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Restoring and Protecting Chesapeake Bay and River Water Quality

Restoring and Protecting Chesapeake Bay and River Water Quality. June 2005. The Chesapeake Bay is North America’s largest and most biologically diverse estuary, home to more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.

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Restoring and Protecting Chesapeake Bay and River Water Quality

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  1. Restoring and ProtectingChesapeake Bay and RiverWater Quality June 2005

  2. The Chesapeake Bay is North America’s largest and most biologically diverse estuary, home to more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and animals.

  3. For more than 300 years, the Bay and its tributaries have sustained the region’s economy anddefined its traditions and culture.

  4. It is a resource of extraordinary productivity, worthy of the highest levels ofprotection and restoration.

  5. The Chesapeake Bay Program Partnership Governor of MD Governor of PA Governor of VA Mayor of DC EPA Administrator Executive Council Chair of Chesapeake Bay Commission

  6. Purpose of This Presentation To answer common questions about the efforts related to protecting and restoring Bay and river water quality: • What’s the problem with Bay and river water quality? • What do we want to achieve? • How might the Bay and its tidal rivers look with restored water quality? • How far have we come? • How do we define restored Bay and river water quality? • What needs to be done? • Who is involved? What is the timeline? • How will other Bay agreement commitments help restore the complete ecosystem?

  7. What’s the Problem with Bay and RiverWater Quality? Because things on land are easily washed into streams and rivers, our actions on land ultimately affect the Bay. Section 1: What’s the Problem

  8. Most scientists believe that nutrients and sediment are the root of most water quality problems in the Bay. The amount of nutrients that would naturally enter the Bay would be okay, but the amount going into the Bay now has been amplified by people. When we use fertilizers, dispose of sewage, drive cars, and generate electricity, we harm the Bay. Section 1: What’s the Problem

  9. Water Quality Problems Algae blooms and depleted oxygen levels are caused by nutrient pollution. When the algae die and decompose, they use up oxygen needed by other plants and animals living in the Bay's waters. Poor water clarity is caused by algae blooms and sediment pollution. Algae blooms and sediment cloud the water and block sunlight, causing underwater bay grasses to die. Section 1: What’s the Problem

  10. Sources of Nutrient Pollution to the Bay Stormwater and groundwater carry nutrients into rivers and the Bay from a variety of nonpoint sources, such as farms, lawns, gardens, golf courses and septic tanks. Scientists believe that agricultural sources contribute the largest portion of the nutrient pollution entering the Bay. Point sources, such as wastewater treatment plants, are the second largest contributors of nutrient pollution to the rivers and the Bay. Section 1: What’s the Problem

  11. A significant amount of nitrogen pollution is created when we generate electricity and drive cars. Generating electric power by burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, releases nitrogen, in the form of nitrogen oxide gas, into the air. Nitrogen oxide gases from automobile exhaust are another source of nitrogen pollution. When it rains, this nitrogen is washed out of the air and off of the land, eventually making its way into rivers and the Bay. Section 1: What’s the Problem

  12. What Do We Want to Achieve? Achieve and maintain the water quality necessary to support the aquatic living resources of the Bay and its tributaries and to protect human health. Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  13. Chesapeake 2000: The New Agreement In June 2000, the Chesapeake Bay Program partners signed a new agreement to guide the restoration and protection of the Bay through the next decade and beyond. In Chesapeake 2000, the partners agreed that: Improving water quality is the most critical element in the overall protection and restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers. Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  14. Bay and River Water Quality Commitment In order to achieve and maintain the water quality necessary to support aquatic living resources, one of the commitments the partners made is to: By 2010, correct the nutrient‑ and sediment‑related problems in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries sufficiently to remove the Bay and the tidal portions of its tributaries from the list of impaired waters under the Clean Water Act. Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  15. Impaired Waters and Clean-up Plans Chesapeake Bay and Tidal Tributary Nutrient and/or Sediment Impaired Waterbodies Portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers are listed under the Clean Water Act as “impaired waters” largely because of low dissolved oxygen levels and other problems related to nutrient pollution. This “listing” requires the development of a clean-up plan for the Bay by 2011. Note: Representation of 303(d) listed waters for nutrient and/or sediment water quality impairments for illustrative purposes only. For exact 303(d) listings contact EPA (http://www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/). Impaired Water Unimpaired Water Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  16. Watershed-wide Pollution Reductions Needed The pollutants causing water quality impairments drain into to the Bayand its rivers fromthe entire watershed. New York Pennsylvania Maryland Delaware West Virginia Chesapeake Bay Watershed Boundary District of Columbia Virginia Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  17. Advantages of Cooperative Clean-up Plans • Bay partners committed to remove Chesapeake water quality impairments by 2010, which allows state and local partners more flexibility in crafting cooperative, efficient and cost effective clean-up plans. • If the partners are not successful in meeting their 2010 commitment to remove the Bay from the impaired waters list, only then will a regulatory clean-up plan for all impaired tidal waters be required. Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  18. What’s Different About the Approach Being Taken? • We are taking a cooperative, non-regulatory approach over the next decade. • New York, Delaware and West Virginia are now directly involved (in addition to MD, PA, VA and DC) • Water quality needs of the aquatic living resources of the Bay and its tidal rivers will drive necessary pollutant loading reductions. Section 2: What Do We Want to Achieve

  19. How Might the Bay and its Tidal Rivers Look with Restored Water Quality? The Honorable Bernie Fowler wades into the Patuxent River every year to test water clarity. One year he hopes to wade out up to his shoulders and still see his white sneakers. Section 3: How Might the Bay Look?

