On October 4, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its evaluations of how the seven jurisdictions in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed did in meeting the 2020-21 and 2022-2023 cleanup milestones.

Only the District of Columbia and West Virginia are on track to meet their overall cleanup goals by 2025, but the other jurisdictions are not on track to meet all the cleanup goals.

“Although the results are mixed overall, there are more positive developments in the mix than ever. Most of the partnership is not on track for the 2025 targets, but we are encouraged by significant recent progress made in the states,” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “We applaud the historic new programs, laws, and funding in Pennsylvania to help farmers.  Those achievements will help us accelerate restoration in the local streams that need it the most.”

“We applaud West Virginia and the District of Columbia, and we will continue to partner with the other states to keep accelerating to expand on our successes,” said Ortiz. “More than two decades ago, virtually no streams were getting healthier. Now 40% of them are getting better thanks to our interstate collaboration.”

Overall, the Partnership has already achieved 100% of targeted sediment reductions, and practices are in place to achieve 49% of the nitrogen reductions and 64% of the phosphorus reductions.

“We are dedicated to reducing pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and we also understand the complexities each state faces with technical assistance, data verification, staffing and funding,” added Chesapeake Bay Program Director Dr. Kandis Boyd.  “Although there is good news, there are also new challenges – such as addressing our evolving climate, increased population in the watershed, and advancing air/land/water monitoring and modeling – that hinder sustainable environmental and economic progress. We are committed to working with our partner states and agencies to address these challenges to restore our national treasure.”

Pennsylvania

EPA's evaluation of Pennsylvania's progress shows the Commonwealth did not achieve its statewide or state-basin 2021 targets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment.

While the state made progress in implementing nine priority best management practices, all but one fall short of the 2022-23 milestone targets.

Traditional cover crop acres is ahead of the 2025 target, but not BMPs for forest buffers, stream side fencing, high residue tillage and soil conservation and water quality planning.

"Pennsylvania continues to make incremental progress toward its goals; however, the current pace of implementation is not on track to meet its overall nutrient and sediment targets. EPA expects Pennsylvania to accelerate BMP implementation in the agricultural sector."

Click Here for a copy of the evaluation.

Visit EPA’s Milestones Evaluations webpage for more information.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

Check DEP’s 2022 Water Quality Report to find out how clean streams are near you.

Related Article:

-- Final State Budget Includes Nearly $700 Million In Funding To Support Local And State Environmental, Recreation Infrastructure Projects!

Related Articles This Week:

-- Bay Journal: With 2025 Chesapeake Bay Cleanup Goal Out Of Reach, Region Plans For What's Next At Oct. 11 Executive Council Meeting - By Karl Blankenship, Chesapeake Bay Journal  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2022 State Of The Chesapeake Blueprint Report Finds Restoration Efforts Are Off Track  [PaEN]

-- DEP Provides PA Chesapeake Bay Watershed Healthy Waters Partnership Update  [PaEN]

-- DEP Now Accepting Applications For Small Business Advantage Grants For Natural Resource Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Pollution Prevention Projects  [PaEN]

-- Lancaster County Community Foundation Announce More Than $100,000 In Lancaster Clean Water Fund Grants  [PaEN]

-- Register Now For NFWF Virtual Chesapeake Bay Agricultural Networking Forum & Listening Sessions Starting Nov. 8  [PaEN]

-- Bay Journal: Chesapeake Bay States To Get Millions For Climate-Smart Farm Practices -- By Ad Crable, Chesapeake Bay Journal  [PaEN]

-- Forests For The Chesapeake Bay: Monster Trunk Talley Photo Contest; Oct. 28-29 TreeLay; Riparian Forest Buffer Summit

-- Land Trust Alliance Magazine Highlights Efforts Along PA's Kittatinny Ridge To Document The Economic Benefits Of Land Conservation - By Marina Shauffler [PaEN]

[Posted: October 4, 2022]

10/10/2022