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Learn about the State of the Chesapeake Bay Program updates from 2012-2014, including funding increases, collaborations, and future goals. Discover how increased collaboration and alignment of efforts are driving progress in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Explore accomplishments and challenges in water quality, habitats, fisheries, and more. Stay informed about the ongoing efforts for a healthier Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.
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State of the Chesapeake Bay Program Nick DiPasquale, CBP Director, EPA Executive Council Annual Meeting June 16, 2014
Topics for today Highlights 2012-14 Funding update Increased collaboration Aligning of goals/outcomes Restoration Progress Looking Ahead
FY2014 EPA’s CBP Budget • FY13 ($54 mil) FY14 ($70 mil) • State Grants • Almost 80% of increase going to state grants • Local government “set-aside” for implementation ($5 million) • Increase for New Agreement • Headwaters states • Signatory states • Restore monitoring funding to FY12 levels
FY2014 EPA’s CBP Budget (cont’d) • Other Investment Areas • Goal Implementation Team Support • Management Strategy Development • Implementation Projects & Tools • BMP Expert Panels • BMP Verification Programs • CAST/FAST Tools • Climate Change • Citizen Monitoring Initiative • FY2015 - $73 million Presidential Budget Request
Increased Collaboration • Internally across issues/Goal Teams • Fisheries – bringing habitat into the work • Habitats – providing info to all on “services” offered by various habitats • Water Quality – a foundation for habitats and creatures • Healthy Watersheds – identifying healthy sub- watersheds and educating teams about them • Stewardship – connecting people, places and science
Increased Collaboration - Example GIT Collaboration: Harris Creek Oyster Restoration Efforts
Alignment Four-stages over last 2 yrs • Stage 1: Align Interests, Priorities, & Efforts • Stage 2: Develop Negotiation Protocols for Establishing New Agreement • Stage 3: Negotiate New Agreement • Stage 4: Implement New Agreement
The New Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement • Clarity • Clearer goals and more well defined outcomes than previous agreements • Flexibility • Allow us to adapt our thinking and management decisions to adjust to changing conditions and circumstances • Transparency & Accountability • Partners set priorities & commit resources through management strategies
Communicating partners’ work – in print Accomplishments
Communicating partners’ work Accomplishments www. chesapeakebay.net • 5,000,000 = views of website since 2012 • 5,000 = single day high for views • 3,800+ = views of 6 blog posts on indicators of • Bay health and restoration successes • 9000 = views of top three videos in 2013 • Social media reach grew 54% on average in 2013 • - Facebook alone grew 145% ! (Bay 101 & Unscripted Series - most viewed by teachers, students, others)
Accomplishments – Overall • 2012-13 • Health • & • Restoration • At A Glance
Accomplishments -- Science • Crabs are not overfished • Shad show a positive return • Bay grasses challenged & resilient • Chemical contaminants a concern • Water quality still challenged
Accomplishments -- Partners’ Efforts CBP partners progress to reduce Nitrogen – 2013 estimate 28% of N target achieved Approximately 262.38 million pounds nitrogen delivered to Bay in 2013, down from 282.66 in 2009
Improving locally, long term Flow adjusted monitoring trends (1985-2012) = Less N flowing in / improving trend
Accomplishments A collaborative project Science-based evidence of water quality improvements, challenges and opportunities ian.umces.edu/link/newinsights
Looking Forward • New Climate Change Coordinator • Will work across all issues/GITs • Brings climate change lens to all the partnership’s efforts • Toxics • Strengthen our research efforts • Identify BMPs that can also reduce toxics • Consider additional policies, programs, practices • ChesapeakeStat • Redesign underway • Will focus on Agreement implementation & tracking progress • Development of Management Strategies • More than 20 strategies to be developed in the next year • Implementation has already begun in some cases • Commitment to openness, transparency & public input