Chesapeake Bay's Mixed Report Reveals New Hurdles for Restoration

Pollution is a major issue for Cheasapeake Bay. Sea grasses and wildlife have been affected in the region, slowly disappearing over the years. Yet a program developed in 1987, called the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, set in motion a new initiative to help restore the water and ecosystem. Now, a new report reveals exactly how well efforts are proceeding to reduce the pollution flowing into the bay.

Chesapeake Bay's watershed is massive. This large swathe of area, which includes portions of Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Pennsylvania, Delaware and New York, means that officials need to coordinate efforts between various states. Yet this coordination has been slow; the pace of restoration hasn't been nearly as quick as officials originally expected it to be. That's why in 2010, the EPA established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), which set limits on the amount of nutrients and sediment that can enter the Bay and its tidal rivers.

Currently, officials hope to achieve a restoration of Chesapeake Bay by 2025. This explains the most recent assessment of the Bay's health, which was used as a type of yard stick to measure whether or or not agencies were on track for meeting this goal.

"This interim analysis is important because it celebrates the areas where states are exceeding the goals, but also shines a light on areas needing improving," said William C. Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in an interview with The Washington Post.

So how well are the different areas doing? The main goals are to reduce pollution, restore habitats, manage fisheries and protect watersheds. These encompass a variety of techniques, including planting forest buffers and restoring wetlands. While officials remain optimistic, though, there are mixed readings. For example, Maryland is doing the best out of all of the states while Pennsylvania is doing well in only three out of eight different goals.

"If we're not going to learn from the milestones, we're doomed to fail," said Ann Jennings, the executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in an interview with Newsleader.com.

Currently, the EPA is attempting to encourage states to meet the goals. If all goes as planned, the Chesapeake Bay could be restored by 2025.