MUNICIPAL PARTICIPATION IN THE DERIVATION OF NEW WATER QUALITY CRITERIA FOR THE CHESAPEAKE BAY

摘要

Since 2000, the Virginia and Maryland Associations of Municipal Wastewater Agenciesrn(V/MAMWA) have participated in efforts led by the Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) tornderive new water quality goals for the Bay and its tidal tributaries. The emphasis betweenrn2000 and 2002 has been on defining new designated uses and water quality criteria forrndissolved oxygen, water clarity, and chlorophyll a. By working with other scientists fromrngovernment and academia, V/MAMWA scientists have placed emphasis on the need torn(1) establish strong, quantitative connections between criteria and uses; (2) addressrnnatural variability; and (3) derive flexible implementation approaches that acknowledgernscientific uncertainty. Municipal participation has strengthened the scientific basis of thernnew goals while also revealing important limitations. Both types of contributions arernexpected to improve water quality management for the Chesapeake Bay.