Widespread flooding in the Baltimore region is just the latest threat to Maryland waterways like the Chesapeake Bay. With more than 13 inches of rain so far this month, it’s the wettest June on record. And on Saturday, June 27, the floodwaters pouring into the sewer system through cracked pipes, manholes, and storm drains led to tens of thousands of gallons of sewage getting dumped into the Patapsco River. At the same time, a damaged sewer line caused 72,000 gallons of sewage to flow into a tributary of White Marsh Run.

That’s more bad news for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, which recently released the bay’s annual health report. The results from the latest survey scored the bay’s health at a disappointing D+, blaming both agricultural runoff and pollution from sewage lines upriver.

In Baltimore, Kurt Kocher of the public works department says the city is doing all it can to prevent more sewage from leaking into the water.

“Unfortunately when it’s this amount of rain, it will happen,” Kocher said.

He pointed out that the department is already spending $100 million on sewer pipe repairs and other projects to address the problem. While the agriculture industry works to limit harmful runoff, and while Maryland municipalities do their part to repair sewer lines, residents can also help protect the Chesapeake from further pollution. For instance, Angie Hicks of Angie’s List recommends inspecting residential sewer lines for all homes more than 40 years old, which can help prevent waste water from leaking into water sources.

For Maryland residents looking for a silver lining, a longtime advocate for the Chesapeake Bay did report some anecdotal signs of progress this June. For the last 28 years, former Maryland State Senator Bernie Fowler has conducted his “Sneaker Index” to measure the bay’s health. Each year, Fowler wades into the water and measures how far he can go before his white Converse sneakers disappear in the murky water. This June, the 91 year old politician said the water is clearer than it’s been since he was a boy playing in the bay in the 1950s.

Despite the poor score from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that Maryland is on track to meet its reduced pollution goals. The EPA did warn that polluted runoff continues to be a problem.