Natural Resources Summary
The Hampton Roads region is home to an abundance of valuable natural resources that add to the economic health and vitality of the region. Highlights of the region's progress include:
- The quality of water entering the Chesapeake Bay reflects the actions of individuals and businesses in Hampton Roads and across Virginia. Nitrogen and phosphorous discharges into the Chesapeake Bay have decreased more than 10 percent since 2000.
- Hampton Roads plays an important part in Virginia's land preservation due to its location at the southern tip of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. More than 14 percent of the region's land area is designated as protected land.
- After exceeding the state average in 2005 and 2006, the recycling rate in the region dropped sharply in 2007.
The natural resources indicators help to assess the progress that the region is making and understand the key factors that influence the sustainability of the region's abundant natural resources.
