Bay Program partners are working with farmers to help reduce the amount of pollution coming from the Chesapeake watershed's approximately 9 million acres of agricultural lands.
One-quarter to one-third of the nitrogen that reaches the Bay comes from emissions into the air from vehicles, industries, power plants, dry cleaners, gas-powered lawn tools and other emissions sources.
Hundreds of wastewater treatment facilities across the watershed are currently being upgraded to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads from wastewater discharged into Bay tributaries.
By working together at the federal, state and local levels, Bay Program partners hope to halt the growing loads of nutrients, sediment and chemical contaminants coming from developed and developing lands.
Retaining and expanding Chesapeake forests is a critical, cost-effective way to reduce pollution and help restore the Bay, as forests are one of the most beneficial land uses for protecting water quality.
To help improve water clarity and assist with underwater bay grass restoration, Bay Program partners have set a cap on sediment loads from erosion of the land, stream banks and stream corridors.