Watershed Implementation Plan Maryland Phase III Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan Dinorah K. Dalmasy Water and Science Administration Maryland Department of the Environment 2018 Spring Regional Meetings

Outline Why a Phase III WIP? Maryland’s Progress to Date Phase III WIP Development: Building on Past Success

Why a Revised Cleanup Plan? Bay Restoration Continuous Improvement Process 2010 TMDL/Phase I WIP 2012 Phase II WIP 2017 Mid Point Assessment Evaluation of Progress Update Decision Tools Better information Land cover Conowingo, Climate Change, Changes in the Landscape Updated BMPs Revise/Adjust WIPs: Roadmaps 2019-2025 TMDL Phase I WIP Phase II WIP Develop 2-yr Milestones Adjust: Phase III WIPs MPA Incorporate latest data and science Assess and Track Progress

Overall Health of the Chesapeake Bay Continues to Improve 2016 State of the Bay report presented some great news—the Bay is improving!  2016 State of the Bay report presented some great news—the Bay is improving!  2007 2016 D

Late summer dead zone volume The Bay’s Dead Zone is Shrinking… The summer dead zone in the Bay has been shrinking in volume. Summer Dead Zone Late summer dead zone volume Testa et al., 2017. UMCES IAN http://ian.umces.edu/

Living Resources are Recovering The living resources important to the health of the Bay and to Maryland’s economy are responding to the improved water quality Bay Grasses Blue Crabs Oysters Submerged aquatic vegetation recovery is linked to nutrient reductions. Blue crab populations respond to fisheries management, habitat restoration, and SAV recovery. Harris Creek, MD is the first fully restored oyster reef in Chesapeake Bay. 6

Maryland Nitrogen Loads (1985 – 2017) Maryland has made the most progress in reducing nitrogen since 1985 compared to the other 6 Bay jurisdictions Where did the Nitrogen reductions come from? 9.5 M lbs/yr REMAINING 2025 planning target 45.3 M lbs 1985 (84.2 M lbs/yr) 2017 (54.8 M lbs/yr) Source: USEPA Chesapeake bay Program

Maryland Phosphorus Loads (1985 – 2017) Phosphorus reductions While Maryland has almost met its 2025 phosphorus reduction goals, managing phosphorus is still critically important for restoring local waters Where did the Phosphorus reductions come from? (0.04M lbs remaining) 1985 (7.46 M lbs/yr) 2017 (3.64 M lbs/yr) Source: USEPA Chesapeake Bay Program

Phase III WIP Themes Markets & Financing Stormwater Wastewater Clean Water Commerce Nutrient Trading Pay for performance Targeting Stormwater Phase I MS4 Compliance Next permit restoration requirement More science & better accounting Phase II MS4 Tracking & Accounting Funding restoration Wastewater WWTPs Patapsco 2019 O &M grants Nutrient trading Water reuse Septic systems Connections Septic Stewardship Co-benefits Agriculture Evaluate current Plan and Milestones with new tools Continue PMT implementation Soil health WIP Initiatives Conowingo WIP Climate Resiliency and Adaptation Aligning for Growth Crediting Conservation

Phase III WIP Themes Markets & Financing Stormwater Wastewater Agriculture WIP Initiatives Phase I MS4 Compliance Next permit restoration requirement More science & better accounting WWTPs Patapsco 2019 O &M grants Nutrient trading Water reuse Evaluate current Plan and Milestones with new tools Clean Water Commerce Conowingo WIP Nutrient Trading Climate Resiliency and Adaptation Continue PMT implementation Septic systems Connections Septic Stewardship Co-benefits Pay for performance Aligning for Growth Phase II MS4 Tracking & Accounting Funding restoration Soil health Targeting Crediting Conservation Co-benefits

Planned Engagement Activities June 2018: Five regional meetings Summer 2018: Webinars August/Sept 2018: MDA-SCD Meetings August 2018: MACo Summer Conference Fall 2018 Local meetings by sector Regional meetings March 2019: Public Review and Comment on Draft Phase III WIP June 2019: Final Phase III WIP These are the planned engagement activities we have planned for this year leading to the development of the Phase III WIP. You can learn more about in MDE’s and MDA’s websites. For more information: bit.ly/MDP3WIP

Summary Questions? Our hard work is paying off: Nutrient Reductions Living Resources are recovering Local Co - Benefits We still have work to do: Work together to design the Phase III WIP Work together to reach our 2025 Goals Safeguarding the Future: Planning for 2025 and beyond: meet cap and maintain it Everybody has a role in Bay cleanup Questions? dinorah.dalmasy@maryland.gov 12