Chesapeake Bay Journal

State efforts to reduce stormwater runoff from development sites in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania are facing an onslaught of questions and challenges that conservationists worry could weaken water quality protection in the Chesapeake region.

States are under pressure to develop robust stormwater regulations to meet federal pollution limits for rivers known as TMDLs, or Total Maximum Daily Loads. In January, the EPA announced plans to write federal stormwater regulations for the Bay watershed.

Although development of the regulations has just begun, they will eventually apply to any jurisdiction without a satisfactory stormwater program of its own.

"We're all going toward this brave new world of low-impact development," said Thomas Schueler of the Chesapeake Stormwater Network. "But no one truly understands the costs, and the engineering community is to differing degrees uncertain about how to proceed. It's new stuff."

Bay states poised to take lead in bioenergy field: The Chesapeake Bay region could lead the nation in developing a biofuels industry that will help wean Americans from dependence on foreign oil and keep farmers in business while also improving water quality. But to succeed, the states and the federal government must create markets and encourage the needed investments.

Charles 'Mac' Mathias, founder of Bay cleanup effort, dies: Charles McC. Mathias Jr., a three-term United States senator from Maryland who was instrumental in launching the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, died Jan. 25 at his home in Chevy Chase, MD, of complications from Parkinson's Disease. He was 87.

EPA announces 'Eyes on Drilling' tip line for oil, natural gas: The EPA has created an "Eyes on Drilling" tip line for citizens to report non-emergency suspicious activity related to oil and natural gas development.

VA legislators kill bills to transfer menhaden management to VMRC: The debate over who could best manage Virginia's menhaden fishery proved to be short-lived.

Time line set for TMDL implementation plans, actions: For many working on it, the Bay TMDL might instead be considered a TMLD-too many long days. Evening and weekend hours have become routine for many. Even when snow buried the government, arrangements were made to carry on with teleconference meetings, with participants calling in from home.

Dredge islands in Bay giving way to projects on shore: The truck makes a sharp turn and drives along what looks like a finger of earth jutting into the Patapsco River. Slowly, Frank Hamons climbs out onto this dike, planting his feet on about 1.3 million cubic yards of dirt that not long ago sat at the bottom of the river. After 30 years with the Maryland Port Administration, Hamons can't help but smile about the progress here at Masonville Cove, one of the newest sites set to receive material dredged from the Baltimore Harbor.

Intimidator, subsurfer latest tools to hammer away at nutrient pollution: With names like The Intimidator and The Subsurfer, the equipment on this one-time poultry farm near Princess Anne on Maryland's Eastern Shore looks and sounds like it could star in an action movie.

Veteran MD DNR official to lead marine fisheries agency at NOAA: A veteran Maryland natural resources official has been named by the Obama administration to oversee national fisheries management.

Proposed Obama budget includes more funds for Bay-related items: Most federal Bay-related programs are slated for significant funding increases in President Barack Obama's proposed 2011 budget, which would send more money to states to control nutrient pollution, improve fisheries habitat in the Chesapeake and help the region prepare for future climate change.