After decades of declining health and past failed watershed agreements, a May 2009 executive order by President Barack Obama directed the federal government to lead a new effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
In December 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load. Chesapeake Executive Council members from the Bay watershed’s jurisdictions — Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, New York and Washington, D.C. — set milestones and a goal to implement all necessary pollution control measures for restoring Chesapeake Bay water quality by 2025.
Subsequently, jurisdictions were required to develop Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs), which detail how each jurisdiction plans to improve water quality. There are three WIP phases: Phase I and II were submitted to the EPA in 2010 and 2012, respectively. Phase II builds on Phase I by providing specific local actions, and Phase III will provide information on actions Chesapeake Bay jurisdictions plan to implement between 2018 and 2025 to meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, according to the EPA.
This best management practices (BMPs) compendium website grew out to address a need voiced by a wide variety of entities that implement best management practices.
It’s our hope users will be able to answer their questions and find a BMP solution that fits their budget, timeline and pollution reduction goals. We welcome your feedback, which can be given to [email protected].