Chesapeake 2000 and the Bay

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Chesapeake 2000 and the Bay
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The Chesapeake Bay is North Americas largest and
most biologically diverse estuary, home to more
than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.
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For more than 300 years, the Bay and its
tributaries have sustained the regions economy
anddefined its traditions and culture.
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It is a resource of extraordinary productivity,
worthy of the highest levels ofprotection and
restoration.
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The Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership
Governor of MD
Governor of VA
Governor of PA
Mayor of DC
EPA Administrator
Executive Council
Chair of Chesapeake Bay Commission
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The Bay and its rivers are doing betterthan they
were when the firstChesapeake Bay Agreement was
signed in 1983,but we still have a way to go
before we reach our goals for a restored
Chesapeake.
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The Chesapeake 2000 Agreement
In 2000, the Chesapeake Bay Program partners took
stock of new challenges and technology and set a
bold new course into the 21st Century. The latest
agreement, Chesapeake 2000, is a comprehensive
blueprint for restoring the Bay and its living
resources over the next decade.
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Chesapeake 2000 GoalLiving Resource Protection
and Restoration
Restore, enhance and protect the finfish,
shellfish and other living resources, their
habitats and ecological relationships to sustain
all fisheries and provide for a balanced
ecosystem.
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The new agreement commits to establish harvest
targets for the blue crab fishery. Bay partners
met this commitment when they agreed to increase
spawning potential by reducing current harvests
15 by 2003.
Blue Crabs at Risk
Mature Female Blue Crabs
Mature female abundance is well below the long
term average and has declined since the early
1990s. The abundance in 2000 and 2001 is at or
near historical lows. Action needs to be taken to
reduce fishing effort as a way to reduce fishing
mortality.
Average
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The Chesapeake 2000 agreement commits to achieve
a tenfold increase of native oysters in the Bay
by 2010 and to establish oyster reefs and
sanctuaries in strategic locations.
Oysters at Risk
Oyster harvests are approximately 4 of the
harvest highs recorded in the 1950s. Declines are
due to overharvest, disease, pollution and loss
of oyster reef habitat.
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The new agreement commits to set a new goal for
additional fish passages and to revise fishery
management plans to include habitat and target
population sizes for migratory fish.
Progress Made Getting Migratory FishPast Dams
and Other Blockages
849 miles reopened to migratory fish and an
additional 143 miles to resident fish between
1988 and 2001.
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Shad Are Starting to Make a Comebackbut Have a
Long, long Way to Go
The number of shad returning to Conowingo Dam has
increased from several hundred per year in the
early 1980s to 108,000 in 2002. This increase has
been attributed to stocking efforts, a moratorium
on shad fishing, and fish passage development on
the Susquehanna River.
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Striped Bass Are Back!
Baywide Female Spawning Stock Biomass
Striped bass have responded to a moratorium
followed by harvest restrictions, stocking
efforts and improved habitat conditions. The
stock was declared restored in January 1995!
Fishing moratoria MD DE 1985-1990 VA
1989-1990
Although we have sustainable populations of
striped bass, we do not have sustainable
populations of many other species. The new
agreement commits to develop ecosystem-based
multi-species management plans for targeted
species by 2005.
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The new agreement contains additional commitments
related to living resources
Identify invasive (exotic) species that have
potential to harm the Bay (by 2001) and develop
ways to manage them (by 2003).

• Nutria
• Mute swans
• Phragmites
• Purple loosestrife
• Water chestnut
• Zebra mussels

Bay partners identified and ranked six priority
invasive species. They are currently developing
and implementing management plans to address the
impact and control of those deemed most
problematic to the Bay ecosystems restoration
and integrity.
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Chesapeake 2000 GoalVital Habitat Protection
and Restoration
Preserve, protect and restore those habitats and
natural areas that are vital to the survival and
diversity of the living resources of the Bay and
its rivers.
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The new agreement recommits to the existing Bay
grass goaland commits to revise goals to
addresswater clarity, water quality and bottom
disturbance.
Bay Grasses have Increased Since 1984
But we are only at 75 of the interim
restoration goal. The increase to 85,252 acres in
2001 reflects strong recovery of underwater
grasses in portions of the middle Bay.
Note Hatched area of bar includes estimated
additional acreage.
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The new agreement commits to establish a new goal
to expand forest buffer mileage and to conserve
allexisting mileage.
Streamside Forests Being Restored
Year 2010 Goal2,010 miles
2,283 miles restored 1996 through August
2002. Goal achieved eight years ahead of schedule!
Riparian Forest Buffers (59)
Around 118,000 miles of the basins 199,000 miles
of streambank and shoreline are buffered by
riparian forests.
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The new agreement also commits to

• Implement locally supported watershed management
  plans in 2/3 of the Bay watershed by 2010.
• Achieve a no-net loss of existing wetlands
  acreage and function.
• Restore 25,000 acres of tidal and non-tidal
  wetlands by 2010.
• Implement wetlands preservation plans in 25 of
  the watershed by 2010.

