Back to School is here, and we're excited to start the year off with an "A" grade.
After years of focused work to reduce pollution and restore our waterways, Maryland has met nearly all of its 2025 Chesapeake Bay pollution-reduction goals. That's certainly news to celebrate!
The numbers tell the story: Maryland achieved 99% of its nitrogen reduction goal, 100% of its phosphorus reduction goal, and 100% of its sediment reduction goal. That progress comes from work happening across Maryland—from planting trees and restoring wetlands to creating living shorelines and upgrading wastewater treatment. And I encourage everyone to keep up the good work, whether that means planting a tree, protecting local waterways, or finding new ways to reduce pollution at home and in our communities.
So how do we know these numbers are real? Every year, the Chesapeake Bay Program runs what's called the Watershed Model — think of it as a giant, science-based calculator. It takes in real data on land use, fertilizer application, wastewater treatment upgrades, and every conservation practice our farmers and communities put in the ground, then estimates how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment is actually making it into the Bay. It's not a guess. It's built on decades of monitoring, and it gets refreshed as our data improves, so when it tells us we hit our marks, we can trust it.
And here's what got us there. Our farmers stepped up with cover crops and nutrient management plans that cut pollution before it ever leaves the field. Communities restored wetlands and built living shorelines that filter runoff the way nature intended. We upgraded wastewater treatment plants to strip out more nitrogen and phosphorus before it reaches a stream. And since 2014, Maryland has planted more than 10,000 acres of trees — including over 1,600 acres last year alone — because trees do double duty, soaking up runoff and holding soil in place.
Reaching these goals is an important achievement, but it is not the finish line. Together, we can build on this progress and continue protecting the Chesapeake Bay and the natural resources we all depend on for generations to come.
See the progress for yourself. Explore the latest Chesapeake Bay pollution-reduction achievements and learn more about the work happening across the state on the Chesapeake Bay Progress Site Map.
|
