Chesapeake 2000 recognizes that actions taking place on land greatly affect the health of local waterways and the Bay. Non-point source pollution–which is primarily associated with runoff from roads, parking lots, farm fields and suburban lawns–carries excessive amounts of nutrients and sediment into the Bay and its rivers, upsetting the delicate balance of the Bay ecosystem.

In 1987, Bay Program partners agreed that “there is a clear correlation between population growth and associated development and environmental degradation in the Chesapeake Bay system.” Between 2000 and 2020, an additional three million people will settle in the Bay watershed. Chesapeake 2000 recognizes that more must be done to minimize and mitigate their impact.

To offset, and eventually reduce, the impact of this growth, Chesapeake 2000 focuses on promoting sound land use throughout the watershed to protect water quality and preserve the Bay’s vital habitats and living resources.

Enhancing, or even maintaining, the quality of the Bay while accommodating growth will frequently involve difficult choices. Chesapeake 2000 calls for forward-thinking planning efforts focused on conserving undeveloped land, redeveloping and revitalizing developed lands, wisely planning future development, developing transportation policies that take into account the health of local waters, while also expanding the public’s access to the Bay and its rivers.

The Bay watershed’s most valued resource lands will be permanently protected, providing critical habitat for wildlife, improved water quality, positive economic benefits and a sustained regional cultural identity. Development that: respects the natural environment, does not harm remaining agricultural and forest lands, minimizes water quality impacts, is pedestrian friendly, promotes community livability, supports alternative modes of transportation, and is compact and of mixed-use. Increased public access to the Bay watershed’s lands and resources including expanded water trails and Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network sites that provide opportunities for recreational and educational experiences on or around the bay. This will help encourage watershed residents to adopt an ethic of stewardship towards the Bay and its lands. Increased coordination of transportation and land use planning that mitigates transportation- related air pollution and non-point source pollution by promoting: compact, mixed-use development patterns, revitalization of existing communities, and reduced dependency on automobiles. [See All: Sound Land Management Commitments]

A recently completed Chesapeake Bay watershed tax policy assessment identifies policies that: discourage sustainable growth, promotes policies and incentives that increase conservation, and outlines sound growth management principles. A recently completed Chesapeake Bay watershed tax policy review that identifies policies affecting land use and potentially can be modified to support conservation and sound growth management principles. A training and technical assistance program is being developed to insure on-the-ground implementation of sound land use practices and support demonstration projects for revising code and ordinance changes to promote environmentally sensitive design. The Bay Program will analyze development patterns to identify locations where training and technical assistance program can have the most impact in achieving development that respects the natural environment. Expected to be completed by December 2003, the Bay Program’s Resource Lands Assessment will assist in targeting the most valued resource lands for permanent protection. Specifically, the Resource Lands Assessment will identify the most valued lands in terms of water quality, habitat, agricultural and forest economics and cultural resources. As of September 2003, 18.87 percent of the Chesapeake Bay watershed has been permanently preserved. The Bay Program will support and build relationships with land conservation non-government organizations to assist them in meeting the Chesapeake 2000 agreement’s land-use goals. The Bay Program will continue to integrate sound land use principles into local watershed management planning efforts. The Bay Program will continue to expand the public’s ability to experience the Bay first-hand through our current: 1,498.5 Miles of Water Trails 698 Public Access Points 123 Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network Sites

[Protecting and Restoring Living Resources] [Protecting and Restoring Vital Habitats] [Improving Water Quality] [Soundly Managing Lands] [Stewardship and Community Engagement]