Update on Local Efforts

The Watershed Implementation Plans, or WIPs, are plans in which each Bay state defines, in great detail, how it will achieve pollution reductions from all sources through enforceable or binding (rather than voluntary) measures in order to achieve the pollution limits established by EPA.

Making Progress

On April 30, 2013, the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership released data that estimates that actions taken by jurisdictions in the last three years have resulted in less nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.

According to the report:

"Simulations of pollution reducing efforts put in place between July 2009 and June 2012 estimate CBP partners have achieved 25, 27 and 32 percent of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions needed by 2025, respectively.

"Nitrogen loads to the Bay have decreased 18.5 million pounds to 264.1 million

• A further decrease of 2.9 million pounds since 2011 estimates

"Phosphorous loads to the Bay have decreased 1.3 million pounds to 18.0 million

• A further decrease of 0.4 million pounds since 2011 estimates

"Sediment loads to the Bay have decreased 431 million pounds to 8,244 million

• A further decrease of 35 million pounds since 2011 estimates"

~Chesapeake Bay Program

For more details, visit the CBP "Track the Progress" website

Click on a link for more information about that state's WIP.
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