The document discusses efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It describes the Bay as the largest estuary in the country with over 64,000 square miles of watershed that is home to 17 million people. Major issues facing the Bay include algal blooms, fish kills, sediment runoff, and pollution from stormwater, industrial, and municipal sources. The EPA established a pollution diet in 2010 to reduce nitrogen by 25%, phosphorus by 24%, and sediment by 20% by 2017 and achieve a 60% reduction by 2025. Restoration efforts include streambank restoration and promoting smart growth development to reduce pollution. Fracking is also discussed as a potential threat to the Bay's water quality.

1. RESTORING THE CHESAPEAKE
WATERSHED
Anglers Club of New York
March 4, 2014
Ridgway M. Hall, Jr.
Vice Chair
Chesapeake Legal Alliance, Inc.

2. The Chesapeake
Bay Watershed
•
Largest estuary in the country
•
64,000-square-mile watershed
•
•
11,684 miles of shoreline
17 million people and growing

3. Algal Bloom

4. Fish Kills

5. The Bay Before the 2011 Rainstorm Irene

6. The Bay a few days after Irene, showing sediment
runoff after the rainstorm

7. Main Sources of Pollution to the Bay
Stormwater
Industrial
and
Municipal

8. The Pollution Diet (EPA 2010)
Baywide Caps (per year)
Reduction from 2009
Nitrogen 185M lbs
25%
Phosphorus 12.5M lbs
24%
Sediment 5.5B lbs
20%
Achieve 60% by 2017
Achieve 100% by 2025

9. Mossy Creek, VA before streambank restoration
Source: Trout Unlimited
9

10. Mossy Creek, VA after streambank restoration
Source: Trout Unlimited

11. Vulnerable Sedimentation
Pre-settlement floodplain

13. Smart Growth—Urban and Suburban Context
Well-designed, higher density
development can be good for
the environment, especially
when located in areas that are
already developed, are
walkable, and are served by
transit. Good design includes
parks and low impact
development for stormwater
management.
PIEDMONT ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL

14. Fracking and Water

15. 15
Courtesy of Earthworks

16. Courtesy of Earthworks

17. Courtesy of Earthworks

18. Courtesy of Earthworks

19. Questions and Discussion