OF THE PREY ARE THEY INTERESTED IN ANY SPECIFIC KIND OF FISH?

>> YES, WE KNOW THAT THEY LIKE FISH SPECIES THAT SO ATLANTIC CROAKER, SPOT WEAK FISH ALL FISH THAT DOLPHINS ENJOY EATING.

AND THAT WE KNOW FROM STRANDING RECORDS FROM OTHER RESEARCHERS AT THE MOUTH OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY THAT THEY AND ANIMALS THAT THE HAVE WASHED ASHORE WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE STOMACH CONTENTEDS THEY FOUND THESE SPECIES OF FISH IN VERY HIGH PROPORTIONS.

AND ALSO FROM STUDIES DOWN FURTHER SOUTH IN NORTH CAROLINA, AND SO THAT'S RELEVANT BECAUSE THE DOLPHINS THAT ARE IN THE CHESAPEAKE AND POTOMAC RIVER SOME OF THOSE DOLPHINS ARE ALSO FOUND OFF OF NORTH CAROLINA DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF YEAR.

SO WE HAVE LIKELY SEVERAL DIFFERENT POPULATIONS THAT COME INTO THE AREA THAT MOVE ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST.

>> Jeff: I READ THAT YOU ALL HAVE IDENTIFIED A COUPLE THOUSAND DISTINCT INDIVIDUALS BY MARKINGS ON THE FIN.

DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS WE HAVE A POPULATION IN THE RIVER IN THE BAY OF A COUPLE THOUSAND?

OR COULD IT BE FIVE, 10 TIMES THAT?

>> WE THINK THERE ARE THOUSANDS% THAT COME INTO THE BAY EVERY SUMMER FROM AS ANNE SAID SEVERAL POPULATIONS.

AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT ROUGHLY THE SIZE OF THESE DISTINCT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE COMING IN.

AND IT MIGHT VARY FROM YEAR TO YEAR DEPENDING ON THEIR MOVEMENTS OR WHERE THE FISH ARE MOVING.

IT'S OVER REALLY JUST A FEW YEARS, WE'VE IDENTIFIED OVER 2,000 ANIMALS.

AND THE NUMBERS ARE PROBABLY MUCH HIGHER BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT GOTTEN THROUGH ALL THE IMAGES THAT WE'VE TAKEN.

>> Jeff: DO THEY ALL LEAVE IN THE WINTER?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION.

SO I'LL JUST ADD-ON TO WHAT Dr.

MANN SAID WE'VE IDENTIFIED IN A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME OVER 2,000 ANIMALS BUT OUR STUDY AREA IS FAIRLY SMALL AS WELL.

SO JUST AT THE MOUTH OF THE POTOMAC WHERE WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING OUT ON A BOAT AND TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OF FINS TO IDENTIFY INDIVIDUALS.

IT'S LIKELY THERE ARE MANY MORE AND SOME OF THE POPULATIONS THAT COME INTO THE AREA HAVE NUMBERS ESTIMATED OF UPWARDS OF 20,000.

SO THERE ARE A LOT OF AN PALS.

AND WE HAVE YET TO DISCOVER ALL OF THEM AS WE SAY.

IN TERMS OF DOLPHINS WITHIN THE CHESAPEAKE AND TIME OF THE YEAR AND DO THEY STAY HERE OR NOT?

SO WHAT WORKING WITH OTHER RESEARCHERS ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST THAT DO SIMILAR RESEARCH AS WE DO, WE'VE ACTUALLY BEEN ABLE TO MATCH DOLPHINS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE POTOMAC USING THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THEIR DOOR SAL FINS TO THE OTHER SITES AND WHAT WE FOUND THERE'S LIKELY A COMMUNITY PERHAPS ITS OWN POPULATION OF ANIMALS THAT JUST USE THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND VIRGINIA COASTAL WATERS YEAR-ROUND.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOVEL BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, ACCORDING TO THE AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC DATA AND KNOWLEDGE AND CONSERVATION, IS NOT INCLUDED.

>> Jeff: JANET BEFORE WE GO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP AND PROTECT OUR FELLOW MAMMALS OUT THERE?

>> WELL, WE HAVE A WEBSITE AND WE ALWAYS WELCOME CONTRIBUTORS TO THE RESEARCH.

SO YOU CAN GO TO PC DOLPHIN PROJECT.ORG.

PC FOR POTOMAC CHESAPEAKE PROJECT.

SO THAT IS A BIG WAY PEOPLE CAN HELP.

THEY CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO ANY ORGANIZATION THAT'S PROMOTING GOOD WATER QUALITY AND THE HEALTH OF THE POTOMAC RIVER.

>> Jeff: OUR THANKS TO THE DOCTORS.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE MONDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

FOR "DIRECT CONNECTION".