Best Management Practices (BMP) Verification Committee
Upcoming Meetings
No upcoming meetings.
Scope and Purpose
The Best Management Practices (BMP) Verification Committee is charged with responsibility for developing all the elements of a basinwide BMP verification framework— BMP verification principles, protocols, review panel, and other verification related procedures (e.g., eliminating double counting, clean up of historical databases)—working in tandem with the Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership's pollutant source sector and habitat restoration workgroups.
The BMP Verification Framework includes:
- Verification principles – Partnership agreement on principles to guide the jurisdictions’ development and implementation of BMP verification programs
- Source sector- and habit-specific verification protocols – Developed through the Water Quality Goal Implementation Team's source sector workgroups — Agriculture, Forestry, Stormwater, and Wastewater — and Vital Habitat GIT’s habitat workgroups — Wetlands and Streams — and approved by the Partnership
- Verification review panel – Regional and national verification experts charged by the Partnership to review/make recommendations on the seven jurisdictions’ proposed verification programs
Goals and Priorities
Priority work tasks include the following:
- Review, comment on, and modify a working draft approach to preventing double counting BMPs developed by USGS working with the six states and NRCS.
- Review, comment on, and modify a working draft approach to cleaning up historical BMP databases developed by EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office staff.
- Synthesize the various source sector workgroups and accounting workgroups/teams recommended verification protocols, feedback on the principles, etc. into an initial BMP verification framework for presentation to the WQGIT and then the other GITs for feedback and direction.
- Take the individual and collective feedback from the six GITs and the three advisory committees and revise the BMP verification framework prior to presentation to the Management Board.
- Take the feedback from the Management Board and work with the appropriate workgroups and GITs to address the concerns and specific direction from the Management Board.
- Let the Management Board know when all the components of the partnership’s overall BMP verification framework are ready for presentation to the Principals’ Staff Committee for review and adoption.
BMP Verification Program Plan Documentation
Please visit the following webpage for access to the jurisdictions' draft BMP Verification Program Plans, initial feedback reports on the draft Verification Program Plans submitted on June 30, 2015, as well as other useful resources related to the BMP Verification effort.
www.chesapeakebay.net/about/programs/bmp/additional_resources
Projects and Resources
Basinwide BMP Verification Framework Document
Revised final draft of the Chespeake Bay Basinwide BMP Verification Framwork document, updated in August 2014 for review by the Management Board. Supporting documentation provided as Appendices A-U.
- BMP verification framework final draft for mb review 08112014 [PDF, 1.8 MB]
- BMP verification framework document with all appendices [PDF, 34.7 MB]
- All appendices (A-U) [PDF, 33.4 MB]
- Appendix a--bmp verification principles [PDF, 341.7 KB]
- Appendix b--combined sector-habitat bmp verification guidance [PDF, 3.0 MB]
- Appendix c--bmp verification review panel charge and members [PDF, 500.9 KB]
- Appendix d--cbp bmp verif review panel recommendations 11 19 2013 [PDF, 627.9 KB]
- Appendix e--ensuring full access to federal conservation practice data [PDF, 391.0 KB]
- Appendix f--usgs hively et al 2013 [PDF, 2.5 MB]
- Appendix g--enhance collection and reporting of cost shared practices [PDF, 295.5 KB]
- Appendix h--cbp resource improvement practice definitions and visual indicators document 8-8-14 [PDF, 3.4 MB]
- Appendix i-placeholder [PDF, 82.2 KB]
- Appendix j--acknowledgments [PDF, 78.3 KB]
- Appendix k--list of cbp groups [PDF, 165.4 KB]
- Appendix l--building the basinwide framework [PDF, 550.6 KB]
- Appendix m--partnership process for development of the basinwide bmp verification framework [PDF, 402.5 KB]
- Appendix n--record of cbp meetings and teleconferences including bmp verification [PDF, 139.9 KB]
- Appendix o--verification guidance development and review process [PDF, 471.1 KB]
- Appendix p--relative load reductions analysis 02112014 [PDF, 681.3 KB]
- Appendix q--nps bmp qapp-guidance 8-11-14 [PDF, 1.1 MB]
- Appendix r--eo13508 [PDF, 1.3 MB]
- Appendix s--nrc 2011 report chatper on bmp tracking and accountability [PDF, 790.4 KB]
- Appendix t--cac correspondence combined [PDF, 25.8 MB]
- Appendix u--draft stac verification oversight subgroup 16aug2013 [PDF, 1.6 MB]
Integrating Federal and State data records to report progress
Integrating Federal and State data records to report progress in establishing agricultural conservation practices on Chesapeake Bay farms. The final published report and appendices are available online via USGS: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1287/
Citation:
Hively, W.D., Devereux, O.H., and Claggett, Peter, 2013, Integrating Federal and State data records to report progress in establishing agricultural conservation practices on Chesapeake Bay farms: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1287, 36 p., http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20131287.
Existing State and USGS 1619 Data Sharing Agreements
Maryland, New York, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) currently have signed 1619 data sharing agreements with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Services Agency (FSA). As part of the collaborative work on larger BMP Verification Framework, the jurisdictional partners are working closely with NRCS and FSA to ensure all six states have consistent, comprehensive data sharing agreements in place. The objective is to ensure each jurisdiction has equal and full access to all federally cost shared data needed to fully credit producers for their implementation conservation practices. These agreements ensure that full access to data while maintaining the business confidentiality of the individual producers information and data. The USGS’s 1619 data sharing agreements with NRCS and FSA were put into place to assist the six states in: getting full access to the federal cost shared data; enhancing their existing tracking and reporting systems; and developing and fully implementing procedures to eliminate any double counting of individual practices funded by two (or more) state/federal cost share programs.
