I believe that by now, readers of this blog know the Chesapeake Bay is polluted and they know why it’s polluted.
Recently, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) released water quality monitoring data from 2013. The data was collected from nine river monitoring stations upstream from the Bay. These stations are located along the Appomatox, Choptank, James, Mattoponi, Pamunkey, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock and Susquehanna Rivers.
Recently, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) released water quality monitoring data from 2013. The data was collected from nine river monitoring stations upstream from the Bay. These stations are located along the Appomatox, Choptank, James, Mattoponi, Pamunkey, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock and Susquehanna Rivers.
The data shows the amount of nutrient and sediment pollution from these nine major watersheds remained below the 25-year average for 2013. The USGS found that 160 million pounds of nitrogen entered the Bay, down from the average of 212 million pounds; 10 million pounds of phosphorus entered the Bay, compared to the average of 14.6 million pounds; and 2.7 million pounds of sediment, almost half of the 5.2 million pound average, reached the Bay.
Scientists have attributed these below-average pollution loads partly to below-average river flow and partly to the implementation of pollution-reduction practices required by the 2010 Bay TMDL (pollution diet). Less rain means lower river flow but it also means less sediment and manure from farm fields and less polluted runoff from streets and parking lots entering our waters. Fewer pollutants entering our waters can also be attributed to implementing practices such as planting cover crops on farm fields, keeping forested buffers along waterways, and upgrading our wastewater treatment plants.
While the Farm Bureau wastes time and money challenging the Bay TMDL, individuals, businesses, and municipalities are working to implement the TMDL and reduce pollution and improve water quality. We have a long way to go before the Susquehanna River and the Bay are as clean as they should be, but it looks like we're on the right track.
Jen Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.
While the Farm Bureau wastes time and money challenging the Bay TMDL, individuals, businesses, and municipalities are working to implement the TMDL and reduce pollution and improve water quality. We have a long way to go before the Susquehanna River and the Bay are as clean as they should be, but it looks like we're on the right track.
Jen Quinn is central Pennsylvania outreach coordinator for PennFuture and is based in Harrisburg. She tweets @QuinnJen1.
