Meghan Hodges
Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, has been facing severe pollution problems for decades. The pollution can be traced back to human activities, including polluted stormwater runoff, over-fertilization, pollution from animal wastes, deforestation, wetland destruction, and climate change. In 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a comprehensive pollution diet to address the issue. Despite extensive restoration efforts, the bay remains impaired, with poor water quality, degraded habitats, and low populations of fish and shellfish. With pollution deadlines approaching in 2017 and 2025, efforts are being made to implement state clean water blueprints and reduce pollution in the bay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date Chesapeake Bay was first added to EPA's "dirty waters" list | Unknown, but it has been on the list for decades |
| Date of first Bay Agreement | 1983 |
| Date of second Bay Agreement | 1987 |
| Date of third Bay Agreement (Chesapeake 2000 agreement) | 2000 |
| Goal of third Bay Agreement | Improve water quality in the Bay and its tidal rivers sufficiently to get them off the "dirty waters" list by 2010 |
| Date of fourth Bay Agreement | 2014 |
| Goal of fourth Bay Agreement | Create clean water and abundant wildlife in a restored Chesapeake Bay |
| Date of pollution reduction targets set by EPA | December 2010 |
| Pollutants targeted by EPA | Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment |
| Target reduction in nitrogen | 25% |
| Target reduction in phosphorus | 24% |
| Target reduction in sediment | 20% |
| Base year for pollution reduction targets | 2009 |
| Date by which states must implement plans to achieve EPA targets | 2025 |
| Major contributors to Chesapeake Bay pollution | Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment |
| Sources of excess nutrients and sediment in Chesapeake Bay | Agricultural operations, urban and suburban stormwater, wastewater, and airborne contaminants |
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What You'll Learn
The Chesapeake Bay has been on the EPA's dirty waters list for decades
The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, has been facing severe pollution issues for decades. The bay's pollution can be attributed to human activities, including polluted stormwater runoff, over-fertilization, pollution from animal wastes, deforestation, wetland destruction, and climate change. As a result, the bay has been on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "dirty waters" list for a long time.
The Clean Water Act of 1972 mandates the restoration and maintenance of the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters. Despite this, the Chesapeake Bay remains impaired due to high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment. These pollutants come from various sources, including agricultural operations, urban and suburban stormwater, wastewater, and airborne contaminants. Nitrogen and phosphorus cause excessive algae growth, blocking sunlight from reaching underwater grasses, while sediment makes the water cloudy, smothering bottom-dwelling species like oysters.
In 2010, under an Executive Order from President Obama, the EPA set limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for the 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was established, aiming to reduce pollution and improve water quality. The TMDL is a planning tool that calculates the maximum amount of pollutants a body of water can receive while still meeting water quality standards. It encompasses specific reduction targets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment.
Despite these efforts, the bay remains on the "dirty waters" list. The Chesapeake 2000 agreement, signed by the EPA and several states, set a goal of removing the bay from the list by 2010. However, with the 2017 and 2025 pollution deadlines approaching, the National Wildlife Federation is working to support the implementation of state clean water blueprints and pollution limits. The most recent Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, signed in 2014, demonstrates the ongoing commitment to restoring the bay's health and removing it from the "dirty waters" list.
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The Clean Water Act and TMDL
The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 states that "The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation's waters." The Act requires states to identify and list polluted waterways as "impaired." The Chesapeake Bay has been on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "'dirty waters' list for decades due to pollution and reduced levels of oxygen that have killed off fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic life.
Under the CWA, the EPA must set limits on the pollutants that cause these issues. In 2010, under an Executive Order from President Obama, the EPA set scientifically derived limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for the entire 64,000-square-mile Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint was established in 2010 with the goal of restoring the Bay and its rivers and streams by 2025.
The Clean Water Act also requires states to develop a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) that specifies the maximum allowable pollution levels to meet water quality standards for waters on the "dirty waters" list. The Chesapeake Bay TMDL sets limits on the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment that can enter the Bay and its tidal rivers. The seven Bay jurisdictions (Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia) develop their own plans to meet these limits.
The TMDL is a critical component of the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. It provides science-based, enforceable limits on pollution entering the Bay, with the goal of removing it from the "dirty waters" list. The EPA has committed to holding the jurisdictions accountable and imposing consequences if necessary. The TMDL, along with the state plans and milestones, forms the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, which aims to ensure pollution reductions and achieve "`fishable, swimmable' waters."
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Nutrient pollution from agricultural operations, urban stormwater, and other sources
The Chesapeake Bay has been facing pollution issues for decades. In 2010, under an Executive Order from President Obama, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits on nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution for the entire 64,000 square miles of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The states are responsible for implementing plans to achieve these limits by 2025.
Nitrogen and phosphorus are the two primary nutrients of concern in the Chesapeake Bay area. These nutrients enter the bay from three main sources: wastewater treatment plants, urban and agricultural runoff, and air pollution. While nutrients are a natural part of the ecosystem, human activities have disrupted the natural balance. Forests and wetland plants once trapped and absorbed these nutrients, but as these habitats were cleared to make way for roads, homes, and farm fields, nutrient pollution in the bay increased.
