WATERSHED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN (WIP)
PROJECT SUMMARY
Communities throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, along with federal and state government, local government, nonprofit organizations, farmers, and private businesses are making significant progress restoring and protecting the health of local waterways and the bay.
On December 29th, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), a historic and comprehensive cleanup plan to guide federal, state, and local actions as their communities clean up the Chesapeake Bay and the connected stream, creeks, and rivers.
Specifically in Virginia, the TMDL calls for a 20.5% reduction in Nitrogen, 25.2% reduction in Phosphorous and 20.8% reduction in Sediment delivered to the bay. The objective is to have clean up practices, known as best management practices or BMPs, in place by 2025 to reach the goal of a clean Chesapeake Bay and local waterways that meet water quality standards.
What is a Watershed Implementation Plan
Helpful Terms
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL): A calculation that determined the amount of a pollutant that can occur in a waterway, but still meet water quality standards and ensure clean water
Local Area Planning Goals (LAPGs): Pollutant reduction goals established for local communities
Best Management Practices (BMPs): Restoration activities and projects (planned and implemented) to improve local water quality and meet pollution reduction targets established in the Bay TMDL
Watershed Map
