Editing Chesapeake Bay (section)

===Tourism and recreation===
[[File:Thomas Point Lighthouse Chesapeake Bay.jpg|thumb|The [[Thomas Point Shoal Light]] in Maryland]]
[[File:Luxury waterfront townhomes in Maryland .jpeg|right|thumb|As of 2021, the luxury townhomes on Carr's Beach and Sparrow's Beach.]]
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[[File:ChesapeakeTidalWetlands.jpg|thumb|Tidal [[wetlands]] of the Chesapeake Bay]]
The Chesapeake Bay is a main feature for tourists who visit Maryland and Virginia each year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mdsg.umd.edu/|title=Maryland Sea Grant|website=Maryland Sea Grant|language=en|access-date=2018-09-12}}</ref> Fishing, crabbing, swimming, boating, kayaking,<ref name=twsT18/> and sailing are extremely popular activities enjoyed on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. As a result, tourism has a notable impact on Maryland's economy.<ref>{{cite web |author=Harvey M. Katz |url=http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/post/Targeting-Resources-to-Better-Protect-the-Chesapeake-Bay-is-Aim-of-US-Department-of-Agriculture.aspx |title=Chesapeake Bay Executive Order &#124; Targeting Resources to Better Protect the Chesapeake Bay is Aim of U.S. Department of Agriculture's 202(b) Report |publisher=Executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net |date=2009-08-27 |access-date=2014-02-28 |archive-date=2014-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305050928/http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net/post/Targeting-Resources-to-Better-Protect-the-Chesapeake-Bay-is-Aim-of-US-Department-of-Agriculture.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> One report suggested that Annapolis was an appealing spot for families, water sports and boating.<ref name=twsT24>{{cite news |first=Anne |last=Glusker |title=A Treasure Chest of Fun on Chesapeake Bay |newspaper=The New York Times |date= October 9, 2005 |url= http://travel.nytimes.com/2005/10/09/travel/09kids.html |access-date= 2011-04-20}}</ref> Commentator Terry Smith spoke about the bay's beauty: {{blockquote|The water is glassy, smooth and gorgeous, his wake white against the deep blue. That's the problem with the Chesapeake. It's so damned beautiful.<ref name=twsT21/>}}

One account suggested how the Chesapeake attracts people:
{{blockquote|You see them everywhere on Maryland's Eastern Shore, the weekend sailors. They are unmistakable with their deep tans, their baggy shorts, their frayed polo shirts, their Top-Siders worn without socks. Some may not even own their own boats, much less win regattas, but they are inexorably drawn to the Chesapeake Bay&nbsp;... I planned to spend my days boating, eating as many Chesapeake Bay blue crabs as possible and making a little study of Eastern Shore locals. For city folk like me, they're interesting, even exotic&nbsp;–the weather-beaten crabbers and oystermen called "watermen," gentlemen-farmers and sharecroppers, boat builders, antiques dealers&nbsp;– all of whom sound like Southerners with mouthfuls of marbles when they talk. — Susan Spano, ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', 2008<ref name=twsT27>{{cite news |first=Susan |last=Spano |title=Peak Season on Chesapeake Bay |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=June 23, 2002 |url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-062302maryland,0,2017585.story |access-date= 2011-04-20
}}</ref>}}

The Chesapeake Bay plays an extremely important role in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania's economies, in addition to the ecosystem. The nature-based recreation of wildlife, boating, and ecotourism are dependent on enforcement of the [[Clean Water Act]] (CWA), which regulates pollutant discharges and supports related pollution control programs. In 2006, "roughly eight million wildlife watchers spent $636 million, $960 million, and $1.4 billion in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania" according to the [[Chesapeake Bay Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grisham |first1=Carrie |title=The Economic Importance of the Bay |url=https://www.cbf.org/issues/what-we-have-to-lose/economic-importance-of-the-bay/index.html |publisher=Chesapeake Bay Foundation |access-date=1 November 2020}}</ref>