  20. Restored Water Quality Means: • Fewer algae blooms and better fish food. • Clearer water and more underwater Bay grasses. • More oxygen and improved habitat for more fish, crabs and oysters. Section 3: How Might the Bay Look?

  21. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Water Quality Sunlight Sunlight Minimal Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment Inputs Excessive Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sediment Inputs Algal Bloom Balanced Algae Growth Healthy Bay Grasses Reduced Bay Grasses Healthy Habitat Unhealthy Habitat Algae Die-off Algae Decomposition Healthy Oyster Reef Adequate Oxygen No Oxygen Barren Oyster Reef Lack of Benthic Community Benthic Community Section 3: How Might the Bay Look?

  22. How Far Have We Come? The Bay and its rivers are doing better but we have a long way to go. Section 4: How Far Have We Come?

  23. Bay Grasses Show Annual Variation Restoration Goal (185,000 acres by 2010) Underwater bay grasses are slowly improving, but further reductions in the pollutants flowing into the Bay are needed to help them flourish. Annual variations in bay grasses show the sensitivity of the Bay ecosystem. *Note – Hatched area of bar includes estimated additional acreage. No Baywide surveys 1979-83 and 1988 Source: Chesapeake Bay Program. Section 4: How Far Have We Come?

  24. Some Waters Still Not Clear Enough for Bay Grasses All plants--even those underwater--need light! Water clarity is a measure of the amount of sunlight that penetrates the Bay’s waters and reaches the surface of underwater Bay grass leaves. The amount needed is determined by the specific underwater grasses which grow in different areas of the Bay. Increases in sediment and nutrient concentrations in the water lead to declines in water clarity. Improved water clarity is important for Bay grass recovery and other living resources. Source: Chesapeake Bay Program. Status and trends are for surface waters during the relevant SAV growing season. Section 4: How Far Have We Come?

  25. Some Waters Still Have Too Much Algae Chlorophyll a is a measure of the amount of algae in the water. Excessive nutrients can stimulate algae blooms resulting in reduced water clarity. Section 4: How Far Have We Come?

  26. Many Water Habitats Still Lack Sufficient Oxygen Excessive nutrients can stimulate algae blooms resulting in reduced oxygen levels in the water. Stressful dissolved oxygen conditions occur during summer months throughout much of the deeper waters of the mainstem Bay and up into the Patapsco, Chester, Patuxent, Potomac, Rappahannock, and York Rivers, and Eastern Bay. Section 4: How Far Have We Come?

