The Bay region is unlikely to meet its cleanup goals by 2010—and may not for decades—because of a failure to substantially promote and fund pollution control efforts by farmers, a federal report concludes.
The report, an unusual combined effort by the inspector generals of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, found that efforts to engage the agricultural community in Chesapeake cleanup activities have been hampered by the failure of the two agencies to work together and a lack of funding.
“At the federal level, EPA and USDA are key to accomplishing the environmental goals of the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” the report said. “However, in the past, their relationship has been one of two independent entities, often constrained by their mandated goals and directions, rather than partners with a common objective.”
Congress creates water trail marking Smith's Bay journey: Capt. John Smith and his crew had been out of Jamestown for less than two weeks in their exploration of the great, but largely unknown Chesapeake Bay.
Capacity building key to success for watershed groups: Four decades ago, advocates for the Rappahannock River banded together to battle a proposed dam that would have flooded part of the waterway. They scored a victory.
Tilghman Island arrowheads may point to Bay's earliest visitors: When he was growing up on Tilghman Island, Darrin Lowery often walked the local beaches looking for arrowheads, spearheads and other artifacts dropped by Native Americans who once inhabited the area.
Environmentally important underwater grass beds facing global crisis: Often out of sight and out of mind for both the public and resource managers, underwater grass beds face a “global crisis” as their coastal habitats are dramatically altered by human activities, a new study says.
VA governor seeks $250 million in bonds to upgrade sewage plants in watershed: Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine announced in December that he would introduce legislation authorizing $250 million in bonds to help upgrade sewage-treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
D.C. first major U.S. city to pass green rules for private development: Waterless urinals and recycled carpet could become common building features in the nation’s capital under green construction legislation passed in December by the District of Columbia Council.
Hundreds of dead northern hogsuckers found in Shenandoah River: Scientists baffled by massive spring fish kills on the Shenandoah River over several years now have additional confusing information: several hundred dead fish in December.
PCBs, PAHs top Bay Program's updated toxics of concern list: PCBs, which are responsible for most fish consumption advisories in the Chesapeake region, and PAHs, which have been linked to fish tumors, top the latest version of the Bay Program’s latest “toxics of concern” list.
Chesapeake Cleanup Update: Reductions in nutrient, sediment loads need to be accelerated: This is the fourth in a series of annual reports that present the most recent estimates (through 2005) about the status of nutrient and sediment reduction efforts aimed at achieving Chesapeake Bay water quality goals.
