BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland has announced $47 million in funding for 15 projects aimed at reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) says the projects will use a “pay-for-success” model, incentivizing farmers and landowners to implement pollution-reducing practices.
The projects will receive funding based on their ability to demonstrate cost-effective clean water solutions. These projects include shoreline restorations, aquaculture, and best practices for fertilizer applications.
“This program allows us to get the most out of every dollar spent to improve our waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay,” said Maryland Secretary of the Environment Serena McIlwain. “Maryland is proud to be a leader in cutting-edge approaches to clean water, and in turn, improved tourism and commerce.”
“Projects funded by the Maryland Department of Agriculture will help mitigate nutrient losses from in-field tile drainage systems. These practices are critical components of our bay restoration strategy. I’m excited to partner with our sister agencies to continue our conservation work,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks.
The projects were selected based on a ranking system that considers the cost per pound of nitrogen reductions, as verified by Chesapeake Bay Program modeling. Some projects were also selected for their ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase community resilience to flooding.
Funding for the projects comes from a variety of sources, including Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund, the Maryland Agricultural Water Quality Cost-Share Program, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The Clean Water Commerce program has previously funded 17 projects with a total of $54 million in grants. These projects are expected to prevent 1.3 million pounds of nitrogen from entering Maryland waters.
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
Photo via Pixabay
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