Chesapeake Bay Commission • May 2017
Like never before, real progress is being seen in
Chesapeake Bay restoration. Record acres of
submerged aquatic vegetation, reduced areas
of oxygen-starved water, and a burgeoning
aquaculture industry are signposts that the
state-federal partnership to restore the Bay is
working. We are gaining momentum.
But the President’s FY 2018 budget puts this at
risk. The critical federal support for the Bay
would be slashed. Here is what Congress must
add to the President’s budget to sustain the
success of Bay Restoration.
1 Fund EPA’s Chesapeake Bay
Program at $73 million.
President’s Budget: $0
These monies maintain the pulse of the state federal
partnership to restore the Chesapeake
Bay. Program funds are used to coordinate
the complex science, research, modeling and
monitoring efforts that drive restoration. Of
the $73 million allocated for the Bay, $31
million is pass-through money provided to
support state restoration efforts.
In addition,$12 million in Stewardship Grants provide
critical support for local restoration efforts
and leverage, on average three times more
non-federal money for each project.
Nationwide, the geographic region programs
that support aquatic systems of national
significance have been zeroed out.
2 Fund EPA’s Nonpoint Source
(Section 319) Implementation
Grants at $170 million.
President’s Budget: $0
An overwhelming majority of Americans—
215 million (>70%)—live within 2 miles of a
polluted lake, river, stream or coastal area.
States have identified more than 600,000
miles of rivers and streams, more than
13 million acres of lakes and more than
500,000 acres of wetlands that do not meet
state water quality goals. Many of these
waters are considered unsafe for swimming
or are unable to support healthy fish or other
aquatic life. The §319 grants are a key
resource in the effort to improve and protect
our nation’s waters. In FY 2016, this program
provided $8 million for Bay restoration.
3 Fund EPA’s Pollution Control
(Section 106) Grants at $230
million.
President’s Budget: $161 million
This national program helps states in the Bay
watershed manage the federal water
pollution permit program, or NPDES. Under
the Clean Water Act, it is unlawful to
discharge any pollutant into U.S. waters
without a NPDES permit. Without sufficient
funding, this permit process gets bogged
down, resulting in business losses and
reduced permit monitoring and enforcement.
In FY 2016, this program provided $10
million for Bay restoration.
4 Fund USGS’ Regional and
Crosscutting Activities:
Chesapeake Bay at $12.6 million.
President’s Budget: $6.8 million (est.)
Decision makers in six states, along with
federal partners, rely on USGS science to
formulate effective plans for reducing the
impacts of nutrient, sediment and toxic
contaminants, and improve habitat for
freshwater fisheries and waterfowl, in the
Bay watershed. Without the monitoring and
analysis provided by USGS, we won’t know if
what we are doing is working