The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology have announced they will be holding a series of regional Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) workshops throughout June, 2018. The Phase III WIP will provide the framework for how states and local governments will achieve their final 2025 nutrient reduction targets under the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). The Phase III WIP will address accounting for growth, climate change, and the Conwingo Dam.
From a Harry R. Hughes Center news release (2018-05-23):
With Maryland moving closer to rolling out its Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan, representatives of state agencies overseeing Chesapeake Bay cleanup are making themselves available in person at regional workshops across the state in May and June to inform the dialogue and answer questions of local partners.
Maryland and surrounding states are involved in a large-scale cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. Part of the strategy requires local partners to identify solutions that reduce pollution to the Bay, under the umbrella of the state’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Under the TMDL, pollution control measures needed to fully restore the Bay and its tidal rivers are required to be in place by 2025.
Maryland is soon entering its third WIP phase. The first and second phases provided a roadmap on how to achieve water quality standards and specific local actions that can be taken to achieve a reduction in harmful nutrients to waterways. Phase III will detail actions intended to be implemented between this year and 2025 to meet Bay restoration goals.
As part of the state’s engagement strategy for Phase III WIP development, officials have set dates for five workshops at locations across the state, intended to inform participants about the WIP process, provide opportunities for questions and feedback, and promote interaction between local partners and state agencies overseeing cleanup. There is one workshop scheduled for each region of the state, including Western Maryland, Central Maryland, Southern Maryland, Southern Maryland, the upper Eastern Shore and the lower Eastern Shore.
The workshops are geared toward strengthening the working relationships between state and local government entities and the nonprofit community while Maryland’s WIP is implemented.
Each workshop schedule includes a general WIP overview, information on stormwater and wastewater, an update for agricultural implementers, details on funding resources, and open question and answer discussions. Presentations will be made by staff members of the Maryland Departments of Agriculture and Environment.
Those interested in learning more about Maryland’s strategy for the Phase III WIP are invited to attend any of the five regional workshops scheduled. All workshops are free and sponsored by the University of Maryland-affiliated Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology and funded by the Town Creek Foundation. …
Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the meeting runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch will be provided to participants.
Attendance is free but you must register in order to attend:
Useful Links
MDE Phase III WIP Development Web Page
Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology Website
Receive an update on the health and future of the Bay and the Bay TMDL on Friday, August 17, at the 2018 MACo Summer Conference.
Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:
- Attendee Registration Brochure
- Attendee Online Registration
- Exhibitor Brochure
- Exhibitor Online Registration
- Tech Expo Brochure
- Tech Expo Exhibitor Registration
- Sponsorship Brochure
- Golf Tournament Registration
- Discounted Hotel Room Rates
- Conduit Street Blog Coverage
- #MACoCon on Twitter
- Questions? vwhite@mdcounties.org
