All counties in Maryland are charting a new course; for the first time they are creating local plans that will lead to clean local rivers and a healthier Chesapeake Bay. These plans, called Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs), will create cleaner, safer water in our communities, local jobs for our residents, and a more robust local economy.
Maryland’s counties spent the summer developing plans to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to targeted levels. The county plans were combined to form Maryland’s state-wide plan, which is currently undergoing public review until March 9th. To comment on the state plan, email [email protected]. Maryland will submit its final plan to the Environmental Protection Agency on March 30th.
Getting the counties involved in the pursuit of clean water brings the process of cleaning up the Bay and its tributaries to the local level. In Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties, this mainly means working with farmers and homeowners to reduce pollution from farming practices and septic systems.
While many Maryland county plans are a good start, most have room for improvement. A group of clean water organizations evaluated the county plans based on three criteria.
1) Does the plan say how the county is going to reduce pollution in the long term?
2) Does the plan list the baby steps the county is going to take towards reducing pollution in the short term, for the next two years?
3) Does the plan list the funding needed to reduce the county’s share of pollution?
Kent County’s plan is a good start. Overall, the County plan lays out some clear practices to reduce pollution, but it does not say how much pollution these practices will reduce or how who’s going to pay for them.
However, the County WIP team recognizes the need to identify funding sources and is currently working to find creative local funding mechanisms to implement the plan. Potential funding mechanisms include implementing a matching-fund program for stormwater management projects in neighborhoods and a mandatory septic system pump-out regulation similar to that in Queen Anne’s County. These are great examples of the kinds of regulations Kent County needs to implement in order to achieve cleaner local waters.
In Queen Anne’s County the plan is a good initial effort but it needs significant more detail. The plan lacks commitment to curtailing pollution from stormwater and septic systems. Cost issues are identified but potential funding options to close the gaps are not. Queen Anne’s County needs to clearly document the practices it will implement, the pollution reductions expected from those practices, and how the work will be funded.
Queen Anne’s County has a large and strong team working on its local plan. This team has a lot of potential to make a difference for clean, local water. By taking charge in this process and participating fully, they can ensure healthy rivers and streams in Queen Anne’s County.
We can have healthier local rivers. But our county commissioners and officials need our support and encouragement to meet the challenge. Tell them you support the WIP and efforts for cleaner local water. Email your comments about the state WIP to [email protected]. This is the best chance we have of making significant steps toward a healthy Chester River and a cleaner Chesapeake Bay.
Isabel Junkin, Chester River Association
https://chesterriverassociation.org/
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