DailyPress Online - Leaders at three institutions of higher learning, including the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, are defending the computer models used by federal regulators to create a Chesapeake Bay "pollution diet." In an Oct. 8 letter to the Environmental Protection Agency, the academics wrote the "consensus of the scientific community" is that the models are "both useful and adequate" in guiding policy decisions for the 64,000-square-mile bay watershed. The letter is signed by John Wells, (pictured above) dean and director at VIMS, Donald Boesch, president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, and Denice Wardrop, chair of Pennsylvania State University's scientific and technical advisory committee. All three institutions have contributed research to the EPA-led effort. Source: DailyPress online
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
EPA to evaluate five plans to clean up Chesapeake
Washington Post Online – The Environmental Protection Agency will take a month to evaluate plans from four states and the District that show how they'll aggressively reduce pollution that flows into the Chesapeake Bay. Plans of Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Delaware, and the District, which filed on time Nov. 29, 2010. The states were required to show in detail what they will do to aggressively reduce wastewater runoff in the next 15 years. The EPA will decide on the adequacy of the Watershed Implementation Plans by Dec. 31. The EPA has threatened to recommend sanctions against the states if their plans are inadequate. The sanctions include redirecting federal funds for other state projects to water quality programs and opposing state permits to developers. Pennsylvania's plan would hire workers who would show farmers how to limit runoff, something the foundation likes. But they didn't commit enough funding for their plan. The plan also doesn't commit enough resources to limiting wastewater runoff from Marcellus shale drilling into the Susquehanna River. Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection, said the plan commits $15 million a year to cleaning the bay. The state wants to focus its resources on the source of more than 80 percent of its bay pollution – agriculture. Storm water is just 6 percent of the problem. We could spend all our resources on storm water and get very little in terms of total pollution reduction.
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Bay Today
Although most of the attention on Congress over the past two years has been focused on major legislation like health care and financial reform, a number of bills that could impact the water industry have been struggling through the legislative process. Given that Congress is on recess in August and will likely be focused on re-election this fall, most of the more than 90 pieces of legislation that have a water component will fall by the wayside. Reauthorization of the State Revolving Fund programs for drinking water and wastewater appeared to have at least a chance of passage.
The House has already passed the Water Quality Financing Act of 2009. Also, the Energy and Commerce Committee has moved legislation to reauthorize the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund out of their committee. The Senate has also moved legislation to reauthorize both the Clean Water SRF and the Drinking Water SRF out of the Environmental and Public Works Committee. Still, the path from committee approval to actually being signed into law is both long and difficult -- especially in an election year.
Also related to water infrastructure funding, a congressional briefing was held in late July to discuss the need for a Clean Water Trust Fund to protect sources of drinking water and fragile watersheds. The briefing focused on why a Clean Water Trust Fund, outlined by Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon in the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act (HR 3202), is needed to fund the nation's water infrastructure and water quality challenges.
Another measure that has seen action recently was The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (S. 1816), authored by Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee. It was approved June 30 by a voice vote in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee after significant concessions were made to Republican opponents.
Somerset County watermen are protesting a state plan to create oyster sanctuaries in the Manokin and Nanticoke rivers -- a measure that would ban them from working the productive oyster bottoms."It's one of the areas where we can finally make a living on," said Danny Webster of Deal Island. "It's frustrating." The two rivers were not originally set aside as sanctuaries under an oyster restoration plan announced by Gov. Martin O'Malley in December, but were created to take the place of one near Smith Island, said Frank Dawson, an assistant secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources.
When the plan was introduced, watermen objected to the sanctuary proposed for the highly productive area near the island, so DNR officials swapped it for areas in the Manokin and Nanticoke, Dawson said. But at a recent public hearing on the state oyster plan, some watermen expressed interest in going back to the original proposal to place the sanctuary in the Tangier Sound, he said. DNR officials are open to going back to the original proposal for a sanctuary off Smith Island, if that's what watermen want, said Tom O'Connell, DNR's director of fisheries.
