update on chesapeake bay restoration issues
DESCRIPTION
Briefing to the Water Resources Technical Committee January 8, 2009. Update on Chesapeake Bay Restoration Issues. Presentation Overview. CBF’s lawsuit against EPA Scientists’ Statement Press Attention Most Recent Progress Results Costs. CBF’s Lawsuit. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Update on Update on Chesapeake Bay Chesapeake Bay Restoration Restoration IssuesIssues
Briefing to theWater Resources Technical
CommitteeJanuary 8, 2009
Briefing to theWater Resources Technical
CommitteeJanuary 8, 2009
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Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview
CBF’s lawsuit against EPACBF’s lawsuit against EPA Scientists’ StatementScientists’ Statement Press AttentionPress Attention Most Recent Progress ResultsMost Recent Progress Results CostsCosts
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CBF’s LawsuitCBF’s Lawsuit
Lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by the Chesapeake Lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on Monday, January 5Bay Foundation on Monday, January 5thth..– For ‘Failure to Comply with Chesapeake 2000 For ‘Failure to Comply with Chesapeake 2000
Agreement’Agreement’– Jointly with Bay Watermen associationsJointly with Bay Watermen associations– Outlines how poor water quality has destroyed fisheries, Outlines how poor water quality has destroyed fisheries,
etc. (i.e., blue crabs, SAV, oysters, Bay fish)etc. (i.e., blue crabs, SAV, oysters, Bay fish)– Cites EPA’s failure via a detailed history of missed Cites EPA’s failure via a detailed history of missed
deadlines (21 pgs. Total)deadlines (21 pgs. Total)– Focus on ‘Reasonable Assurance’ & Penalties for Failure Focus on ‘Reasonable Assurance’ & Penalties for Failure
to Meet Deadlinesto Meet Deadlines
“…“…this lawsuit is going to put the restoration of the this lawsuit is going to put the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay directly on the desk of the new EPA Chesapeake Bay directly on the desk of the new EPA administrator…” administrator…” – Will Baker, President of CBF Will Baker, President of CBF
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December 8, 2008 December 8, 2008 Scientists’ StatementScientists’ Statement Current Bay Program is not working.Current Bay Program is not working. Mandatory enforceable measures Mandatory enforceable measures
needed.needed. Axioms for restoring the Bay:Axioms for restoring the Bay:
– Pollution reduction by everyone.– Change development patterns & no net loss
of forest and wetlands.– Mandatory agricultural pollution controls.– Stronger fisheries protection.– Fully implement existing tributary strategies.– Make the Chesapeake Bay a high priority for
funding and enforcement.
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Recent Press AttentionRecent Press Attention
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Common themesCommon themes
Bay Program is a failure.Bay Program is a failure. More regulation is needed.More regulation is needed.
– Development & growthDevelopment & growth– FarmingFarming
No mention of costs.No mention of costs. No mention of cost effectiveness.No mention of cost effectiveness.
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Goal
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Potomac TN 1985 - 2007
0
5,000,000
10,000,000
15,000,000
20,000,000
25,000,000
30,000,000
1985 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Year
TN
(LB
S/Y
R)
Agriculture
Point Source
Urban
Mixed Open
Septic
Forest
Non-Tidal Water Deposition
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Costs – the big pictureCosts – the big picture
Unfunded gap in Unfunded gap in 2003 estimated to 2003 estimated to be $12.8 billionbe $12.8 billion– Just MD, VA, & PAJust MD, VA, & PA– Costs higher nowCosts higher now– Budgets worseBudgets worse
Does not include Does not include costs to maintain or costs to maintain or replace existing replace existing infrastructure, which infrastructure, which is a huge expense.is a huge expense.
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The challenge The challenge according to Jeff according to Jeff Lape…Lape…
– “…“…growth and development are the growth and development are the greatest challenge to restoring and greatest challenge to restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay.”protecting the Chesapeake Bay.”
Stormwater management and Stormwater management and
growth appear to be the primary growth appear to be the primary focus of CBF, the Potomac focus of CBF, the Potomac Conservancy, and other groups.Conservancy, and other groups.
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Is growth the biggest Is growth the biggest challenge to a clean challenge to a clean Bay?Bay? Increasing numbers of Increasing numbers of
chickens, turkeys, and chickens, turkeys, and beef cattle. beef cattle.
Declining agricultural Declining agricultural acresacres
More animals on smaller More animals on smaller farms.farms.
Crops the highest Crops the highest loading land use.loading land use.