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Chesapeake 2000 Goal Water Quality Restoration
and Protection
Achieve and maintain the water quality necessary
to support the aquatic living resources of the
Bay and its tributaries and to protect human
health.
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Bay and River Water Quality Commitment
In order to achieve and maintain the water
quality necessary to support aquatic living
resources, the partners committed to
Achieve and maintain the 40 nutrient reduction
goal agreed to in 1987 and By 2010, correct the
nutrient- and sediment-related problems in the
Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries
sufficiently to remove the Bay and the tidal
portions of its tributaries from the list of
impaired waters under the Clean Water Act.
Section 1 What Do We Want to Achieve
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Impaired Waters and Clean-up Plans
Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Tributary Nutrient
and/or Sediment Impaired Waterbodies
Portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal
rivers are listed under the Clean Water Act as
impaired waters largely because of low
dissolved oxygen levels and other problems
related to nutrient pollution. This listing
requires the development of a clean-up plan for
the Bay by 2011.
Note Representation of 303(d) listed waters for
nutrient and/or sediment water quality
impairments for illustrative purposes only. For
exact 303(d) listings contact EPA
(http//www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/).
Impaired Water
Unimpaired Water
Section 1 What Do We Want to Achieve
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Watershed-wide Pollution Reductions Needed
The pollutants causing water quality impairments
drain into to the Bayand its rivers fromthe
entire watershed.
New York
Pennsylvania
Maryland
Delaware
West Virginia
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Boundary
District of Columbia
Virginia
Section 1 What Do We Want to Achieve
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Nutrient Pollution Declining,but We Still Need
to Do More
Total Nutrient Loads Delivered to the Bay from
MD, PA, VA, DC
The 40 reduction in nutrient loads has not yet
been achieved, however, management actions to
date have resulted in significant
reductions. Reductions obtained so far include
off-setting a significant increase due to
population growth. Maintaining reduced levels
will be a challenge due to continuing growth in
human and animal populations.
Phosphorus loads declined 8 million lbs/yr and
nitrogen declined 51 million lbs/yr between 1985
and 2000.
Section 3 How Far Have We Come?
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Phosphorus Loads Declining in Some of the
Non-tidal Portions of the Rivers
Monitoring data from major rivers entering tidal
waters of Chesapeake Bay show that phosphorus
loads are decreasing in one portion of the
Susquehanna and in the Patuxent River. The
remaining rivers and the rest of the Susquehanna
show no trends.
1980s 2001 Decreasing No significant
trend Increasing
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Nitrogen Loads Declining in Some of the Non-tidal
Portions of the Rivers
Monitoring data from major rivers entering tidal
waters of Chesapeake Bay show that nitrogen loads
are decreasing in portions of the Susquehanna and
in the Patuxent and James rivers. The remaining
rivers and the rest of the Susquehanna show no
trends.
1980s 2001 Decreasing No significant
trend Increasing
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Sediment Loads Remained Unchanged in Non-tidal
Portions of the Rivers
Monitoring data from major rivers entering tidal
waters of Chesapeake Bay show that sediment loads
have not changed.
1980s 2001 Decreasing No significant
trend Increasing
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Restored Water Quality Means

• More oxygen and improved habitat for more fish,
  crabs and oysters.
• Clearer water and more underwater Bay grasses.
• Fewer algae blooms and better fish food.

