Publications

The 2010 Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL) outlines the reductions in nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment that are needed to ensure the Bay can meet water quality standards. To collectively achieve these Bay-wide nutrient and sediment reductions, each watershed jurisdiction is assigned specific targets. The Chesapeake Bay Program has developed updated planning targets for the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs).

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The implementation, tracking and reporting of best management practices (BMPs) has been at the center of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s restoration efforts for three decades. BMPs are conservation and technological practices that can reduce the amounts of nonpoint source pollutants—such as nutrients and sediment—that enter local waters and the tidal Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Program rigorously tracks the progress of its partners toward meeting goals for healthier Bay waters, including their BMP implementation efforts. As part of this effort, the partnership requires a three-step BMP verification process that ensures they are being implemented correctly and are effectively reducing nutrient and sediment pollution as expected.

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The population of the Chesapeake Bay region continues to grow, driving land use changes such as increases in developed land areas and decreases in agricultural and natural land cover. How will these changes affect future pollutant loads in the watershed? Using modeling tools, the Chesapeake Bay Program has generated growth projections through the year 2025, which will help jurisdictions (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) and local partners plan for what is to come. In this context, accounting for growth really means accounting for changes in pollution loads from any source category (e.g. wastewater) due to population growth and associated land use change.

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The Chesapeake Bay Program Bay Barometer rack card is a student-friendly summary of the Bay Barometer: Health and Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed report.

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More than 3,500 square miles of West Virginia sit within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and one of the state’s major rivers—the Potomac—flows into the Bay. West Virginia has committed to achieving 18 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward seven of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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More than 21,000 square miles of Virginia sit within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and five of the Commonwealth’s major rivers—including the Appomattox, James, Potomac, Rappahannock and Roanoke—flow into the Bay. Virginia has committed to achieving 28 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward 12 of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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More than 22,000 square miles of Pennsylvania sit within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and one of the Commonwealth’s major rivers—the Susquehanna—flows into the Bay. The Susquehanna River is the Bay’s largest tributary, and contributes about half of the Bay’s freshwater (about 19 million gallons per minute). Pennsylvania has committed to achieving 25 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward 10 of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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More than 6,000 square miles of New York sit within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and one of the state’s major rivers—the Susquehanna—flows into the Bay. New York has committed to achieving 14 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward six of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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Almost all of Maryland sits within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and four of the state’s major rivers—including the Choptank, Patuxent, Potomac and Susquehanna—flow into the Bay. Maryland has committed to achieving 29 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward 10 of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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More than 700 square miles of Delaware sit within the 64,000 square mile Chesapeake Bay watershed, and four of the state’s major rivers—the Choptank, Nanticoke, Pocomoke and Sassafras—flow into the Bay. Delaware has committed to achieving 22 of the outcomes in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Its progress toward seven of these outcomes is highlighted here.

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