HARRISONBURG VA:  (WSVA) – A new study shows that oxygen levels in the Chesapeake Bay improved this year.

Water monitoring data collected by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Old Dominion University show that dissolved oxygen conditions in the Chesapeake Bay mainstem of Virginia and Maryland were much better than average from May to October.

In fact, this year had the lowest average dissolved oxygen volume since monitoring began 39 years ago.

Scientists say this has led to a healthier environment for fish, crabs, oysters and other living organisms in the bay.