SOLOMONS, Md. (AP) — Researchers are fanning out across the Chesapeake to see what Sandy has wrought.

So far, indications are the impact has not been as great as last fall when a pair of tropical storms caused widespread flooding throughout the northeast that dumped mud, debris and sewage into the bay. Chesapeake Bay Foundation scientist Beth McGee says the high flows that accompanied tropical storms Irene and Lee last fall haven’t materialized following Sandy.

Bob Orth, a scientist with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and leader of an annual baywide survey of underwater grasses, says his gut feeling is that the storm’s effect on bay grasses was probably minimal. Orth says the timing of the storm helped because it hit after the growing season has ended for bay grasses.

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