Since January, DNR has held public meetings throughout the state to gather input from watermen and other stakeholders on the plan, which uses a three-prong approach for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to creating sanctuaries, the plan includes opening part of the bay for commercial aquaculture and maintaining 167,720 acres of oyster bars for harvest by watermen.
In the lull between passing downpours, it is raining oyster shells in St. Mary's County. And those doing much of the work are prison inmates who are finishing up their time in a nearby pre-release facility. "The only thought I ever gave to oysters was eating them," said Orsie Hayes-El, inmate. At a state hatchery at Piney Point, inmates have helped clean old shells. And in the lab, biologists have raised microscopic oyster larvae, which go into the tanks and set as spat on the shells. "I really didn't know nothing about an oyster until I came out here, you know the spat and all that stuff, how they stick to the shells, and it's really amazing," said David Alfaro, inmate. Besides working with oysters, Maryland inmates have also been taking on other environmental jobs like planting trees and marsh grasses for wetlands.
Two USDA scientists have created new maps of Chesapeake Bay forested wetlands that are about 30 percent more accurate than existing maps. ARS soil scientists and USDA ecologists did this by merging two remote sensing devices: an airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) laser sensor with an advanced "synthetic aperture radar" (SAR) satellite sensor. Wetlands are critical to the health of bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay. But many wetlands are forested, and it can be hard to see the wetlands on aerial photography because the view is blocked by the trees. Also, maps drawn from aerial photographs are subjective, causing more loss of accuracy. With the combined data from the two types of remote sensing devices, the scientists can see whether water flows without filtration into the Bay, or whether it flows first through a forested wetland that might filter out possible pollutants. The maps show previously unknown connections between some wetlands, drainage ditches, intermittent streams and ponds. Because forested wetlands had been thought to be isolated from each other and the Bay, the Clean Water Act did not offer them the same regulatory protections as other wetlands. The maps also show changes in wetlands caused by drainage ditches, other construction, farming and weather. The maps can be used to predict flooding and effects of climate change.
Earlier this week, thousands of juvenile menhaden died in Cobbs Creek, a tributary of the Piankatank River. Hundreds of lifeless croaker were spotted floating near the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Scientists can't say for sure what the cause is. But they suspect it's a lack of oxygen, a condition created by decomposing algae, or mahogany tides. The algae covers significant parts of the lower Bay, a stretch from Norfolk to Mathews County and beyond.
Remember the telephone game? Most of us played this game as children. We sat in a circle and whispered a phrase into the ear of the person seated next to us — by the time the phrase made it around the circle, the result was so unrecognizable from the original that hysterical giggles ensued. But the game isn't so funny when adults unwittingly repeat what they've been told. It would be funny like the telephone game if the water quality in the Susquehanna River and the health of the Chesapeake Bay were not at stake.
The House has already passed the Water Quality Financing Act of 2009. Also, the Energy and Commerce Committee has moved legislation to reauthorize the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund out of their committee. The Senate has also moved legislation to reauthorize both the Clean Water SRF and the Drinking Water SRF out of the Environmental and Public Works Committee. Still, the path from committee approval to actually being signed into law is both long and difficult -- especially in an election year.
Also related to water infrastructure funding, a congressional briefing was held in late July to discuss the need for a Clean Water Trust Fund to protect sources of drinking water and fragile watersheds. The briefing focused on why a Clean Water Trust Fund, outlined by Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon in the Water Protection and Reinvestment Act (HR 3202), is needed to fund the nation's water infrastructure and water quality challenges.
Another measure that has seen action recently was The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (S. 1816), authored by Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Senate Water and Wildlife Subcommittee. It was approved June 30 by a voice vote in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee after significant concessions were made to Republican opponents.
