Saving the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Requires Better Coordination of Environmental and Agricultural Resources

This report recommends that EPA execute a new Memorandum of Agreement with USDA that specifically identifies tasks and timeframes for meeting mutually shared goals in the cleanup of the Bay. Further, the two agencies should agree to a method to track progress. Also, EPA, USDA, and the States, with assistance from land grant universities and agricultural organizations, should revisit State tributary strategies to ensure that an effective and cost-efficient combination of conservation practices are adopted and implemented. USDA should assign a senior level official to coordinate with EPAÆs Chesapeake Bay Program and review the feasibility of targeting USDA funds geographically. Although these steps will not by themselves solve the BayÆs problems, they will significantly assist the Bay partners in cleaning up the Bay. EPA and USDA generally concurred with our findings and recommendations.