Scientists are worried that a surge in stormwater and pollution coming from Pennsylvania and New York through the Conowingo Dam is endangering the Chesapeake Bay, writes Scott Dance for The Washington Post.

Rising Susquehanna River waters have prompted dam operator Exelon to open its floodgates twice in three weeks. This releases a deluge of muddy brown water into the upper Chesapeake.

“The water right now really looks like chocolate milk,” said Cindy Palinkas, an associate professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

Palinkas recently did research at the mouth of the Susquehanna to determine the effect of the record July rainfall on oysters. Now, there are also questions about the long-term effects of the nutrient pollution and plastics from the floodwater.

“It’s the event that doesn’t go away,” said Doug Myers, Maryland senior scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Read more about the surge in stormwater and pollution coming from Pennsylvania and New York in The Washington Post by clicking here.