- Md nrcs 1619 compliance agreement mda [PDF, 193.4 KB]
- Usgs nrcs cooperative agreement 12 14 10 [PDF, 341.0 KB]
- Usgs fsa nrcs data handling procedures 3 2011 [PDF, 158.5 KB]
- Wvda usda 1619 compliance agreement [PDF, 2.2 MB]
- 9 approval for bilateral sharing of data with states [PDF, 156.8 KB]
- Va nrcs 1619 data sharing agreement [PDF, 227.5 KB]
- Usgs fsa cooperative agreement 8 2 10 [PDF, 2.5 MB]
- Wvca nrcs 1619 data sharing agreement 2 2012 [PDF, 931.2 KB]
- Ny usc nrcs 1619 compliance agreement [PDF, 2.0 MB]
Documentation and Tables for CBP-Approved BMPs
To view the most recent version of the Scenario Builder documentation, go here: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/publications/title/documentation_for_scenario_builder
Jurisdictions' BMP Tracking and Reporting Leads and Contacts
Publications
Water Quality Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Governance Protocols
The Water Quality Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Governance Protocols articulate the decision-making procedures and cross-sector communication processes observed by the GIT and its workgroups.
View detailsBMP Verification Principles
Published on December 6, 2012Developed by the BMP Verification Committee and Water Quality Goal Implementation Team, these principles were adopted by the Principals' Staff Committee to guide the jurisdictions’ development and implementation of BMP verification programs.
View detailsRelated Links
Links to the jurisdictions' Phase I and Phase II Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs)
The Chesapeake Bay Program's Watershed Implementation Plans webpage has direct links to each of the Phase I and Phase II Plans.
CAST Documentation
The Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool (CAST) is an online nutrient and sediment load estimator tool. The documentation provides definitions and information about Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Tools
The Chesapeake Bay Program's WIP Tools page provides links to modeling documentation and information about BMPs. Disclaimer: some links may be outdated. See CAST/VAST/MAST for updated documentation.
Delaware DNREC's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan webpage
View or download the Phase II WIP here
District of Columbia's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan
Washington DC's Phase II WIP from DDOE's website
Maryland's Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan
View or download Maryland's Phase II WIP and related documents from MDE's website
New York DEC's Chesapeake Bay Program webpage
Find New York's Phase I Watershed Implementation Plan and similar documents here (scroll down the page)
Pennsylvania DEP's Chesapeake Bay Program webpage
Find Pennsylvania's Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) and all other TMDL- and Bay-related documents here (scroll down)
Virginia's Chesapeake Bay TMDL webpage
Virginia's Watershed Implementation Plans and other supporting documents are available here.
West Virginia's Chesapeake Bay Program documents
West Virginia's final Bay-related documents are available here
Workgroups and Action Teams
Members
Whitney Ashead (Staffer), Chesapeake Research Consortium
Ann Swanson, Chesapeake Bay Commission
60 West Street
Suite 406
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Email: aswanson@chesbay.us
Phone: (410) 263-3420
Aaron Ristow, Upper Susquehanna Coalition
Beth McGee, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Bill Angstadt, Delaware Maryland Agribusiness Association
P.O. Box 377
Reading, Pennsylvania 19607
Email: angstadtconsult@aol.com
Phone: (610) 334-3390
George Onyullo, District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE)
1200 First St. NE
5th Floor
Washington, District of Columbia 20002
Email: george.onyullo@dc.gov
John Rhoderick, Maryland Department of Agriculture
Matt Monroe, West Virginia Department of Agriculture-Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Division
60B Moorefield Industrial Park Rd
Moorefield, West Virginia 26836
Email: mmonroe@wvda.us
Phone: (304) 538-2397
Patricia Buckley, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Rachel Carson State Office Building
400 Market Street
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
Email: pbuckley@state.pa.us
Phone: (717) 772-1675
Roy Hoagland, HOPE Impacts, LLC
14507 Sailview Court
Midlothian, Virginia 23112
Email: royhoagland@hopeimpacts.com
Phone: (804) 221-0404
Russ Baxter, Virginia Office of Natural Resources
1111 E. Broad Street
Suite 4066
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Email: russ.baxter@governor.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 786-0044
Susan Marquart, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
1 Credit Union Place
Suite 340
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110
Email: susan.marquart@pa.usda.gov
Phone: (717) 237-2237
Hank Zygmunt, Resource Dynamics, Inc
Valerie Frances, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Environmental Markets
1400 Independence Ave SW
South Bldg Rm 4058
Washington, District of Columbia 20250
Email: vfrances@oce.usda.gov
Phone: (202) 401-0965
Nona McCoy, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Jennifer Volk, University of Delaware
69 Transportation Circle
Dover, Delaware 19901
Email: jennvolk@udel.edu
Phone: (302) 730-4000
Jack Frye, Chesapeake Bay Commission
General Assembly Building
910 Capitol Street, Room 270
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Email: jfrye@chesbay.us
Phone: (804) 786-4849
Melanie Frisch, U.S. Department of the Navy
1500 Gilbert Street
Bldg N26, 3rd Floor, Room 3300
Norfolk, Virginia 23511
Email: melanie.frisch@navy.mil
Phone: (757) 341-0450
James Martin, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
600 E. Main St
Suite 1104
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Email: james.e.martin@dcr.virginia.gov
Phone: (804) 786-2291