1

Bay Restoration:Developing Policy Options to

Support Local Actions

Jack E. Frye, Virginia DirectorChesapeake Bay Commission201 N. 9th Street, Room 270Richmond, Virginia 23219

jfrye@chesbay.us(804) 370-5888

Who is the CHESAPEAKE BAY COMMISSION?

Tri-State Legislative Commission Maryland Pennsylvania Virginia

Congressional Liaison

21 Members 15 General Assembly Members 3 Governors 3 Citizens

A Bay Policy Leader for 32 years

YOUR VIRGINIA COMMISSION MEMBERS

Senator Emmett Hanger – Chair Senator Frank Wagner Delegate John Cosgrove Delegate Lynwood Lewis Delegate Scott Lingamfelter –V. Chair Governor McDonnell/designee

Anthony Moore, Depty Sec. Ches. Bay John Reynolds

4

Future for Virginia (circa 2000)

• Increasing reliance on citizen advocacy, local governments & watershed-based approaches

• Nutrient mgmt; P-based for all organic fertilizers; urban turf practices/education

• Improved E&S Control; Require SWM; holistic watershed water quality & quantity plans

• “Green Card” farming - farm conservation plans

Bay TMDL- a “driver” for change 2010

Information to PolicyDecember 2004: Chesapeake Bay Commission Report, “Cost-Effective Strategies For the Bay”

1. Wastewater treatment plant upgrades

2. Diet & feed adjustments

3. Nutrient management

4. Conservation tillage

5. Cover crops

2005- Chesapeake Bay Watershed Nutrient Credit Exchange Program

2006- Regulations to offset new of expanded facilities; controls on existing and Nutrient Credit Exchange to help cost-effective upgrading

2007- DCR sets 5 priority practices NM,CT,CC + riparian buffer and exclusion; Diet & Feed management for dairy/ Poultry Phytase MOUs

5

6

Recent Examples of Chesapeake Bay Commission Actions

• Reducing urban source nutrients; N & P controls• Nutrient trading economics & policy issues• Land conservation & water quality goals/access• Manure-to-Energy

o Value added waste stream/distributed energyo Sustainable agriculture

• Improved practice progress reporting• Connecting local land use to local fisheries

7

Pollution Control Policy

Agriculture Forestry

Urban built environment Urban new development

QUESTION: For each source above, what is your perception about the current level of regulation or voluntary cooperation that drives actions to protect local water quality?

Mostly regulatory Mostly voluntary

8

For any program that engages governments, businesses and individuals,

what is necessary to provide Reasonable Assurance

that actions are taken, schedules are met and goals are accomplished?

“Trust, but verify”

9

Reasonable Assurance Challenges

(Targets, Required Actions & Schedules)

• Adequate practices & adequate funds• Voluntary (lots of individuals)• Cost-share & tax credit incentives; signed contracts

and audits• Self certification? Compliance spot checks?• Recognition programs • “Green ticket” concepts• Regulation as threat/motivator

Chesapeake Club: Bringing New

Audiences to Bay Restoration

10

Looming Policy Issues

• Role of Land Conservation in the Bay TMDL• Verification of progress reporting data• Trading Program Expansion in Virginia/Bay-wide

o Credit determination/Accounting/Transparencyo Verificationo Protecting local water quality

• Local landuse, water quality & fisheries• Aquaculture or wild harvest

12