Capturing Local Benefits of Restoring the Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Connection
The Chesapeake Bay watershed stretches across more than 64,000 square miles, encompassing parts of six states — Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia — and all of Washington, DC. Stretching across the Chesapeake watershed are more than 100,000 streams and rivers — called tributaries — that eventually flow into the Bay. Everyone in the Chesapeake Bay watershed lives within a mile or two of one of these tributaries, which are like pipelines from our communities to the Bay. Collectively, this network of small streams supplies 90% of the freshwater flow that drives our nation's largest estuary. These small streams also supply the nutrients, sediments and other pollutants that affect the health of the Bay. Each of these tributaries has its own watershed, which are sometimes referred to as "sub-watersheds" within the larger Chesapeake watershed.
While located far away from the Chesapeake Bay, the Eastern Panhandle is still very important to the Bay’s health. Our local streams support aquatic communities, process nutrients and sediment, dissipate energy, maintain stream energy dynamics, all which help to maintain and protect downstream beneficial uses. Since much of the way a stream functions depends on how the surrounding landscape is managed, our actions on the land have a significant influence on the health of the Bay.
As part of the Chesapeake Bay restoration program, the Chesapeake Bay states and the District of Columbia have agreed to substantially reduce nutrient and sediment loadings in Chesapeake Bay drainages. West Virginia’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) provides the framework for a comprehensive planning process to equitably reduce these nutrient and sediment loads. The nutrient reduction practices and investments targeted in the WIP for the types of land uses in our watersheds can generate important direct benefits for Panhandle communities, counties, and even private business interests and permit holders, which are in addition to Bay restoration benefits.
An Integrated Solution
By developing and implementing innovative and integrated solutions at the local level, the disconnect between regional water quality (Chesapeake Bay) goals and local (headwater) planning and decision-making can be bridged, allowing pollutant reductions to be attained more quickly and cost effectively. By helping to improve conditions in the watershed, we are helping improve the quality of life for local citizens, and improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Local watershed management can…
- Protect local property values and quality of life
- Help protect source water areas through the reduction of stormwater pollutant loads and volumes
- Help protect public health and the environment by promoting septic system management in key areas of water quality concern
- Demonstrate the economic and quality-of-life benefits generated by simple, sustainable and financially feasible – even profitable - development practices
- Provide resources for community members, developers and local governments to plan and implement watershed-friendly practices long after project activities cease
Who is needed to make this a success?
- County and local government leaders, planners, and engineers
- Stakeholders involved in real estate and property development
- Local residents and homeowners
On this web site, you can learn about:
- A holistic, low-impact approach to residential development
- Tools for calculating the load and volume of pollutant runoff
- Actions you can take to reduce your impact on watersheds
- Technical Reports and Guidance Documents
This website was developed by The Conservation Fund's Freshwater Institute in collaboration with the West Virginia Water Resources Institute with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Targeted Watershed grant for Rockymarsh Run - “Meeting Regional Goals through Local Benefits” and WV DEP’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant. Website design and hosting graciously provided by the Region IX Regional Planning and Development Council.