1. 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

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

3. 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
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 planning target 45.3 M lbs
1985 (84.2 M lbs/yr)
2017 (54.8 M lbs/yr)
Source: USEPA Chesapeake bay Program

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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? 12