Talbot County Clean Water Forum
Presented by Erik Fisher, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
On April 9, 2015, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Talbot Preservation Alliance, and the Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy hosted an overview of pollution reduction challenges and opportunities in Talbot County, Maryland.
A presentation of local water quality conditions and trends was followed by a review and discussion of local pollution sources and practical, cost-effective ways to improve the health of Talbot County's rivers and streams.
For more information about the Talbot County Clean Water Forum, contact Hilary Gibson at 410.543.1999.
2. Pollution sources in
Talbot County
952,000
Agriculture
85,000
Septic Systems
186,000
Polluted Runoff
75,000
Wastewater
Pounds of nitrogen per year
952,000
Agriculture
85,000
Septic Systems
186,000
Polluted Runoff
75,000
Wastewater
Pounds of nitrogen per year
952,000
Agriculture
85,000
Septic Systems
186,000
Polluted Runoff
75,000
Wastewater
Pounds of nitrogen per year
3. Talbot County’s plan for clean water:
1. Numeric goals for pollution reduction
2. Strategies to achieve those goals
4. Projected cleanup costs
in Talbot County
$0
$200,000,000
$400,000,000
$600,000,000
$800,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$1,200,000,000
Original plan County plan Polluted runoff
“unrealistic…”
“…absurd”
?
5. Projected cleanup costs
in Talbot County
$0
$200,000,000
$400,000,000
$600,000,000
$800,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$1,200,000,000
Original plan County plan Polluted runoff
Why?
• Automated
• Metro area cost
assumptions &
constraints
• No prioritization
7. Projected cleanup costs
in Talbot County
$0
$200,000,000
$400,000,000
$600,000,000
$800,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$1,200,000,000
Original plan County plan Polluted runoff
“…cost effective”
“practical…”
!
8. Projected cleanup costs
in Talbot County
$0
$200,000,000
$400,000,000
$600,000,000
$800,000,000
$1,000,000,000
$1,200,000,000
Original plan County plan Polluted runoff
How?
• Local opportunities
• Partnerships
• Cutting-edge information
9.
10. Talbot County’s plan for clean water:
1. Numeric goals for pollution reduction
2. Strategies to achieve those goals
Talbot County has identified milestones:
stepwise commitments to take action.
27. The County Council is considering a proposal for
dedicated funding:
– Low interest loan from the U.S. Rural
Development Agency
– Would fund the top 150 ditch sites
– Approximately $150,000 / yr
– Achieve est. 17% of the County’s total goal
28. Inaction means risk.
• Outside money left on the table
• “Backstop” actions and regulatory consequences
• Increasing costs
Action means clean water, and a
stronger economy.
Editor's Notes
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has launched The Biggest Fight for Clean Water this Nation has Ever Seen.
This aggressive operation includes:
A precedent-setting lawsuit against EPA, as well as work to secure some federal appropriation for the Bay
Continued release to the media of scientific findings to educate, frame the debate, and back the cause, and
Engagement of the public for grassroots and grasstops advocacy support.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.
The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure with enormous social and economic value and even more potential. In today’s dollars the estimate is greater than $1 trillion. Imagine if the Bay—which is operating at about one quarter of its healthy potential.
The Chesapeake Bay provides nearly $700 billion in economic benefit to Maryland and Virginia alone.
The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure with enormous social and economic value and even more potential. In today’s dollars the estimate is greater than $1 trillion. Imagine if the Bay—which is operating at about one quarter of its healthy potential.
The Chesapeake Bay provides nearly $700 billion in economic benefit to Maryland and Virginia alone.
The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure with enormous social and economic value and even more potential. In today’s dollars the estimate is greater than $1 trillion. Imagine if the Bay—which is operating at about one quarter of its healthy potential.
The Chesapeake Bay provides nearly $700 billion in economic benefit to Maryland and Virginia alone.
The Chesapeake Bay is a national treasure with enormous social and economic value and even more potential. In today’s dollars the estimate is greater than $1 trillion. Imagine if the Bay—which is operating at about one quarter of its healthy potential.
The Chesapeake Bay provides nearly $700 billion in economic benefit to Maryland and Virginia alone.
A pollution cap, or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), would set a maximum amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution that a healthy Bay can tolerate.
There are a great many clean water laws on the books. EPA and its partner state governments need to enforce these laws already on the books and create new laws and regulations with clearly defined pollution-reduction criteria and standards.
With the current financial crisis facing the nation, it is even more important that dollars spent on clean water be done in a manner that yields the greatest pollution reductions.
Another opportunity lies with the economic stimulus package. The stimulus package can bring new life to the economy as well as the Bay and its rivers by providing money for sewage treatment plant upgrades through the federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and by making sure all highway projects include runoff pollution control systems.