Section 2 How Might the Bay Look?
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Mainstem Bay Summer Dissolved Oxygen
Concentrations Improving
Volume of Mainstem Bay Lower Layer Waters with
Reduced Oxygen (June September Average)
There are recent indications of an improving
trend since 1985. However, in 2001, half of the
Bay's lower layer waters had reduced oxygen
(hypoxia). Hypoxic conditions are stressful for
aquatic life and sometimes lethal if severely
hypoxic.
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The new agreement states that in pursuing the
restoration of vital habitats throughout the
watershed, we will continue efforts to improve
water clarity in order to meet light requirements
necessary to support underwater Bay grasses.
Some Waters Still Not Clear Enough for Bay Grasses
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Some Waters Still Have Too Much Algae
Chlorophyll a is a measure of the amount of algae
in the water. Excessive nutrients can stimulate
algae blooms resulting in reduced water
clarity. While most areas meet the requirement
for Bay grasses, upper reaches of large
tributaries and most upper Bay tributaries are
borderline or failing.
Section 3 How Far Have We Come?
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The new agreement commits to reduce chemical
contaminants to levels that result in no toxic or
bioaccumulative impact on living resources that
inhabit the Bay or on human health andthrough
voluntary means, strive for zero release of
chemical contaminants from point sources,
including air sources.
Status of Chemical Contaminant Effectson Living
Resources in the Bays Tidal Rivers
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Chesapeake 2000 Goal Sound Land Use
Develop, promote and achieve sound land use
practices which protect and restore watershed
resources and water quality, maintain reduced
pollutant loadings for the Bay and its
tributaries, and restore and preserve aquatic
living resources.
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The new agreement commits to permanently preserve
from development 20 percent of the land area in
the watershed by 2010.
Acres of Preserved Land
Between July 2000 and July 2001, 60,514 acres of
land were preserved in the watershed. The total
land area preserved is currently estimated at
6.83 million acres. 952,000 more acres are needed
to achieve the goal.
Year 2010 Goal (7.8 million)
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The new agreement commits to rehabilitate and
restore 1,050 brownfields sites to productive use
by 2010.
Brownfield Sites Ready for Redevelopment
Eighty seven brownfield sites were cleaned and
made ready for redevelopment between June 2001
and June 2002. This brings the current total up
to 173. In order to achieve the goal we need 877
more by 2010.
Goal 1,050 by 2010
173
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The new agreement also commits to reduce the rate
of harmful sprawl development of forest and
agricultural land in the watershed by 30 percent
by 2012.
The Bay watershed has the highest land to water
ratio of any estuary in the world. Our actions
on the land greatly influence the water.
Achieving this commitment is expected to result
in improved water quality.
Land Use, Pollutant Loads and Population
On a pound-per-acre basis, taking into account
both point and nonpoint sources, developed areas
deliver the greatest amounts of nutrients to
local waterways and the Bay. Urban/suburban
acreage increased 19 between 1985 and 2000,
outpacing a 15 population increase during the
same time.
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The new agreement commits to expand by 30 percent
the system of public access points to the Bay by
2010.
Public Access Points to the Bay and its
Tributaries
During 2002, the following has been completed to
acquire, develop or enhance access opportunities
5 new or enhanced sites in VA, 8 in MD and one in
PA. This brings the current total up to 648. In
order to achieve the goal we need 157 more by
2010.
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The new agreement commits to increase the number
of designated water trails in the Chesapeake Bay
region by 500 miles by 2005.
Water Trails in the Bay Region
During 2002, 734 new water trail miles were
developed. There are currently an estimated
1,394 miles of water trails in the Bay watershed.
The goal has been achieved ahead of schedule.
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Chesapeake 2000 Goal Stewardship and Community
Engagement
Promote individual stewardship and assist
individuals, community-based organizations,
businesses, local governments and schools to
undertake initiatives to achieve the goals and
commitments of this agreement.
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The new agreement commits to,beginning with the
class of 2005, provide a meaningful Bay or stream
outdoor experiencefor every school student in
the watershed before graduation from high school.
Great Opportunity to Promote Stewardship
Ethic But a Significant Challenge to Achieve
Number of School Age Children in Watershed(MD, PA, VA, DC only) Amount Spent in FY 02 Towards Meeting the Commitment Estimated Annual Amount Needed by 2005(and Beyond) to Achieve the Commitment
2.5 million (class of 2005 is estimated to be 200,000) 3.4 million 20-25 million
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What Can You Doto Be a Good Steward andto Help
Restore the Bayand its Rivers?
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Prevent pollution from entering the Bay and
rivers by planting trees, especially along
streams and shorelines.
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Conserve electricity and water and reduce the
amount of miles you drive.
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Plant native vegetationthat requires the use of
less(or no) fertilizer, pesticides and water.
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Limit fertilizer use and apply at appropriate
times.

• Have your soil tested and ask for recommendations
  for the best time and amount of fertilizer to
  apply for your particular landscaping needs.
• Never apply more than is needed.

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Use safer, nontoxic alternativesfor cleaningand
for controlling pests and weeds.
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Properly dispose ofhousehold hazardous waste,
antifreeze, oil and boat waste.
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Prevent pollution byreducing, reusing and
recycling.
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Get involved with community groups and watershed
organizations to developwatershed management
plans.
WATERSHEDWATCH

• Were all in it together!

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Get Involved with Citizen Efforts that Track
Progress in the Bay Cleanup
Bernie Fowler's Sneaker Index
Wading into the Patuxent River at Broomes Island,
MD, Bernie Fowler has seen improvements in water
clarity since 1988. He says, "although this is
not a scientific measure, it puts restoring the
river on a human scale."