Local Planning Goals Task Force

Scope and Purpose

The Local Area Targets Task Force was convened by the Water Quality Goal Implementation Team to make recommendations regarding whether the Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans (WIPs) should include local area targets (LATs) and, if so, present options for how these targets could be expressed in different jurisdictions. The Task Force addressed findings from the Chesapeake Bay TMDL Stakeholder Assessment, including the goal of raising awareness of local partners' contribution towards acheiving the Bay TMDL; the technical capacity of the Phase 6 Chesapeake Bay Program modeling suite; how local implementation addresses local conditions, needs and opportunities, such as local water quality; and the availability of tools to assist in the development and optimization of local implementation strategies. The Task Force considered jurisdictions' efforts and methods to develop LATs as part of the Phase II WIPs and recent work to establish federal facility targets. Task Force recommendations will inform the Phase III WIP expectations.

The Task Force presented their final recommendations to the Water Quality Goal Implementation Team in December 2016. Their recommendation report was approved, and the group was formally sunsetted.