Achieving the Chesapeake Bay Nutrient Goals
- Published:
- October 1, 1994
- Originator:
- Chesapeake Bay Program
In 1982, this Bay Agreement nutrient reduction goal was confirmed by the use of computer models, and strengthened by allocating nutrietn reduction goals to each of the ten major tributary systems of the Bay, as well as to each jurisdiction. The States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and the District of Columbia agreed to develop tributary specif9cn nutrient reduction strategies in order to achieve the new nutrient loading targets. The loading targets represent a 40% reduction of the portion of the 1985 Base load that is "controllable", defined as the difference between the 1985 Base load and the load from a totally forested (undisturbed) watershed. As a result the loading target is the calculated as the of the load and the forested watershed load. The result is a nutrient limit or "cap" for each major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The caps also acount for anticipated population growth and development between 1985-20000.