Coalition Reacts to National Research Council Chesapeake Bay Program Report

ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 4, 2011) The Choose Clean Water Coalition issued the following statement in response to the National Research Council’s report issued today assessing the Chesapeake Bay Program:

Hilary Falk, program director for the Coalition, said,

“The report confirms the effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay is on the right track with the Pollution Diet strategy, yet it could use more transparency and accountability: things we agree are critical to ensuring clean water in the region.

“Part of what needs to be done better is management of expectations, so that people know that changes are expected in this process. Right now some people associate change with failure of the Pollution Diet strategy, rather than growth.

“The report makes it clear there is no silver bullet; it takes responsibility on the part of governments – federal, state and local – as well as residents, farmers and businesses. Recommendations such as having a level playing field across the states as it relates to best management practices and accounting for their success makes sense.

“The recommendations do not require comprehensive changes but provide some ‘tweaking’ to the way the current pollution diet is being developed. The Council was clear that restoration efforts must evolve over the next decade and adapt to changing circumstances and new information and technology.

“Along with recommendations on investing more in monitoring and accountability for the on-the-ground progress, the report makes it evident that more, not less will have to be done over the next fifteen years to get clean water for this region.“