New Guide Poses Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategies
Easy Steps Residents, Developers, Farmers Can Take
to Improve Bay Health
to Improve Bay Health
BALTIMORE, MD (October 1, 2013) - The Chesapeake Bay, the lifeblood of the state's tourism, fisheries and recreation industries and a touchstone to many Maryland residents, has been the focus of anti-pollution efforts aimed at improving water quality for decades.
For those who want to play a role in restoring bay health comes the Citizens Guide to Bay Restoration. The new, reader-friendly guide from the Maryland Department of Planning dishes up dozens of strategies for residents, developers, farmers and others interested in helping reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and sediment build-up.
Most of the strategies are not too taxing for residents and business owners: reducing use of lawn fertilizer, which includes nitrogen and phosphorus as key ingredients; installing permeable pavers that allow rain and snowmelt to infiltrate rather than run off; planting rain gardens; reducing driving, which lessens air-borne particulates falling into the ground and water; and purchasing homes or businesses on public sewer rather than septic systems, which discharge nitrogen underground.
Developers who want to lighten their footprint - and the corresponding impact on bay water quality - can build on smaller sites, reduce construction waste, lower energy use and locate projects to reduce car trips.
Farmers make up an important part of the restoration program. There are over 30 conservation practices that farmers can use to maintain farm production, slow soil erosion, manage nutrients and safeguard water quality. The guide points out the benefits of comprehensive farm planning centered on slowing soil erosion and points farmers to agricultural conservation assistance and resources.
All of the featured restoration strategies are geared at reducing nutrients, considered the greatest challenge to bay health. In fact, nutrient reduction was a stated goal of the U.S Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 when it established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load requirement for Maryland and other bay states. By 2025, all states must significantly reduce the amount of pollution entering the bay. A restored bay benefits all Marylanders as well as Maryland's tourism, recreation and fisheries industries.
The Citizens Guide is available as a free download at the MDP Library and bit.ly/restorebay.