Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program
States in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are implementing strategies to restore the health of the Bay and the region’s creeks, streams, and rivers. These activities are being implemented in accordance with the US EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load, which identifies necessary pollution reductions from major sources of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment to meet water quality standards in the bay. Through the “Financing Strategies” project, EFC seeks to support bay states in their pollution abatement efforts by (1) assessing the capacity of existing state revenue streams and financing mechanisms to sufficiently and efficiently achieve Chesapeake Bay watershed water quality goals and regulatory requirements, and (2) recommending a set of financing strategies that could be undertaken by each state in order to more efficiently and effectively accomplish water conservation and restoration objectives.