Agricultural operations are a significant contributor to nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Agricultural runoff accounts for approximately 60% of the nitrogen and 45% of the phosphorus entering the bay. This runoff comes from sources such as fertilizers, livestock manure, and septic systems. Implementing conservation measures on farms is crucial to reducing pollution levels. Best management practices (BMPs) can help reduce nutrient and sediment pollution while maintaining productive farming operations. Examples of agricultural BMPs include conservation tillage, cover crops, forest buffers, streamside fencing, and proper manure storage.
Urban stormwater runoff is another major source of nutrient pollution. Excess fertilizers from lawns, gardens, and other urban areas can wash into nearby waters during rainfall or snowmelt. Turf grass, Maryland's biggest crop, is often heavily fertilized and poorly regulated, contributing to nutrient runoff. Urban fertilizer pollution can be reduced by limiting the nutrients in fertilizers and ensuring applicators use less fertilizer. Guidelines and regulations on fertilizer use and enforcement are essential to mitigating this issue.
Air pollution is also a significant contributor to nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and gas-powered lawn tools release nitrogen into the air, contributing about one-third of the total nitrogen load entering the bay's waterways. By conserving energy and reducing vehicle emissions, nutrient loads can be decreased. Additionally, protecting and restoring natural filters such as forests, oysters, wetlands, and underwater grasses can help mitigate the impact of nutrient pollution on the bay's ecosystem.
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Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts and agreements
Chesapeake Bay has been on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "dirty waters" list for decades. In 1972, the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed, which required states to identify polluted waterways and list them as "impaired". The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP), a regional partnership that directs and conducts the restoration of the bay, was founded in 1983. Since then, it has adopted three additional agreements that provide guidance for its restoration.
The 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement established the goal of reducing the amount of nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, entering the bay by 40% by 2000. In 1992, CBP partners agreed to continue this goal beyond 2000 and to address the issue at its source: upstream in the bay's tributaries.
In June 2000, the CBP adopted Chesapeake 2000, an agreement to guide restoration through 2010, with adjoining states Delaware, New York, and West Virginia becoming more involved. This agreement was partly in response to a lawsuit filed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and partners against the EPA, asserting that the EPA was legally required to set science-based pollution limits for the bay. The lawsuit resulted in a binding agreement that requires the EPA to take specific actions to reduce pollution in the bay and its local waterways.
In 2014, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was signed, establishing goals and outcomes for the restoration of the bay, its tributaries, and surrounding lands. This agreement included five themes: sustainable fisheries, vital habitats, water quality, toxic contaminants, and adaptive management.
Other restoration efforts include the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) initiatives to meet the EPA's 2010 Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements. Since 2012, the DEP has been conducting an analysis of the Susquehanna River to improve its water quality, flow, and ecosystem. The CBP also aims to preserve 20% of the watershed from development by 2010 and reduce automobile dependence by encouraging alternative modes of transportation.
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The impact of pollution on aquatic life and human health
Chesapeake Bay has been on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "dirty waters" list for decades. The federal Clean Water Act (CWA) requires states to identify and list polluted waterways as "impaired." The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams are on the impaired waters list due to reduced oxygen levels and pollution that kill fish, crabs, oysters, and other aquatic life.
Additionally, water pollution can lead to a reduction in oxygen levels, known as eutrophication, which suffocates plants and animals and creates "dead zones" devoid of life. Certain pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, can promote excessive algae growth, further reducing oxygen levels. When the algae die, they are decomposed by bacteria that consume the oxygen in the water, creating an oxygen-deprived environment that can be harmful to aquatic life.
Pollution in aquatic environments can also have significant negative impacts on human health. Contaminated water can spread infectious diseases such as dysentery, diarrhea, and jaundice. Additionally, pesticides and other poisonous substances can enter the food chain and become toxic to humans, posing risks to those who consume contaminated fish or other aquatic organisms.
Furthermore, heavy metals such as mercury, chromium, lead, and cadmium can enter aquatic systems through stormwater and wastewater discharges from agricultural and industrial activities. These heavy metals can have toxic effects on both aquatic life and human health, reducing the lifespan and reproductive abilities of organisms and causing potential health issues for humans who come into contact with contaminated water or consume contaminated seafood.
The accumulation of plastic pollution in aquatic environments is also a growing concern for human health. While the specific negative outcomes are still being investigated, the presence of plastic waste in marine ecosystems is undeniable, and it is clear that human health is at risk.
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Frequently asked questions
The Chesapeake Bay has been on the EPA's "dirty waters" list for decades.
The Chesapeake Bay is impacted by human activities, including polluted stormwater runoff, over-fertilization, pollution from animal waste, deforestation, wetland destruction, and climate change.
The excess nutrients and sediment in the water lead to murky water and algae blooms, which block sunlight from reaching underwater grasses and create low levels of dissolved oxygen, which is critical for aquatic life.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in 2010, setting pollution limits and reduction targets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment.
Organizations like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the National Wildlife Federation are working to restore the Bay and its waterways. People can get involved by donating, volunteering, and advocating for clean water policies.
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