Health officials are taking the unusual step of reminding Marylanders that they can get sick by swimming at local beaches and eating raw seafood. The concern is the vibrio bacteria, which is rare but can cause serious complications. The bacteria thrives in hot weather, and health officials are issuing the warning as the Chesapeake Bay region suffers through yet another heat wave. "We thought it would be helpful to let people know the steps they can take," said Frances B. Phillips, a deputy state health secretary for public health.
Crabs in the Chesapeake Bay this year are plentiful, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources officials said it's turning out to be the best year since the 1990s. "We've had a 60 percent increase in crabs this past year," said DNR spokesman Thomas O'Connell.Crabbers said the current crop is plentiful and tasty.Somerset County watermen are protesting a state plan to create oyster sanctuaries in the Manokin and Nanticoke rivers -- a measure that would ban them from working the productive oyster bottoms."It's one of the areas where we can finally make a living on," said Danny Webster of Deal Island. "It's frustrating." The two rivers were not originally set aside as sanctuaries under an oyster restoration plan announced by Gov. Martin O'Malley in December, but were created to take the place of one near Smith Island, said Frank Dawson, an assistant secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources.
When the plan was introduced, watermen objected to the sanctuary proposed for the highly productive area near the island, so DNR officials swapped it for areas in the Manokin and Nanticoke, Dawson said. But at a recent public hearing on the state oyster plan, some watermen expressed interest in going back to the original proposal to place the sanctuary in the Tangier Sound, he said. DNR officials are open to going back to the original proposal for a sanctuary off Smith Island, if that's what watermen want, said Tom O'Connell, DNR's director of fisheries.
Since January, DNR has held public meetings throughout the state to gather input from watermen and other stakeholders on the plan, which uses a three-prong approach for oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to creating sanctuaries, the plan includes opening part of the bay for commercial aquaculture and maintaining 167,720 acres of oyster bars for harvest by watermen.
In the lull between passing downpours, it is raining oyster shells in St. Mary's County. And those doing much of the work are prison inmates who are finishing up their time in a nearby pre-release facility. "The only thought I ever gave to oysters was eating them," said Orsie Hayes-El, inmate. At a state hatchery at Piney Point, inmates have helped clean old shells. And in the lab, biologists have raised microscopic oyster larvae, which go into the tanks and set as spat on the shells. "I really didn't know nothing about an oyster until I came out here, you know the spat and all that stuff, how they stick to the shells, and it's really amazing," said David Alfaro, inmate. Besides working with oysters, Maryland inmates have also been taking on other environmental jobs like planting trees and marsh grasses for wetlands.
Two USDA scientists have created new maps of Chesapeake Bay forested wetlands that are about 30 percent more accurate than existing maps. ARS soil scientists and USDA ecologists did this by merging two remote sensing devices: an airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) laser sensor with an advanced "synthetic aperture radar" (SAR) satellite sensor. Wetlands are critical to the health of bodies of water like the Chesapeake Bay. But many wetlands are forested, and it can be hard to see the wetlands on aerial photography because the view is blocked by the trees. Also, maps drawn from aerial photographs are subjective, causing more loss of accuracy. With the combined data from the two types of remote sensing devices, the scientists can see whether water flows without filtration into the Bay, or whether it flows first through a forested wetland that might filter out possible pollutants. The maps show previously unknown connections between some wetlands, drainage ditches, intermittent streams and ponds. Because forested wetlands had been thought to be isolated from each other and the Bay, the Clean Water Act did not offer them the same regulatory protections as other wetlands. The maps also show changes in wetlands caused by drainage ditches, other construction, farming and weather. The maps can be used to predict flooding and effects of climate change.
Earlier this week, thousands of juvenile menhaden died in Cobbs Creek, a tributary of the Piankatank River. Hundreds of lifeless croaker were spotted floating near the Bay Bridge-Tunnel. Scientists can't say for sure what the cause is. But they suspect it's a lack of oxygen, a condition created by decomposing algae, or mahogany tides. The algae covers significant parts of the lower Bay, a stretch from Norfolk to Mathews County and beyond.
