Final answer:
The third state alphabetically in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is New York.The Chesapeake Bay is struggling ecologically due to nutrient pollution, necessitating multi-state cooperation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses a vast area that stretches across six states. When listing these states alphabetically to identify the third state, the list would be Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. Therefore, the third state alphabetically in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is New York.
The Chesapeake Bay is facing significant environmental challenges, including the presence of dead zones caused by nutrient runoff from fertilizers. There have been extensive efforts to restore its health, necessitating interstate cooperation due to multiple sources of pollution affecting the ecosystem. Innovative methods, such as the creation of experimental oyster reefs, are part of the restoration strategies.