  27. How Do We DefineRestored Water Quality? • Map out the “designated uses” (habitat zones) for the Bay’s different living resource communities. • Determine the water quality conditions or “criteria” necessary to protect those “uses”. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  28. Designated Uses of Bay and Tidal River Waters The needs of the Bay’s living resources dictate what the uses (habitat zones) should be: • Migratory Fish Spawning and Nursery Use • Shallow-Water Bay Grass Use • Open-Water Fish and Shellfish Use • Deep-Water Seasonal Fish and Shellfish Use • Deep-Channel Seasonal Refuge Use Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  29. Refined Designated Uses forChesapeake Bay and Tidal Tributary Waters A. Cross Section of Chesapeake Bay or Tidal Tributary Shallow-Water Bay Grass Use Open-Water Fish and Shellfish Use Deep-Water Seasonal Fish and Shellfish Use Deep-Channel Seasonal Refuge Use B. Oblique View of the “Chesapeake Bay” and its Tidal Tributaries Migratory Fish Spawning and Nursery Use Open-Water Habitat Shallow-Water Bay Grass Use Deep-Water Seasonal Fish and Shellfish Use Deep-Channel Seasonal Refuge Use Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  30. Migratory Fish Spawning and Nursery Use General Description of Designated Use: • Aims to protect migratory and resident tidal freshwater fish during the spawning and nursery season in tidal freshwater to low-salinity habitats. • Critical time period is late winter to late spring (February through May). Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  31. Migratory Fish Spawning and Nursery Use The upper reaches of tidal waters and the upper mainstem used as spawning and nursery grounds by striped bass, shad, perch and other fish. Spawning and Nursery Habitat Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  32. Shallow-Water Bay Grass Use General Description of Designated Use: • Designed to protect underwater bay grasses and the many fish and crab species that depend on the vegetated habitat provided by grass beds. • Critical timeframe is the bay grass growing season. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  33. Shallow-Water Bay Grass Use Shallow Water Habitat Tidal waters up to two meters in depth where underwater bay grasses have been historically observed. Two Meter Bathymetry Contour Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  34. Open-Water Fish and Shellfish Use General Description of Designated Use: • Designed to improve water quality in the surface water habitats within tidal creeks, rivers, embayments and the mainstem Bay. • Aims to protect diverse populations of sportfish including striped bass, bluefish, mackerel and sea trout as well as important bait fish such as menhaden and silversides. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  35. Open-Water Fish and Shellfish Use All surface tidal waters extending to the bottom, or to the top of the pycnocline* in areas where it exists and presents a barrier to re-oxygenation of deeper waters. Open Water Habitat Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  36. Deep-Water Seasonal Fish and Shellfish Use General Description of Designated Use: • Aims to protect living resources inhabiting the deeper transitional water column and bottom habitats between the well-mixed surface waters and the very deep channels. • Protects many bottom-feeding fish, crabs and oysters, as well as other important species, including the bay anchovy. • Critical timeframe is June through September. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  37. Deep-Water Seasonal Fish and Shellfish Use Tidal waters within the pycnocline* where it presents a barrier to re-oxygenation of deeper waters. Deep Water * Pycnocline marks a density change in the water column due to a transition from the warm, fresher water layer on the surface to the relatively cold, saltier water at the Bay’s bottom. Deep Water Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  38. Deep-Channel Seasonal Refuge Use General Description of Designated Use: • Designed to protect bottom sediment dwelling worms and small clams that act as food for bottom-feeding fish and crabs in the deep channel habitats. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  39. Deep-Channel Seasonal Refuge Use Very deep water and adjacent bottom sediment located in the channels below the pycnocline at the lower reaches of major tidal rivers and along the spine of the upper and middle mainstem Bay. Deep Channel Deep Channel Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  40. Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Criteria • Water Clarity – light for underwater Bay grasses • Chlorophyll a – base of the Bay food chain • Dissolved Oxygen – for fish, crabs and oysters Together, these three criteria define the conditions necessary to protect the wide variety of the Bay’s living resources and their habitats. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  41. Water Clarity • All plants--even those underwater--need light! • Water clarity is a measure of the amount of sunlight that penetrates the Bay’s waters and reaches the surface of underwater Bay grass leaves. • The amount needed is determined by the specific underwater grasses which grow in different areas of the Bay. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  42. What’s Blocking the Light? Good Water Clarity Poor Water Clarity • Percent of sunlight at the water surface that penetrates the water: • 13% in low salinity waters • 22% in high salinity waters Sediment and other particles in the water + Algae in the water + Algae on the leaves equals Very low percentage of sunlight reaching leaves – Bay grasses grow poorly or die. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  43. Chlorophyll a • Chlorophyll a is a measure of the amount of algae in the water. • Some algae are good sources of fish food and others are poor sources. • Excessive nutrients can stimulate nuisance algae blooms resulting in reduced water clarity, reduced amounts of “good fish food”, and depleted oxygen levels in deeper waters. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  44. Dissolved Oxygen • Living things--even those underwater--need oxygen! • The amount of oxygen needed in the water depends on the specific needs of the Bay’s living resources. • The amounts depend on where and when certain areas are used by different living resources. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  45. Oxygen Requirements (mg/L) of Bay Species Migratory Fish Spawning & Nursery Areas 6 Striped Bass: 5-6 American Shad: 5 Shallow and Open Water Areas 5 White Perch: 5 Yellow Perch: 5 4 Hard Clams: 5 Deep Water Alewife: 3.6 3 Bay Anchovy: 3 Crabs: 3 2 1 Spot: 2 Deep Channel Worms: 1 0 Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  46. Chesapeake Bay Criteria Needed for Protection of the Refined Tidal Waters Designated Uses Dissolved Oxygen Chlorophyll a Water Clarity Migratory Spawning and Nursery  Shallow Water   Open Water   Deep Water  Deep Channel  Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  47. Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Criteria Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  48. Chesapeake Bay NarrativeCriteria for Chlorophyll a Concentrations of chlorophyll a in free-floating aquatic plants (algae) shall not exceed levels that result in ecologically undesirable consequences – such as reduced water clarity, low dissolved oxygen, food supply imbalances, proliferation of species deemed potentially harmful to aquatic life or humans or aesthetically objectionable conditions – or otherwise render tidal waters unsuitable for designated uses. Section 5: How Do We Define Restored Water Quality?

  49. What needs to be done? Now that restored water quality has been defined, what actions will need to be taken to remove the Bay and its rivers from the impaired waters list by 2010? Section 6: What Needs to Be Done?

  50. Adopting Water Quality Standards • The Bay watershed partners are working to establish new state water quality standards that will more realistically reflect the needs of fish and other aquatic life. • Using the recently defined water quality conditions necessary to protect aquatic living resources (criteria and designated uses), jurisdictions with tidal waters – DE, MD, VA, and DC – will make their best efforts to adopt new or revised water quality standards consistent with the necessary water quality conditions. Delaware Maryland Virginia District of Columbia Section 6: What Needs to Be Done?

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