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:
- Development Checklist
- Smart Growth
- Gravel or Pavers
- Plant and Rain Buffers
- Tax Incentives for stormwater management
- increased regulation on agricultural farming, specifically chickens
- Continued oyster restoration
- Emphasis on science, research, and technology
(1) The Developmental checklist is to be used by those who are looking to build in the bay. In order to have their project approved, items on this checklist must be fulfilled. These checklist items include strategies such as smart growth, using gravel or pavers to reduce impervious surfaces, and plant and rain buffers to stabilize the soil and prevent sediment runoff.
(2) Offering tax incentives to residents, encouraging them to install stormwater management features on their homes or on their lands. Some examples include green roofing, which retains rainwater and delays rain runoff during times of high rainfall, rain gardens that are designed to withstand high water flows, and rain chains or downspouts that divert rainwater.
(3) Chicken manure and nitrogen based fertilizer contributes pollution to the bay. We would like to increase and improve regulations to control run-off from these sources as well as help farmers adopt various BMPs to do so.
(4) Oysters play a large role in keeping the water clean. Programs should involve residents of the bay to grow oysters along their docks. Additionally, these programs should connect residents and research to allow residents to grow their own oyster beds.
(5) Increased funding on science and research to find better and current means to address issues in the bay. This can be done in many ways including partnerships with the many universities located in or near the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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