Remember the telephone game? Most of us played this game as children. We sat in a circle and whispered a phrase into the ear of the person seated next to us — by the time the phrase made it around the circle, the result was so unrecognizable from the original that hysterical giggles ensued. But the game isn't so funny when adults unwittingly repeat what they've been told. It would be funny like the telephone game if the water quality in the Susquehanna River and the health of the Chesapeake Bay were not at stake.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
What's Happening in Our Watersheds
The heat is on again! Unseasonably warm weather is raising the temperature of streams across the Mid-Atlantic Region. Many of our cold water fisheries have been showing daytime and nighttime temps in the low 80s and 70s, respectively. Such high temperatures stresses cold water species fish. Native trees and shrubs in the riparian areas along our many small headwater streams helps reduce in-stream water temperature by 10-20 degrees F.
Rainfall has been down too. Here in central York County we had no significant rain (.0.10 inch) between mid-June and mid-July. On July 13 we had 3-5 inches in as many hours causing local flooding, bank erosion and sedimentation of many small streams.
Generally, dry summers affect water quality both here and in the Chesapeake Bay differently. During dry weather dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus levels in flowing headwater streams increases sometime causing algae blooms. In contrast to this, the Susquehanna River and Bay benefit from these low rainfall because of reduced suspended sediment and its transport.
WAY received word Friday that DEP executed its Growing Greener grant for the Pine Run restoration project, a tributary in the North Branch Muddy Creek. Muddy Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited plans to stabilize up to 1700 linear feet of severely degraded stream, restore the riparian buffer, and fence cattle out of the stream. WAY is assisting MCTU as grant administrator.
WAY is also administering Growing Greener grant for restoration project on Hollow Run, East Branch Codorus Creek, and Violet Hill Tributary to the main steam of Codorus Creek, near York College. WAY is partnering with York County Parks and Recreation Department and York College for these projects, individually and separately.
Our partnering watershed organizations are reminded of the upcoming rounds of DEP's 319 NPS Program and Growing Greener Program grants due August 6 and September 1, respectively.
Rainfall has been down too. Here in central York County we had no significant rain (.0.10 inch) between mid-June and mid-July. On July 13 we had 3-5 inches in as many hours causing local flooding, bank erosion and sedimentation of many small streams.
Generally, dry summers affect water quality both here and in the Chesapeake Bay differently. During dry weather dissolved nitrogen and phosphorus levels in flowing headwater streams increases sometime causing algae blooms. In contrast to this, the Susquehanna River and Bay benefit from these low rainfall because of reduced suspended sediment and its transport.
WAY received word Friday that DEP executed its Growing Greener grant for the Pine Run restoration project, a tributary in the North Branch Muddy Creek. Muddy Creek Chapter of Trout Unlimited plans to stabilize up to 1700 linear feet of severely degraded stream, restore the riparian buffer, and fence cattle out of the stream. WAY is assisting MCTU as grant administrator.
WAY is also administering Growing Greener grant for restoration project on Hollow Run, East Branch Codorus Creek, and Violet Hill Tributary to the main steam of Codorus Creek, near York College. WAY is partnering with York County Parks and Recreation Department and York College for these projects, individually and separately.
Our partnering watershed organizations are reminded of the upcoming rounds of DEP's 319 NPS Program and Growing Greener Program grants due August 6 and September 1, respectively.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
What's Happening in Pennsylvania's Watersheds
Erosion and Sediment Control Rulemaking
The Department presented the final Chapter 102, Erosion and Sediment Control rulemaking to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) for consideration at their June 17, 2010 meeting, and it was approved. The House and Senate Environmental Standing Committees have requested an additional 14-days to review the package. If no action is taken by the Committees, the regulation could possibly be ready for publication in the Pa. Bulletin as final by mid-summer. If there are no significant hold ups it is anticipated that the new regulations will be in place starting January 1st, 2011.
