Water Quality & the Chesapeake Bay

Issues:

Water quality is vital to a thriving community and healthy environment.
Government regulations on farmers, industry and wastewater treatment plants are helping to improve the bay but private landowners are exempt from those policies.

Actions:

MCE-trained Master Gardeners educate homeowners with Bay-Wise Landscape Management classes and other environmental programs.
MCE leads efforts in developing nutrient management plans for farms, greenhouses, and nurseries and provides training and educational programs.
MCE provides leadership on the Urban Nutrient Management Work Group and the Bay Program Nutrient Subcommittee.
MCE provides science and public policy education in cooperation with state agencies and organizations.

Impacts:

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

For more information, contact Robert Tjaden

Last updated: 05/15/2006