On January 8, 2020, the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee held a hearing at the PA Farm Show that put a spotlight on resources needed to implement Pennsylvania's plan to clean up our streams and rivers to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations.  Here's what was said, in-part--

On January 8, 2020 the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee put a spotlight on the resources needed to implement Pennsylvania’s Clean Water Plan to meet Chesapeake Bay cleanup obligations at a special public briefing held in conjunction with the PA Farm Show in Harrisburg 

The Committee heard from representatives of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission, PA Farm Bureau, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA, the departments of Agriculture and Environmental Protection and the State Conservation Commission which administers programs supporting county conservation districts.

There were three things participants agreed on--

-- We Have A Credible Plan: The Phase III Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan submitted to EPA showing how Pennsylvania would meet its water quality cleanup obligations was built from the ground up, based on significant local input and buy-in and represents the most credible plan ever developed by the state.

-- We Need More Resources: Many more resources were needed to implement the stakeholder-backed recommendations in the Plan, including help for farmers to install conservation practices, for communities to deal with issues like stormwater and to provide incentives for installing riparian stream buffers.

-- Momentum: As a result of the stakeholder process that was used to develop the WIP III Plan and other issues, there is now momentum and energy building to address clean water issues in the General Assembly and across the state.

At the start of the briefing, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Committee and the incoming Chair of the interstate Chesapeake Bay Commission said--  “We have more attention on clean water issues now in the General Assembly than we’ve had at any time I can remember.

“I do know one thing, if we have clean water in Pennsylvania, the Bay will take care of itself.”

In the announcement of the briefing, Sen. Yaw said, “Based on extensive testing and undertakings, we know where the problems are in the watershed.  Without question, we face significant challenges in meeting the EPA TMDL requirements. 

“We just need the time and, most importantly, the resources to address those problem areas.”

The stakeholder-driven Phase III Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan submitted by Pennsylvania to EPA identifies the need for $324 million a year in funding to support direct financial incentives, technical assistance and other measures to implement the Plan.

Click Here to read the entire hearing summary.

[PA Chesapeake Bay Plan

[For more information on Pennsylvania’s plan, visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Office webpage.

[How Clean Is Your Stream?

[DEP’s Interactive Report Viewer allows you to zoom in on your own stream or watershed to find out how clean your stream is or if it has impaired water quality using the latest information in the draft 2020 Water Quality Report.]

(Map: Streams and lakes with impaire water quality circa 2017 included in the Commission’s Water Rich & Water Wise report; a similar report in 2020 identified 25,468 miles of water quality impaired streams; the 2017 report had 19,900 miles.)

Related Articles This Week:

-- Chesapeake Bay Commission Recommends Increasing Federal Fund To Chesapeake Bay Watershed Cleanup

-- Funding Flashback 2017:  PA Chesapeake Bay Commission Members Spotlight Need For Clean Water Fund In PA

-- Bay Journal Forum: Muddy Creek Chapter Trout Unlimited's Many Hands Make Light Work Of Tree-Planting In York County

Related Articles - Budget:

-- House Budget Hearing Fails To Address A Single Critical Budget Issue Faced By DEP Or DCNR

-- Work The Problem, Cancel The Show: Environmental Funding Is About People, Not Numbers

-- 90% Of Voters Want MORE Funding For Critical Environmental, Conservation Programs & Local Projects-- Whose Budget Proposal Does That?

-- $201,977,000 Diverted From Environment, Energy Funds To Balance FY 2020-21 State Budget

[Posted: March 1, 2021]

3/8/2021