A BRIEF HISTORY OF CHESAPEAKE BAY RESTORATION EFFORTS For almost 30 years, the Chesapeake Bay has been targeted for water quality improvements with the goal of removing the Bay and its tributaries from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 303(d
impacts to the Chesapeake Bay. Many Maryland growers have already implemented a number of BMPs to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff that are not typical to other regions of the country where legislation has not been as strong ( Majsztrik and Lea
aquatic ecosystem health has led to federal enforcement of the EPA Clean Water Action Plan in two current cases, which include: the numeric nutrient criterion imposed on surface waters in Florida and the Chesapeake Bay consent decree where total maximum
). To ensure human safety and protect the environment, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a total maximum daily load (TMDL) establishing limits to the amount of sediment and nutrients that can be discharged into tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay
A mass media water-quality program aimed at changing lawn and garden fertilization practices of homeowners successfully elicited responses from individuals by using local cooperative extension offices and newsletters. Traditional extension media tools, such as radio and news releases, were less successful in eliciting requests for further information. In addition, the program reached more people by transmitting the information in the form of a calendar than it reached in the first year through videotapes and slide sets created for use in public and Master Gardener training.
help inform growers, researchers, and extension and government agencies regarding variability in practices. This information can also be used to help inform legislation and modeling efforts, such as those currently underway in the Chesapeake Bay
that exceed crop P demand, thus contributing to high P losses in runoff to the Chesapeake Bay watershed ( Kleinman et al. 2019 ). Although this excess P is one of the major threats to the health of the Chesapeake Bay in this region ( Kleinman et al
Abstract
At the turn of the century, Baltimore, Maryland was the canning center of the nation. Vegetables from the Delmarva Peninsula and seafood from the Chesapeake Bay were brought by boat and train to the canneries located along the wharf. Now pollution problems and congested city conditions have all but closed the Baltimore canneries and trucks have taken over transportation. Yet acres of vegetables of the Peninsula continue to produce thousand of tons for the near-at-hand markets of the East Coast and for processors located at strategic points in production areas.
This project funded, in part, by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Advisory Committee, Richmond, Va., and the Virginia Agricultural Council. The assistance of J.T. Custis and the farm crew in establishing and maintaining the research plots
A multi-faceted extension education program to reduce consumer contributions to nonpoint source pollution by encouraging proper landscape management was initiated in Prince William County, Va., and funded through the USDA-extension service. The program now is being replicated in several counties in Virginia, primarily in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program recruits participants through educational field days, advertisement and other means. Educational techniques include one-on-one assistance from Master Gardener volunteers and the use of Extension publications developed for this program. Publications developed include The Virginia Gardener Easy Reference to Sustainable Landscape Management and Water Quality Protection—a concise reference of Virginia Cooperative Extension landscaping recommendations that includes a calendar for recording fertilizer and pesticide applications, IPM, and other maintenance activities. The Virginia Gardener Guide to Water-wise Landscaping, was recently added to supplement the program in the area of water conservation. In Prince William County, over 700 people have participated. Most of those who complete the program report being more satisfied with their lawn appearance and spending less money. Participation also resulted in consumers being more likely to seek soil test information before applying fertilizer. Other effects include greater participation in leaf composting and grass clipping recycling and greater awareness of nonpoint source pollution.