Chesapeake Bay Model Estimates Decline In Nutrient, Sediment Pollution; PA, 4 Other Jurisdictions Did Not Meet 2023 Reduction Targets For Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment

On May 2, Chesapeake Bay Program announced the seven jurisdictions that make up the Chesapeake Bay watershed–Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia–continue to make progress in reducing the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution that is flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay Program uses a suite of modeling tools that show how much pollution is estimated to be reduced by best management practices reported by the watershed jurisdictions each year. 

These tools also approximate the pollution reductions that have occurred between 2009—the baseline year for the Bay TMDL—and 2023.

-- Overall nitrogen entering the Bay decreased 17% from 297.8 million pounds in 2009 to 247.6 million pounds in 2023, meeting 57% of the goal to reduce nitrogen by 2025.

-- Overall phosphorus entering the Bay decreased 17% from 17.2 million pounds in 2009 to 14.2 million pounds in 2023, meeting 67% of the goal to reduce phosphorus by 2025.

-- Overall sediment entering the Bay decreased 6% from 18.9 billion pounds in 2009 to 17.8 billion pounds in 2023, meeting 100% of the goal to reduce sediment by 2025.

The model shows that between 2022 and 2023, the agricultural sector was responsible for 43% of nitrogen reductions and 26% of phosphorus reductions. The wastewater sector, during the same period, was responsible for 53% of nitrogen reductions and 67% of phosphorus reductions.

State Progress

The following information demonstrates the progress that each jurisdiction is making toward meeting their goal of having 100% of practices in place by 2025 to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution--

-- Pennsylvania has achieved 29% of its 2009-2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 50% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 58% of its reduction goal for sediment. The Commonwealth did not meet its 2023 pollution reducing targets for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.

-- Delaware has achieved 9% of its 2009-2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 39% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 64% of its reduction goal for sediment. The state did not meet its 2023 pollution reducing targets for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.

-- The District of Columbia has achieved 100% of its 2009-2025 reduction goals for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. The District is on track to meet each one of its 2023 pollution reducing goals.

-- Maryland has achieved 83% of its 2009-2025 reduction goals for nitrogen, 100% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 100% of its reduction goal for sediment. The state did not meet its 2023 pollution reducing targets for nitrogen.

-- New York has achieved 65% of its 2009-2025 reduction goals for nitrogen, 66% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 26% of its reduction goal for sediment. The state did not meet its 2025 reduction targets for nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.

-- Virginia has achieved 80% of its 2009-2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 62% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 100% of its reduction goal for sediment. The Commonwealth did not meet its 2023 pollution reducing targets for nitrogen and phosphorus.

-- West Virginia has achieved 100% of its 2009-2025 reduction goal for nitrogen, 91% of its reduction goal for phosphorus and 100% of its reduction goal for sediment. The state is on track to meet each one of its 2023 pollution reducing targets.

Click Here for the complete announcement.

Go to DEP’s Tracking PA’s Progress In Meeting Chesapeake Bay Milestones webpage for information on Pennsylvania’s accomplishments.

Visit DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed webpage to learn more about cleaning up rivers and streams in Pennsylvania's portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates on Pennsylvania’s progress.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

(Photo: Sediment flowing through the Conowingo Dam just below the PA-MD border on the Susquehanna River.)

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- Chesapeake Bay Model Estimates Decline In Nutrient, Sediment Pollution; PA, 4 Other Jurisdictions Did Not Meet 2023 Reduction Targets For Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Sediment  [PaEN] 

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Federal Farm Bills Released By US House, Senate Could Benefit Chesapeake Bay Watershed  [PaEN]

-- DEP Launches Pilot Program In 10 Counties To Speed Up Processing Chapter 102 Erosion & Sedimentation Permits Starting May 1 [PaEN] 

-- Pennsylvania Celebrates Conservation District Week April 28 to May 4  [PaEN]

-- Stroud Water Research Center Celebrates Outdoor Classroom Day - Helping Young Minds Discover The Natural World As Scientists Do  [PaEN] 

-- PA American Water Charitable Foundation Awards $267,000 In Water And Environment Grants To 15 Nonprofit Groups  [PaEN] 

-- Coalition For Delaware River Watershed Receives American Water Foundation Grant To Educate Utility Customers On Where Their Water Comes From  [PaEN] 

-- EPA Announces Over $152 Million For PA Lead Drinking Water Pipe Replacement

-- Post-Gazette: PA To Get $152 Million More In Federal Funding To Remove Lead Service Water Lines

-- Gov. Shapiro Announces SBA Low-interest Loans Available For April 2024 Flood Survivors In Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Washington, Westmoreland Counties  [PaEN] 

-- Delaware River Basin Commission, PEMA, Other Partners  Make Available Flood Loss Reduction Assistance Resources For Local Officials  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Awards $8 Million To Support 27 Consumptive Water Use Mitigation Projects  [PaEN] 

-- Asbury Woods Environmental Center Hosts Trout In The Classroom Release May 11 In Erie  [PaEN]

NewsClips - Watersheds:

-- Hatch: The Life Of Conservationist Bill Kodrich - Environmental Stewardship And A Good Piece Of Pie [Iron Furnace TU Chapter In Clarion]

-- The Bradford Era: McKean County Conservation District Works To Improve Water Quality

-- Lancaster Farming: Conservation Partnership Restores Clean Water To Turtle Creek

-- LancasterOnline: Elizabethtown H.S. Envirothon Team Get Hands-On Science Lessons In Canoes

-- Pike Conservation District: Pike County Ponds!

-- Post-Gazette: PA Cong. Thompson Proposes Bill To Fund Farm Conservation, Nutrition Programs 

-- The Center Square: Great Lakes Restoration Act Reported From US Senate Committee

-- PA American Water Launches Interactive Online Map To Identify, Replace Lead Service Lines

-- WHYY: Tyson Foods Chicken Plant In Lancaster County Pollutes Waterways With Nitrogen, Phosphorus

-- Chesapeake Bay Journal: Environmental Groups Send EPA Notice Of Potential Lawsuit On Wastewater Plant Discharge Violations, Including In Bay Watershed

-- KDKA: Duquesne Light Says Underground Transmission Cable Leaked 12,000 Gallons Of Fluid On Pittsburgh’s North Side 

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: DEP Pilot Seeks To Quicken Pace Of Stormwater Discharge Permit Process

-- DEP Posts New Permit Modernization Webpage To Track Progress In ‘Getting Stuff Done’ Without Sacrificing Environmental, Public Health Protection 

-- WFMZ: DEP Holds Hearing On Hanover Twp. Warehouse Proposal In Northampton County, Some Express Concerns About Stormwater Runoff

-- Delaware RiverKeeper May 3 RiverWatch Video Report

-- Post-Gazette Guest Essay: Flooded Basements Are More Dangerous Than They Seem - By Pitt Professors, Black Environmental Collective

[Posted: May 4, 2024]  PA Environment Digest