Management Recommendations

We invite you to browse through our complete policy recommendations for the Chesapeake Bay.

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From analyzing the state of the Chesapeake Bay and going over current management policies, we have come up with a few policy recommendations that we believe should be implemented:

1. Development Checklist
   1. Smart Growth
   2. Gravel or Pavers
   3. Plant and Rain Buffers
2. Tax Incentives for stormwater management
3. increased regulation on agricultural farming, specifically chickens
4. Continued oyster restoration
5. Emphasis on science, research, and technology

[Read more…] about Policy Recommendation Summary

Understandably improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay involves contributions from numerous actors. To reduce pollution runoff and restore the Chesapeake’s ecosystem farmers, developers, urban residents, state and local governments need to collaborate with current scientific research and conservation efforts. The Clean Water Blue Print suggests drastic reductions to nitrogen and phosphorous by 2025. Other conservation approaches propose oyster restoration because there filter feeding processes cycle nutrients and sediment while providing habitat. While restoring oyster reefs and bay grasses will improve water quality and habitat; current efforts may be in vain if pollution levels don’t decrease because sedimentation and eutrophication stresses oysters threatened by disease and over-harvesting. Accounting for the complex processes within the ecosystem is the most viable approach to improve the Chesapeake Bay’s water quality and Fulford et al. (2010) created a computer model to determine whether oyster restoration or nutrient load reduction was more efficient. [Read more…] about Scientific Study Supports Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint

 

Learn more about sediment pollution and reduction efforts here!