The Chesapeake Speaks: Not There Yet!

As we welcome the first week of fall 2024, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, set to conclude in 2025. Over the past 14 years, the efforts initiated by the EPA to curb phosphorus in household detergents have led to significant changes—over seventeen states have banned phosphorus in dishwasher detergents, which were once major contributors to water pollution. While phosphorus and nitrates are essential for aquatic plant growth, their excess has destabilized ecosystems, triggering harmful algae blooms that choke the life from our lakes, rivers, and ponds. This degradation has paved the way for invasive species to thrive, pushing out our native plants and wildlife. Yet, while we grapple with these challenges, we cannot overlook the role of fertilizers in agriculture—critical for farmers but often overused, leading to runoff that further disrupts our waterways. Despite these hurdles, there are glimmers of hope, such as the successful restoration of Maryland's oyster reefs, which promise to enhance water quality and provide essential habitats. As we near the expiration of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, it is vital for us as citizens to advocate for the future of our environment, our economy, and the generations to come.

The Light At The End Of The Tunnel.

Here we are in the first week of fall 2024 and we are staring down at the light at the end of the tunnel for 2025 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement meets its end. How has it gone for the last 14 years since the EPA stepped in to limit the phosphorus detergent from many of our kitchens?

Banning Phosphorus In Dishwasher Detergent

Over seventeen states have banned phosphorus in dishwasher detergent. Phosphorus detergent was one the biggest polluters as waste water made its way back from water treatment facilities to the many lakes, ponds and rivers. Phosphorus along with nitrates help marine plants grow and yet the extra deposits of phosphorus from households made the aquatic environment unstable thus creating algae blooms, choking out the oxygen from waterways, lakes and ponds. Where once there was a vibrant ecosystem that thrived is now replaced with barren waters, not only do the animals that are able to leave vanish but many plants perish leaving the land ripe for evasive species of plants and animals to take over, to run rampant, ravishing the native plants and surviving marine life. But we can't just pin everything on detergent.

Phosphorus Fertilizer

Fertilizers to agriculture is like food for animals. Farmers depend on being able to fertilize theirs crops in order to get the best production out of the land to provide for their families and millions of others alike. The question must be asked, where do we draw the line? The specific fertilizer that is in question is created in a labratory and too often ,it is over used. It has reached the point to where 11 states banned the sale and its use. This paricular fertilizer is a major concern especially in places where farms plant in the spring before winter snow can melt off completely and before the soil is able to fully absorb the nutrients therefore creating a run off scenario, washing away precious fertilizer that is much needed for development of crops into the waterways, accidentally changing the ecosystem that it enters.

The Great Oyster Revival

All hope is not lost on the struggles of water quality. In much of the water shed the water quality has improved significantly, it is just not at the level where we can determine it to be a win. But on the other hand, what we can unanimously call a win is the restoration of the Maryland oyster reef, which is turning into a big success. Six of the ten rivers are at a one hundred percent restored and two of the remaining four rivers are forty percent restored or better. These oyster reefs will help filter nitrates out of the water and create healthy habitats for crab, fish and marine mammals. Also people really love to eat oysters, so they are vital to the Maryland economy.

What's Next?

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement is due to expire at the end of 2025.

It is up to the citizens to speak with our votes and our wallets to protect the environment, our childrens futures and our water. This water shed is vital to several state economies, it is the life blood of many small business and large alike. Reach out to your elected officials and show them how important it is to continue the job that was started over 40 years and to see it through to its completion. Chesapeake Executive Council.