PennVEST Non-Point Source
Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) will seek input on the new NPS funding program. The program, which began in March 2010, represents a significant new source of funds (3.5 million) to address Federal Clean Water Act projects by providing loans and grants for a water pollution abatement projects addressing agricultural runoff, urban stormwater and abandoned mine drainage. Five NPS applications were received for the first round of grants. PENNVEST is looking for input and comments on this program to improve access to funds for NPS projects. Information on the program is available on the PENNVEST website at
A public meeting has been scheduled for July 20 at 1:30 p.m. in the 2nd floor training room , Rachel Carson State Office Building 400 Market Street , Harrisburg , PA. 400 Market street Harrisburg , PA 17101
Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP)
The FY 10-11 REAP tax credit program guidelines and application are now available on the State Conservation Commission website (www.agriculture.state.pa.us) . Applications which were received last year, and not funded, will be considered prior to the Commission considering new applications for FY 10-11. Applicants from last year have been notified by the Commission, and have until July 16 to “reactivate” last year’s application. New applications will be accepted by the Commission beginning August 2, 2010. Approval decisions on all REAP applications for FY 2010-11 are contingent upon the REAP allocation in the completed FY 10-11 state budget. Applicants that did receive funding are reminded that all BMPs installed compliant to the contract and Program requirements need to submit paperwork that the BMP meets NRCS standards verified by the appropriate signature. For additional information, contact Mary Bender, State Conservation Commission at 717-787-8821 or mabender@state.pa.us
Post-Construction Stormwater Management
The 102/105/NPDES Post-Construction Stormwater Management Advisory Work Group, consisting of representation from 12 conservation districts, PACD, DEP and the Commission will be working together to improve these programs. One of there first efforts will be to develop options for the collection and distribution of fees under the revised Chapter 102 Regulations. The next meeting of the group is August 6th.
The Department is in the process of developing a “Pennsylvania Proposed Chesapeake Bay Agricultural Water Quality Initiative. A draft document has been provided to both the DEP Work Group for the Chesapeake Bay Agricultural Watershed Improvement Plan (AG WIP) and to the DEP Agricultural Advisory Board (AAB) with a request for comments on the proposed draft. To see a copy of the draft, do to the AAB website at http://www.dep.state.pa.us (select Public Participation, then select Advisory Committees).
EPA is establishing a federal Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for nutrients and sediment for the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries. Under a Virginia
Although EPA is developing the TMDL, states are preparing Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs). The WIP concept is similar to the basic idea behind the Tributary Strategies that were developed in the past, but important differences exist. For example, EPA has issued detailed guidance on what they expect the WIPs to look like, and are asking that the WIPs contain mechanisms such as regulations or funding programs that will help obtain the goals of the plan. EPA is expecting the states to submit draft WIPs late this summer, around August 23rd. Public meetings will be held in the fall, tentatively the week of October 17th.
PA will build its WIP on a 3-prong approach that has already shown success: 1) Milestone Implementation & Tracking; 2) Technology and Nutrient Trading; and 3) Compliance. Because the document will cover a number of topics, DEP will work with the the Chesapeake Bay Advisory Committee (CBAC), and has convened a Chesapeake Watershed Implementation Plan Management Team to help guide PA WIP development. The structure for the Team is similar to the 2006 Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Steering Committee. Members include representatives of agriculture, wastewater, development, municipalities, and environmental organizations. Three workgroupos have also been established: Wastewater Workgroup; Urban/Suburban/Rural Workgroup; and an Agriculture Workgroup.
Two helpful websites, for more information:
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Chesapeake Bay Gets “C” on Latest Annual Report Card
The health of the Chesapeake Bay improved last year to its highest level since 2002, according to the latest annual report card released by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), which gave the Bay a health grade of C.The 2009 report card notes improved conditions in eight regions of the Bay and continued degraded conditions in two regions. Grades for 14 individual regions were averaged together for an overall Bay health grade of C.
