Chesapeake Bay Program
Chesapeake Bay Program: To help combat degradation of the Chesapeake Bay, states in the Bay Watershed have signed the Chesapeake Bay 2000 Agreement. This agreement outlines specific nutrient and sediment reduction goals for each state. States and the Bay must meet the goals by 2010. To bolster Pennsylvania’s progress towards these goals, the PA Department of Environmental Protection has created the PA Chesapeake Bay Program. This program offers grant funds to Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to install nutrient and sediment reduction Best Management Practices (BMPs) on farms or in urban settings.
As a guide to direct our conservation efforts, specifically with the Bay Program, we have developed a Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Implementation Plan. Within the plan all major sources of non-point source pollution within the county were identified. The plan is updated annually to keep it as current as possible. This document is used as the basis for the water quality BMP grants our office writes and implements.
In Columbia County we have focused the majority of our Bay Program efforts towards the agriculture community. We have taken the Bay Program to the next level by offering effective conservation programs that also fill needs in farmers cropping systems. By aggressively promoting conservation tools such as no-till, cover crops, nutrient balancing and field buffers, the District has forged working relationships with many local farmers who implement these practices on a daily basis.
The Columbia County Tributary Strategy can be viewed here!
For more information on the Columbia County Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Implementation Plan or any of our programs, please contact the district at (570) 317- 9456.
As a guide to direct our conservation efforts, specifically with the Bay Program, we have developed a Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Implementation Plan. Within the plan all major sources of non-point source pollution within the county were identified. The plan is updated annually to keep it as current as possible. This document is used as the basis for the water quality BMP grants our office writes and implements.
In Columbia County we have focused the majority of our Bay Program efforts towards the agriculture community. We have taken the Bay Program to the next level by offering effective conservation programs that also fill needs in farmers cropping systems. By aggressively promoting conservation tools such as no-till, cover crops, nutrient balancing and field buffers, the District has forged working relationships with many local farmers who implement these practices on a daily basis.
The Columbia County Tributary Strategy can be viewed here!
For more information on the Columbia County Chesapeake Bay Tributary Strategy Implementation Plan or any of our programs, please contact the district at (570) 317- 9456.