Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative July 2011

This corn field on a farm in Maryland will be planted to cover crops to help take up excess nutrients and prevent soil erosion.

Overview New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, The NRCS and its partners The Chesapeake Bay Watershed and West Virginia as well as the identified more than 1,000 high- Initiative (CBWI) complements District of Columbia. priority watersheds based on State and Federal conservation several factors. The main factors efforts that improve water quality CBWI is carried out through include soils having a high risk and quantity and restore, enhance, the—Environmental Quality for nutrient and sediment runoff and preserve soil, air, and related Incentives Program, Cooperative or nutrient infiltration; and areas resources within the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership scientifically identified as having Bay Watershed. CBWI helps Initiative, and Wildlife Habitat high agricultural nitrogen and producers enhance land and water Incentives Program. phosphorous concentrations. resources by: • controlling erosion and Priorities Expected Outcomes reducing sediment and President Obama’s Executive The expected outcomes for the surface water; and Order, signed in May 2009, CBWI are producers applying • planning, designing, charges the federal government new conservation practices on implementing, and evaluating with exercising greater leadership agricultural working lands in the habitat conservation, in restoring the Chesapeake high-priority watersheds; restoring restoration, and enhance- Bay and its tributaries. USDA tidal and non-tidal wetlands and ment measures. Natural Resources Conservation enhancing the function of degraded Service (NRCS) and its partners wetlands; and protecting lands The Chesapeake Bay Watershed are helping farmers voluntarily identified as high conservation is defined as all tributaries, implement conservation practices priorities. backwaters, and side channels to reduce nutrient and sediment and their watersheds that drain runoff into the Bay. into the Chesapeake Bay in the states of Delaware, Maryland,

Helping People Help the Land Eligibility CBWI participants must meet all eligibility requirements for the Farm Bill programs they choose to use to carry out their conservation plans. Also, the land must lie within the defined Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

More Information For more information about the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, please visit the Natural Resources Conservation Service Web site at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/ chesapeakebay/chesapeakebay. html

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Contacts: Rob McAfee Chesapeake Bay Coordinator Phone: (443) 482-2953 Email: [email protected]. gov

Mike Permenter Natural Resource Specialist Phone: (202) 720-3360 Email: [email protected]. Chesapeake Bay Watershed. gov

www.nrcs.usda.gov USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.