The federal government is proposing to massively slash funds for environmental efforts in the Chesapeake Bay. A recent budget proposal featured $2 billion in budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency, with the Chesapeake Bay in part losing 90% of its funding. The proposal grants The Chesapeake Bay Program, an EPA program, $7.3 million as opposed to its previous budget of $73 million.
The Chesapeake Bay Program's president William Baker called it a "slap in the face to a national treasure finally beginning to recover from decades of pollution."
It's true that the Bay is in remarkably better shape than in decades past. Fish, especially the acclaimed striped bass, are coming back, and "Maryland Pride" is higher than ever, mostly in association with the Bay. The Bay is also becoming more important in the tourism industry, especially for towns like Easton and St. Michael's, places urbanites flock to on weekends.
It is also important that many Marylanders depend on the Chesapeake for their way of life. Tucked off of main roads are waterman towns like Deale Island and Hoopersville. A drive down to these towns yields many docks and packing trucks. Even farther out is Smith Island. The towns of Tylerton, Ewell, and Rhode's Point are all only accessible by ferry. We all love our blue crabs and rockfish, but they have to come from somewhere!
Senator Ben Cardin (D) plans to take action against the cuts. On March 12th he tweeted, "As I have in the past, I will fight to restore funding so generations to come can enjoy this treasure and our thriving tourist, seafood, and boating industry will continue to flourish."
Governor Larry Hogan (R), who has prioritized environmental conservation over his last 5 years in office, also took issue, tweeting, "The Chesapeake Bay is a state and national treasure, and federal support is essential to improving the waterway's health. We will not allow several decades of environmental restoration to be dismantled."
While the budget proposal in no way ensures that the Bay will lose its funding (it still has to pass Congress), it makes the government's intentions clear on its standing with the Bay and environmental conservation as a whole. After all, this is the third straight year budget cuts for the Bay have been proposed. The federally-funded Chesapeake Bay Program is also critical in that it has the authority to make other states in the watershed pay for restoration efforts. One of the main source of pollutants in the Chesapeake is phosphate and nitrate runoff from farm fertilizers, as well as pesticides. While the Bay is a national symbol associated with Maryland, farming in large parts of New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia all wash down into the Bay.
So far, this issue seems to be bipartisan at the state level, with both the Republican Hogan and Democratic Cardin stating their opposition. Protecting the Bay is in every Marylander's interests as an integral part of our state identity.
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