Lackluster Progress in Reducing Chesapeake Bay Pollution Underscores Need for Strong Agreement

Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna River a Bright Spot

While there is slightly less pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay from major rivers in recent years, water quality in the Bay has remained steady, according to an analysis released yesterday by the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program.  

The analysis compared both data from monitoring stations along major rivers that flow into the Bay, as well as the results of computer modeling of pollution trends. It also considered progress towards pollution reduction commitments the states are legally required to meet under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, which aims to stem nitrogen, sediment, and phosphorus pollution.  

The analysis shows lackluster progress as state and federal leaders around the region update the major agreement guiding Chesapeake Bay restoration. Last December, Bay restoration partners committed to revising the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025. These partners have worked toward a more effective agreement in recent months. But the draft agreement still falls short.  

This month the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) submitted feedback on the draft agreement. CBF is urging leaders from states across the region to commit to a strong Bay Agreement that applies the latest science, implements innovative environmental and economic strategies, and increases accountability. The agreement must: 

• Set one uniform deadline of 2035 across all goals to provide accountability, with regular check-ins every two years; 
• Clearly define targets, including for conserving plants and animals, habitat restoration, and pollution reduction; 
• Ensure that pollution reduction targets are tied to water quality improvements that are directly measured, rather than modeled. Additional water quality monitoring stations will be vital to this; 
• Address challenges from climate change across the agreement; and, 
• Affirm commitments to meeting the pollution reductions the federal government and states are legally required to meet under the Clean Water Act, despite missing the 2025 deadline. 

In a bright spot, according to the latest analysis water quality monitoring shows that conditions in the Susquehanna River are improving across all indicators. This is notable because about half of the Chesapeake Bay’s fresh water comes from the Susquehanna. Improving conditions in Pennsylvania is vital to a healthier Bay.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement.   

“While it is encouraging to see some progress, efforts to reduce pollution to the Bay are moving far too slowly. At the current rate, it would take 350 years to fully attain clean water standards for the Chesapeake Bay.   

“All states across the region must commit to a strong Chesapeake Bay agreement this year thatreaffirms commitments to pollution reductions the federal government and states are legally required to meet under the Clean Water Act.  

“The Bay Program’s recent analysis underscores the importance of long-term water quality monitoring stations to paint an accurate picture in real-time of the health of the Bay. The new agreement should commit to tying targets to cleaner water that is directly measured, not just modeled by a computer.  

“The improvements in the Susquehanna River demonstrate that renewed efforts in Pennsylvania are working to reduce pollution. Leadership in Pennsylvania and across the region can turn the tide.  

“Pollution doesn’t respect state lines. That’s why everyone must work together to see real progress. Now is not the time to step back, but to dig in and build on the foundation laid so far.”