PA Environment Digest Blog: Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Susquehanna River Water Quality Monitoring Results 'Bright Spot' In Lackluster Progress In Reducing Chesapeake Bay Pollution

Thursday, September 4, 2025

Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Susquehanna River Water Quality Monitoring Results 'Bright Spot' In Lackluster Progress In Reducing Chesapeake Bay Pollution

While there is slightly less pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay from major rivers in recent years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation noted water quality in the Bay has remained steady, according to an analysis released September 3 by the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program.

The analysis compared both data from monitoring stations along major rivers that flow into the Bay, as well as the results of computer modeling of pollution trends.

It also considered progress toward pollution reduction commitments the states are legally required to meet under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, which aims to stem nitrogen, sediment, and phosphorus pollution.

The analysis shows lackluster progress as state and federal leaders around the region update the major agreement guiding Chesapeake Bay restoration.

Revised Bay Agreement

Last December, Bay restoration partners committed to revising the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025.

These partners have worked toward a more effective agreement in recent months.

But the draft agreement still falls short.

This month the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) submitted feedback on the draft agreement.

CBF is urging leaders from states across the region to commit to a strong Bay Agreement that applies the latest science, implements innovative environmental and economic strategies, and increases accountability.

The agreement must:

-- Set one uniform deadline of 2035 across all goals to provide accountability, with regular check-ins every two years;

-- Clearly define targets, including for conserving plants and animals, habitat restoration, and pollution reduction;

-- Ensure that pollution reduction targets are tied to water quality improvements that are directly measured, rather than modeled. Additional water quality monitoring stations will be vital to this;

-- Address challenges from climate change across the agreement; and,

-- Affirm commitments to meeting the pollution reductions the federal government and states are legally required to meet under the Clean Water Act, despite missing the 2025 deadline.

Susquehanna River Bright Spot

In a bright spot, according to the latest analysis, water quality monitoring shows that conditions in the Susquehanna River are improving across all indicators.

This is notable because about half of the Chesapeake Bay’s freshwater comes from the Susquehanna. Improving conditions in Pennsylvania is vital to a healthier Bay.

[Pennsylvania DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley was quoted in the EPA Chesapeake Bay Program announcement, saying-- "Pennsylvania has invested in partnerships and projects that reduce pollution and promote clean local waters.

[“The improvements we are seeing at the Susquehanna River Input Monitoring station, which captures all of the freshwater flowing through Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River Basin, proves that what Pennsylvania's residents, farmers, municipalities and businesses are doing is making a difference—not only locally but also to the Chesapeake Bay.”]

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement on the report--

“While it is encouraging to see some progress, efforts to reduce pollution to the Bay are moving far too slowly.

“At the current rate, it would take 350 years to fully attain clean water standards for the Chesapeake Bay.

“All states across the region must commit to a strong Chesapeake Bay agreement this year that reaffirms commitments to pollution reductions the federal government and states are legally required to meet under the Clean Water Act.

“The Bay Program’s recent analysis underscores the importance of long-term water quality monitoring stations to paint an accurate picture in real-time of the health of the Bay.

“The new agreement should commit to tying targets to cleaner water that is directly measured, not just modeled by a computer.

“The improvements in the Susquehanna River demonstrate that renewed efforts in Pennsylvania are working to reduce pollution.

“Leadership in Pennsylvania and across the region can turn the tide.

“Pollution doesn’t respect state lines. That’s why everyone must work together to see real progress. Now is not the time to step back, but to dig in and build on the foundation laid so far.”

Click Here for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation announcement.

[For more on Chesapeake Bay-related issues in Pennsylvania, visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation-PA webpage. Click Here to sign up for Pennsylvania updates (bottom of left column). Click Here to support their work.

[Also visit the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership to learn how you can help clean water grow on trees.

[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.]

(Reprinted from the Chesapeake Bay Journal.)