Chesapeake Bay Foundation Blog

Report Bad Water Quality

1.866.666.9260
Write that number down.

The news this summer has been dismal. Three-hundred-thousand fish dead in Mattox Creek off the Potomac River in July. Twenty thousand in Weems Creek in June. A six-mile-long algal bloom in the Potomac.

We want to know more about what's going on in our rivers and Bay, and we need your help to do it.

If you see or hear about something troubling on the water —like an algal bloom, fish kill, or "crab jubilee"—inform the proper authorities and call CBF'S Bad Water Strike Force Hotline at 1.866.666.9260.

When you call, you'll be asked for some basic information, including:

• Where and when did the event happen?
• What did the water look like?
• Were there dead fish? If so, how many, what kind, big or small?
• What were the weather conditions?
• Have you or can you take a picture of the event?
• Have you contacted the appropriate state agency?

At the end of the summer, CBF will use your data to develop a report on bad water events in the region.  We will share the report with government officials and urge them to support funding for Bay restoration. We'll also share the report with you.

10 days left to pass the Green Fund

On Saturday, March 24, the House passed the Green Fund 96-41 - a very good margin of victory. The following Tuesday, CBF delivered 1,300 piggy banks to legislators showing tremendous statewide support for a dedicated fund for Bay clean-up. Now it's time for the Senate to act. The rhetoric is that they want to wait until next year to pass new revenue raising measures. But the Bay can not wait. Pollution does not stop. The 2010 Chesapeake 2000 agreement deadline to clean up the Bay looms large. We must act this year and put the resources in place to reach our clean-up goals.

Please take a minute to call your senator or send the embedded e-mail message and let them know you support a clean Bay and a dedicated fund to clean up the Bay. Eighty-four percent of Marylanders support a dedicated fund to clean up the Bay. Without such a funding source, it could be decades before the Bay and local rivers and streams are cleaned up.

Radio: Green Fund top priority

The Green Fund that is at the center of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s legislative efforts this year is to help pay for bay clean-up efforts. But questions about the money have one House of Delegates committee struggling. WYPR’s Joel McCord reports.

Senate OKs phosphorus bill

The Maryland Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill designed to help clean the Chesapeake Bay by requiring the use of low-phosphorus dishwashing detergent. The legislation has been amended to postpone the measure from going into effect until July 2009 and to exempt commercial dishwashing machines for now. (The Baltimore Sun)

Maryland Virtual Lobby Day tonight at 6pm

Please join CBF — from the comfort of your own home or office — tonight for Virtual Lobby Day to show your support for the Green Fund. We'll let you know during Virtual Lobby Day how to contact your legislators via e-mail or phone, and give tips on how to discuss the issue with them. We'll also answer any questions you have about the Green Fund so you can communicate with your legislators as effectively as possible.

Del. Maggie McIntosh clarifies Green Fund questions

"Worcester County Commissioners were incorrectly advised that the Chesapeake Bay Green Fund bill ignores the coastal bays due to its focus on the Chesapeake Bay, and also places rural counties at a disadvantage....

"More than 50 percent of Green Fund dollars will go back to local governments. In Worcester County these dollars can be used to assist the county and its cities -- including Snow Hill, Pocomoke City, Berlin and Ocean City -- with Smart Growth planning, incentives and grants for housing, and other pollution-reducing strategies, which will benefit communities as a whole and the coastal bays adjacent to Ocean City."

So says Del. Maggie McIntosh in her response to the Worcester County Commissioners vote to oppose the Chesapeake Bay Green Fund.  (The Daily Times)

Fredericksburg implements low-impact development

A growing movement called low-impact development is changing the face of some of the largest commercial building projects in the Fredericksburg, VA area. LID, as it's called, uses green areas and bioretention cells to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff. (The Free Lance-Star)

VA Legislature Makes Clean Water A Priority

CBF’s top legislative priority in the 2007 Virginia General Assembly session was approving up to $250 million in additional funding for cleaning up Virginia’s streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay. On February 24th, the General Assembly authorized the funding. CBF congratulates the legislators for continuing to make clean water a priority.

Is Maryland risking over reaching its groundwater resources?

The state’s Senate Education, Health and Environment Committee met in Annapolis on Tuesday to discuss Senate Bill 499, which allows developers to claim surrounding land as a groundwater recharge area, even if it is owned by another private party or government agency.

The bill concerns Jenn Aiosa, Maryland Senior Scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, who said that the bill introduced by Sen. David Brinkley (R-District 4), Sen. Donald Munson (R-District 2) and Sen. Larry Haines (R-District 5) is not a reasonable solution.  (The Daily Banner)

What have we been doing for 19 years?

An article in today's Washington Post includes the following quote from J. Charles Fox, a former head of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources about efforts over the past 19 years to clean up the Chesapeake Bay:

"We have done a truly tremendous job of defining the problem, and we have done a truly tremendous job of defining the solution. But we have not yet succeeded in actually implementing the solution."

National and local legislators throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be tackling tough questions during this session. Keep David Fahrenthold's article in mind when the time comes to decide what efforts need your support.

More from the Washington Post:

• A picture is worth a thousand words. What will you do to protect the beauty of the Bay?
• Staggering amounts of work and funding are still needed.

Stormwater Solutions for PA

CBF has opened registration for "Confluence 2007--Preparing for the Storm: Stormwater Solutions for Pennsylvania Communities," to be held April 5 & 6. If you're a PA engineer, consultant, developer, municipal official, conservation professional, or watershed stakeholder interested in finding out more about the benefits and challenges of good stormwater management, check out the details.

Rivanna Steps Up to Reduce Nitrogen/Phosphorus

WCAV-TV reports that Virginia's Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority approved a $35 million plan for removing nitrogen and phosphorous from waste water at its Moores Creek plant. The next step is approval by the state's Department of Environmental Quality.

Municipalities engage in improving water quality standards

Maryland state employees met with local planners Wednesday to hash out steps for improving water-quality standards. "As populations grow, it's that much more difficult to get control of the nutrients," said Jim George of the Maryland Department of the Environment. "The key concept here is that we need to offset the new sources of pollution. Neither the state nor the local government can do this alone."

Charles Town OKs Wastewater Plan

In West Virginia, the Charles Town City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a strategic plan to make Charles Town compliant with Chesapeake Bay wastewater requirements. The Wastewater Strategic Plan is the first of its type in the state.

Busch, O'Malley Pledge to Revive the Bay

Maryland House Speaker Michael Busch said the restoration of native oysters would be a top environmental priority this year. Besides more money for oyster restoration, lawmakers pledged to join other states in requiring cleaner emissions from new cars, and would consider ways to encourage renewable sources of energy.

"With the Chesapeake Bay's very survival imperiled by poorly planned sprawl and a multitude of other manmade ills -- from stormwater runoff to broken sewer systems -- we have a possibility of rescuing this natural jewel," O'Malley said. O'Malley's choice to lead the state environmental agency, Shari T. Wilson, also reaffirmed that the administration would usher in a "BayStat" program to monitor water quality and instill accountability.