Chesapeake Cleanup: A New Approach for Restoration and Accountability

1. Chesapeake Cleanup:The New Approach Telling the public

2. Recent Poll by CB Trust • 86 percent: cleaning up Bay is “extremely” or “very important” • 55 percent: interest in Bay has increased • 73 percent: more regulation needed • 66 percent: favor spending more money, even if more taxes needed • 75 percent: don’t live in a watershed

3. The Setup 2007 Executive Council meeting: 2010 goals won’t be met 2008 Executive Council meeting: need new approach, meet in spring to announce plans

4. Landmark meetings 1983 1987 2000 2009

5. What is the New Approach? • Milestones • Timeline for Restoration • Chesapeake TMDL • Stimulus Funds • Farm Bill • Executive Order & Deepened Federal Commitment • Challenge to stakeholders

6. Package It Up…

7. …and Deliver It • EC members remarks at news conference • Media materials • Document for public • CBP website • Op-Ed from EC Chair & EPA Administrator • Future communications

9. Overall themes Health metaphor Local, local, local Positive – Bay can be restored Opportunity is now

10. Words That Don’t Work Implementation Allocation Non-point source Point source Nutrients Loads Tributary Living resources Attainment Impaired

11. Words That Work Reduce pollution Protect nature Family & children Healthy Future generations Clean water Make a difference Investment Working together Accountability

12. A National Treasure • One of most extraordinary places in America • Incredible value: nature, history, culture, economy and recreation • Must speed up recovery to good health

13. Bay is in Critical Condition • Bay continues to be in bad health – been in critical condition for too long • Now also affected by climate change • Greater sense of urgency to restore good health • Bay Program has charted a new course for recovery

15. Can Recover to Good Health • Have detailed plan and unprecedented resources for recovery • Guided by world’s best watershed science • 25 years have yielded successes • Over 7 million acres of land permanently preserved • Technology upgrades at hundreds of treatment plants • Restoration of striped bass population • Practices that lower pollution on millions of acres of farms • Ban on use of phosphorus in laundry detergent • Restrictions on crab harvest – signs of progress

16. Can Recover to Good Health • Road to good health is long • Recovery depends on collective effort • Help from everyone can speed it up

17. When Will Bay Recover? • As pollution is reduced, health should steadily improve • First signs in streams and rivers • But scientists are unsure how quickly • It takes time for nature to heal • Watershed is vast and complex

18. Investing in Clean Water • Just as health is asset, clean water is for region • Great value to quality of life for residents • Reducing pollution in thousands of waterways • This is about clean water in every community – for families today and future generations

19. Taking Steps Toward Recovery • Recovery from poor health requires short-term goals for steady progress • Distant goals didn’t work • Now using milestones every two years for putting measures in place to reduce pollution

20. Many states will double or triple pace • Focus is on Dec. 31, 2011 • Timeline for completing restoration set next year using latest science

21. A Pollution Diet • Poor health because of pollution levels • Triggers Chesapeake TMDL • A pollution diet for good health • Unique among 35,000: • Largest and most complex • Require plans for how states meet diet • Consequences if progress isn’t made

22. A Pollution Diet • Meeting diet will be difficult • All levels of government to be involved • Must expand cleanup programs, funding and authorities • Watershed groups and region residents have a role too • Outreach meetings begin this summer

23. Funding the Recovery • Unprecedented funding making new approach possible • Stimulus providing billions of dollars that would take 5 to 10 years to get • EPA, Dept of Ag, Army Corps, Dept of Interior, NOAA and states and D.C.

24. Funding the Recovery • Farm Bill providing $188 million over next four years • One of largest single investments in Bay by federal government • Will reduce pollution in creeks, streams and rivers

25. Part of the Recovery? Executive Order

26. Support System • Recovery from poor health can be faster with a strong support system • Help from local government, watershed groups and residents: • Is necessary • Can speed up the cleanup

27. Support System Local Government • 1,800 that influence development • Can help reduce pollution, meet diet • CBP outreach: LGAC, Circuit Rider Watershed Groups • 600 groups must continue and expand cleanup work • CBP support: grants, technical help, encourage volunteerism

29. Accountability • Bay Program wants to increase accountability for recovery • New approach includes ways to monitor progress and adjust course: • Milestones and contingencies • TMDL and consequences • Independent evaluator • Bay Barometer • Adaptive management

30. Progress in Putting Pollution Reduction Measures in Place