Evaluation of management efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment contributions to the Chesapeake Bay estuary

Abstract

This document examines the watershed system’s response to the Chesapeake Bay Program’s efforts to achieve the nutrient and sediment reduction goals thought necessary to achieve water quality standards. We focus on response gaps and uncertainties about how the watershed system has responded to management efforts meant to reduce nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sediment loads reaching the Chesapeake Bay. Our discussion focuses primarily on the management of agricultural and urban nonpoint source pollution. Significant resources have been devoted to controlling both agricultural and urban nonpoint source pollution, but these efforts have not yet generated the expected system response and associated water quality improvements. Based on a synthesis of watershed response studies,we identify a number of possible reasons for the system response gap and discuss possible management actions to further pollution reduction efforts and improve system response.