Water Quality Protection & Restoration

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A Glance: Bay Water Quality Restoration

This new process focuses on living resources, not broad percentage reduction goals. Our measure of success will be the answer to the question: "Are the crabs, rockfish, underwater grasses and other living resources in the Bay restored?"
This new process has never been undertaken on a watershed the size of Chesapeake Bay. Bay Program partners will break new ground, nationally and internationally, by combining the most up-to-date science with new ways to meet the regulatory requirements and expanded partnerships with upriver states – Delaware, New York and West Virginia.
While working through this new process, Bay Program partners will continue to pursue opportunities to reduce pollution throughout the watershed. With the new approach identifying the need for nutrient reductions well beyond 40% in some places, Bay Program partners are redoubling efforts to restore the Bay and its living resources.
While the process of restoring the Bay and its tributaries is flexible, the goal of a restored Chesapeake Bay is not as mandated by Chesapeake 2000, 2010 remains as the "due date" to have the Bay restored.
As with the development of Chesapeake 2000, public input will be sought through a stakeholder involvement process. To help our stakeholders get involved with the process, each step along the road to restoration will be shown on this website along with contact information for individuals and groups.

Process of Restoring Bay Water Quality

Basic Information : A general-public oriented description of the process.
Detailed Technical Overview : A more detailed examination of the technical aspects of the process.

Additional Information:

Ambient Water Quality Criteria Document: Water quality criteria for dissolved oxygen, water clarity and chlorophyll a
Technical Support Document for the Identification of Chesapeake Bay Designated Uses and Attainability: describes the development and geographical extent of the designated use to which the criteria may apply
Economic Analyses Document: provide states with the results of analyses conducted by the Chesapeake Bay Program related to controls to meet the revised water quality criteria and uses.
Setting and Allocating the Chesapeake Bay Basin Nutrient and Sediment Loads - the Collaborative Process, Technical Tools and Innovative Approaches
Communications, Presentations and Information Sources: Presentations, backgrounders, links to Bay Journal articles and additional information related to the Restoring Bay Water Quality initiative.
Tributary Strategy Tools: Provides key information, presentations, data, and other tools to help each jurisdiction develop their Tributary Strategies.

To bookmark this page, please use this URL: http://www.chesapeakebay.net/restoringwater.html

For more information, contact the Chesapeake Bay Program Office:
410 Severn Avenue, Suite 109, Annapolis, MD 21403 / Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY / Fax: (410) 267-5777.