Bay Cleanup Trust Fund Threatened With Cuts

Yet another casualty of the economic downturn: an innovative program to reduce runoff pollution into the Chesapeake Bay.

Among the $280 million budget cuts recently proposed by Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley is $2 million from the new Chesapeake Bay 2010 Trust Fund, which pays for planting trees along waterways, rebuilding eroded streams, and other projects to filter out runoff pollution.

That might sound minor, considering all the carnage wreaked by the recession. But consider the central role that the Chesapeake Bay plays in our whole region’s economy, from tourism to crabbing, and any kind of restaurant that serves seafood. And consider the importance of clean water to good health for the Bay region's 17 million residents (as indicated by a recent Chesapeake Bay Foundation report on the connection between water pollution, illness and infections in swimmers).

The Bay Trust Fund (created by Governor O’Malley and the legislature, working with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation) was launched three years ago as a progressive new approach to battle urban and rural stormwater runoff, a growing source of pollution. The fund was authorized at $50 million a year.

But since then, it has become the incredible shrinking fund, with the administration this year asking the legislature for only half of the total, and then that being whittled down to only $10 million. Now, another $2 million will be sliced.

The Trust Fund must not vanish into the Dust Fund.

We all understand how tough the fiscal situation that Maryland faces, and clearly Gov. O'Malley must make hard choices. But Maryland's natural resources, the water quality in our streams and the Bay, are in themselves drivers of economic prosperity that warrant investment.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation strongly urges the governor to protect Maryland's environmental funding to the greatest extent possible. Our economy, our citizens, and the nation's largest bay deserve no less.

The law also demands it. The federal Clean Water Act demands fishable, swimmable waters -- which we too often do not have today.

To read more, click here.

(Photo by Yuri Huta)

Comments

[Facebook]

I don't know whether to "Like" this in agreement or dislike it because of the sad truth in it.

[Facebook]

sad state of affairs i do agree

[Facebook]

Terrible!

[Facebook]

If they can give one piece of s*** company (AIG) $264 billion I think they can help the bay

[Facebook]

This is the continuation of the never-ending saga. Talk the talk, but then cut the funding. Until the bay becomes one massive dead zone, i wonder if the politicians will ever come through with any real action ($'s).

[Facebook]

Out of curiosity: has the Bay Foundation pulled out all the fundraising stops? They're doing a lot of "creative" private money-raising to compensate for government cutbacks down here in Georgia. Not a panacea, but a possibility.
CBF has a lot of visibility - evidently and deservedly, a lot of support.
...Just a thought.

[Facebook]

The health of the Bay is too important for cut backs. I wish I wasn't one of just a few people who get that!

[John Koontz]

It is clear that elected offical of both parties do not care for the Bay . Only for votes and then when it is cruch time...off they go.

[Facebook]

Existing legislation should be enforced, with the fines money going to clean the bay. The polluters themselves should pay. Chicken farmers, etc.