Free Webcast Feb. 18: Changing Management Of Nutrients In Chesapeake Bay

Nitrogen and phosphorus arrive in the Chesapeake Bay from the 64,000 square-mile
watershed. The activities of more than 17 million people in the watershed have overwhelmed the Bay with nutrients from sewage treatment plants, industry, agricultural fields, lawns, and the atmosphere. Farm fertilizers and animal manure come in by rainwater runoff.
Four experts will look at the water quality data and the regulations that will shape the future of agricultural nutrient management in the Chesapeake Bay watershed during a free webcast Friday, Feb. 18. While PA has reduced pollution it still falls far short on water quality goals.
The speakers will give an update on the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) policy and how the six states in the watershed are helping to meet water quality targets. The webcast speakers will begin with watershed-wide issues and end with how policies may impact producers in smaller sub-watersheds.
Matt Ehrhart, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania office of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation will be presenting information about the EPA’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) or pollution diet, and how this plan impacts Pennsylvania.
The webcast is sponsored by eXtension, a network of researchers and educators from Cooperative Extension Services across the United States, government agencies and industry. Experts provide unbiased information in more than 35 resource areas including agriculture and animals, community and economics, energy and environment, home and family, and yard and garden.
The webcast begins at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Central, 12:30 p.m. Mountain, 11:30 a.m. Pacific).
The 75-minute webcast is free and part of eXtension’s Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center monthly webcast series. Links for testing your system and the virtual meeting room are available at Live Webcast Information.