Water Quality & the Chesapeake Bay

Issues:

Water quality is vital to a thriving community and healthyenvironment.
Government regulations on farmers, industry and wastewatertreatment plants are helping to improve the bay but privatelandowners are exempt from those policies.

Actions:

MCE-trained Master Gardeners educate homeowners with Bay-WiseLandscape Management classes and other environmental programs.
MCE leads efforts in developing nutrient management plans forfarms, greenhouses, and nurseries and provides training andeducational programs.
MCE provides leadership on the Urban Nutrient Management WorkGroup and the Bay Program Nutrient Subcommittee.
MCE provides science and public policy education in cooperationwith state agencies and organizations.

Impacts:

Approximately 700,000 acres of farmland are under nutrientmanagement plans.
Approximately 5,500 homeowners have participated in over 50 BayWise Landscape Management classes and saved approximately $200,000by reducing their use of fertilizers and pesticides.

For more information, contact Robert Tjaden

Last updated: 03/10/2009