The highest-ranked region for the third year in a row was a B-minus on the upper western shore of Maryland, which includes the Bush and Gunpowder rivers. The Upper Bay Region which includes the Susquehanna River received a C+. The lowest-ranked region was the Patapsco and Back rivers, which received an F.
Scientists attribute the health improvements to last year’s unique regional rainfall patterns, continued efforts to reduce nutrient pollution, and the gradual rebound in Bay health since historically poor conditions observed in 2003.
“Despite the record high rainfall in parts of Maryland and Virginia, the mainstem of the Chesapeake Bay improved last year,” said UMCES researcher and project leader Dr. William Dennison. “Normally, more precipitation means poorer Bay health. But last year, the Bay benefited from below average rainfall throughout Pennsylvania which appears to have reduced the amount of pollutants reaching the open waters of the mainstem Bay.”
In 2009, SRBC announced findings from four separate river monitoring programs providing biological and water quality data used to assess streams and rivers and identify changes in stream health over time. For water quality conditions, only 6.9 percent of the values exceeded their respective limits, indicating fairly good water quality in the Susquehanna River. In PA-MD streams, nutrients continue to be the biggest concern.
Over the report card's 24-year history, Bay health was rated at its highest in 1993 with a score of 57, and it lowest in 2003 with a score of 35. The 2009 rating of 46 falls in the top 25 percentile.
An encouraging sign in the Bay’s health has been an improvement in water clarity over the past two to three years. There was a 12 percent increase in water clarity in 2009. The most dramatic improvements were in the middle regions of the Bay, including the Bay’s mainstem and the Choptank, Potomac and Rappahannock rivers. However, the reporting regions with chronically poor water clarity – the Patapsco and Back rivers, Maryland’s lower western shore, and the York and Elizabeth rivers – still had muddy, turbid water.
The Chesapeake Bay Report Card is an annual analysis conducted through the EcoCheck partnership between UMCES and the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office using data collected by Bay Program partners.
For more information about the 2009 Chesapeake Bay Report Card, including maps, charts and data, visit the Chesapeake Eco-Check website www.eco-check.org/reportcard/chesapeake/2009/.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
EPA Releases Land Management Guidance to Reduce Water Pollution to Chesapeake Bay
On the same day the federal government announced a comprehensive strategy to protect and restore the
The guidance provides federal land managers with the help they need to implement the best proven tools and practices to restore and protect the region’s waterways and the bay. This guidance presents the most effective tools and practices to address nonpoint source pollution that is currently contributing nutrients and sediments from federal land management activity in the
- Agriculture – Best management practices can implement practices based on source, in-field and edge of field controls to protect water quality.
- Riparian Area Management – Riparian areas are the natural buffers between uplands and adjacent waterbodies.
- Urban and Suburban Areas – Development incorporating watershed planning, smart growth, low-impact designs and practices, and retrofits is critical to protect the Bay from urban and suburban runoff.
- Decentralized Wastewater Systems – Septic systems serve millions of homes in the Bay watershed, adding ~12.5 million pounds of nitrogen to the Bay each year.
- Forestry – Well-managed forests are the most beneficial land use for clean water. Large areas of healthy forest and streamside forests are essential to keeping nutrient and sediment pollution out of the rivers and Bay.
- Hydromodification – The term hydromodification refers to the alteration of the hydrologic characteristics of waterbodies, which in turn could cause degradation of water resources.
The cost-effective tools and practices outlined in the document are indicated by current scientific and technical literature to be the most state-of-the-art approaches to reduce water pollution from nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.
The same techniques can be utilized by states, local governments, conservation districts, watershed organizations, developers, farmers and citizens in the
To view the guidance: http://www.epa.gov/nps/chesbay502/.
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