Phase 2 Of Chesapeake Bay Cleanup To Have Local Focus

The Environmental Protection Agency has already approved the first phase, to curb the total amount of nutrients that reach the Bay and tidal tributaries. To achieve water quality targets, the plan seeks to limit runoff and nutrients to a Total Maximum Daily Load. The aggregate watershed loading is then divided among Bay states.

In Phase II, the EPA expects local jurisdictions in 60 percent of the Commonwealth to provide specific details about how they will control nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment to achieve Virginia’s allocation.

Assistant Secretary for Chesapeake Bay Restoration Anthony Moore says the state wants to know what localities are currently doing to plan how to achieve additional reductions in all sectors, including farming.

"Those will be individual plans for each farm, to make sure that we meet the goals in those watersheds," Moore says.

The state has convened a Stakeholder Advisory Group for guidance. The first draft is due to the EPA in December.