The Chesapeake Bay Agreement 2010 Goals: A Comprehensive Approach to Saving Our Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure, a source of sustenance, and a vital ecosystem that supports diverse wildlife and human communities. Unfortunately, the Bay has been suffering from pollution, overfishing, and climate change impacts for decades. To address these challenges and restore the health of the Bay, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) was established in 1983.
Since then, the CBP has worked with federal, state, and local partners to implement a series of agreements, known as the Chesapeake Bay Agreements (CBAs). The most recent CBA, signed in 2010, sets ambitious goals and strategies to achieve the restoration and protection of the Bay by 2025.
The Chesapeake Bay Agreement 2010 Goals cover six major areas of focus, including reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution, restoring aquatic habitat, increasing fish and blue crab populations, improving water clarity, supporting land conservation and public access, and fostering stewardship and community engagement.
One of the primary challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay is excessive nutrient pollution, which can cause harmful algae blooms, oxygen-depleted dead zones, and fish kills. To reduce nutrient pollution, the CBP has set a goal of reducing the total nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment loads to the Bay by 25%, 24%, and 20%, respectively, by 2025.
To achieve these goals, the CBP is implementing a suite of best management practices (BMPs) that reduce nutrient and sediment loads from agriculture, urban and suburban areas, wastewater treatment plants, and septic systems. These BMPs include cover crops, nutrient management plans, rain gardens, stormwater ponds, and riparian buffers, among others.
Another critical aspect of the CBA 2010 Goals is the restoration of aquatic habitat, including wetlands, forests, and underwater grasses. These habitats provide essential breeding, feeding, and sheltering grounds for fish, crabs, and other aquatic species. The CBP aims to restore 9000 acres of tidal and non-tidal wetlands, 20,000 acres of forested riparian buffers, and 185,000 acres of underwater grasses by 2025.
Moreover, the CBP is working to increase the abundance and diversity of fish and blue crab populations by restoring their habitats, reducing fishing pressure, and improving water quality. The CBP aims to increase the abundance of striped bass, shad, and river herring by at least 10%, blue crabs by at least 30%, and oysters by at least 50% by 2025.
Improving water clarity is another priority of the CBA 2010 Goals, as turbid waters can harm aquatic plants and animals and reduce recreational opportunities. To improve water clarity, the CBP is reducing nutrient and sediment pollution, restoring underwater grasses, and addressing other factors such as climate change and invasive species.
In addition, the CBP is promoting land conservation and public access to natural areas as a way to protect and enhance the Bay`s ecological and cultural values. The CBP aims to permanently protect 2 million acres of land by 2025 and increase public access to the Bay and its tributaries.
Finally, the CBP recognizes the importance of engaging and empowering communities to become stewards of the Bay. The CBP is working with schools, businesses, faith-based organizations, and local governments to promote environmental education, citizen science, and community action.
In conclusion, the Chesapeake Bay Agreement 2010 Goals represent a comprehensive and collaborative approach to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay. The CBP and its partners are making significant progress towards these goals, but more work needs to be done to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for the Bay and its people. By supporting and implementing these goals, we can help save the Chesapeake Bay for generations to come.