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Chesapeake Bay Program facts for kids

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Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Map of the Chesapeake Bay watershed

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a special team of partners working together. Their main job is to clean up and protect the Chesapeake Bay in the United States. This partnership brings together people from different states, the government, universities, and local groups. They all work to create and agree on plans that help restore the Bay. By sharing their resources and unique strengths, the Chesapeake Bay Program follows one big plan to make the Bay healthy again. Their main office is in Annapolis, Maryland.

Why the Chesapeake Bay Program Started

William Ruckelshaus 1984b
EPA Administrator William Ruckelshaus speaking at a meeting in 1983. The first agreement to help the Chesapeake Bay was signed there.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the U.S. Congress paid for scientists to study the Chesapeake Bay. This research showed three big problems that needed help right away:

  • Toxic pollution: Harmful chemicals getting into the water.
  • Too many nutrients: Too much nitrogen and phosphorus, which can cause problems like algae blooms.
  • Fewer underwater grasses: Not enough plants growing under the water, which are important homes for animals.

In September 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared a report. It was based on seven years of studying the Bay. The report said the Bay was "an ecosystem in decline." It showed that populations of oysters, crabs, freshwater fish, and other wildlife were shrinking.

In December 1983, something important happened. The governors of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania signed an agreement. The mayor of Washington, D.C. and the EPA Administrator also signed it. This agreement was called The Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983. From this, the Chesapeake Bay Program Executive Council was created to lead the cleanup efforts.

How the Program Grew

Chesapeake Bay Program Org Chart - 2010
How the Chesapeake Bay Program is organized.

Since the first agreement in 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program has made two more important agreements. These agreements help guide all the work to restore the Chesapeake Bay:

  • The 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement set a big goal. It aimed to reduce the amount of nutrients (mainly nitrogen and phosphorus) flowing into the Bay by 40 percent by the year 2000. In 1992, the partners decided to keep this 40 percent goal. They also agreed to stop nutrients closer to where they start, which is often upstream in the Bay's tributaries (smaller rivers and streams that flow into the Bay).
  • In June 2000, the Chesapeake Bay Program adopted Chesapeake 2000. This agreement was meant to guide cleanup activities across the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed until 2010. This agreement also allowed nearby states like Delaware, New York, and West Virginia to join the partnership. These "headwater states" now work with the Program to reduce nutrients and sediment (dirt and sand) flowing into rivers from their areas.

The Chesapeake 2000 agreement had over 100 specific actions to make the Bay healthy. It was organized into five main parts, all focused on different areas of the Bay's health:

  • Living Resources: This part aimed to "restore, improve, and protect" fish, shellfish, and other living things. It also focused on their homes and how they interact in nature. One goal was to help the blue crab population grow. Another was to increase the native oyster population tenfold.
  • Vital Habitat: This section focused on protecting important places where animals and plants live. A goal was to protect 114,000 acres (about 460 square kilometers) of underwater grasses. This also meant making the water clearer. It also talked about protecting wetlands, forests, and other natural areas.
  • Water Quality: This part focused on making the water cleaner. Plans included better stormwater management (how rainwater runoff is handled). It also involved upgrading wastewater treatment plants to remove more nutrients. The goal was to fix nutrient-related problems in the Bay by 2010.
  • Sound Land Use: This part aimed to permanently protect 20 percent of the watershed from new buildings and roads by 2010. It also encouraged states to make transportation plans that reduce how much people rely on cars. This means promoting things like biking and bus riding.
  • Stewardship and Community Engagement: This section focused on getting people involved. By 2001, they wanted to give information to groups so they could help with Bay restoration. Also, starting in 2005, the Program wanted every student to have an outdoor experience of the Bay before they finished high school. This was to help them learn about the Bay's problems and care about its future.

Funding the Program

Since the Chesapeake Bay Program started, the U.S. Congress has given money each year. Most of the money from the federal government comes from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Agriculture. Other federal groups like the Departments of Defense, Interior, and Commerce also provide significant funds. The states of Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, along with the District of Columbia, also provide money.

Who Are the Partners?

Many different groups work together in the Chesapeake Bay Program. Here are some of the main types of partners:

Groups Who Signed the Chesapeake Bay Agreement

Headwater State Partners

These are states where rivers begin that eventually flow into the Bay.

Federal Government Partners

Many U.S. government agencies help the program. These include groups like:

University and Research Partners

Many universities and research groups help by providing scientific knowledge and studies. Some examples are:

Other Important Partners

Many non-profit groups and local organizations also play a big role in helping the Bay. These include:

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