The Chesapeake Bay is more than just a body of water; it supports a $600 million seafood industry in Maryland; it’s a $3.2 billion tourism engine for the state, and it’s at the very heart of Maryland’s self-image. But for the other five states in the 64,000-square-mile watershed, the Bay is often an abstract concept, a distant destination. This geographic and emotional disconnect complicates the decades-long effort to restore one of the world’s most productive estuaries.
In this episode, hosts Dori Henry, Josh Kurtz, and David Nitkin explore the intricate “architecture” of the multi-state coalition responsible for keeping the Bay clean. They are joined by Adam Ortiz (Maryland Department of the Environment and formerly with U.S. EPA), Sarah Elfreth (U.S. Representative), Ben Grumbles (Environmental Council of the States), and Gene Yaw (Pennsylvania State Senator) to break down the newly signed 15-year Bay Agreement.
Key Quotes
Gene Yaw, Pennsylvania State Senator and chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission
“To be quite honest, we’ve tried to not talk about the Chesapeake Bay that much now. We talk about clean water and the pitch that we have used is that, having clean water especially on farms, is a benefit to the farmers. And so if we clean up our own water, it’s a benefit to us, and then we don’t have to worry about what happens downstream.”
U.S. Rep. Sarah Elfreth
“The goals of addressing a changing climate and a changing ecology and a changing environment are still in that agreement, and that’s what’s important. Not specific words and. It’s gone a tough three years. Here’s the good news though, like Congress plused up the Bay program funding, which is crazy.”
Adam Ortiz, former Regional Administrator at the EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Office
“As regional administrator, I’m going to enforce more in Pennsylvania, but I’m also going to support more. And I want us to work together. And it’s important to be tough, but it’s important to love. So I was like, I’m about tough love, we’re gonna figure this out.”
Episode lineup
Connect With the Show Questions, comments, or story ideas: marylandnow@blendedpublicaffairs.com
Maryland Now is brought to you by Blended Public Affairs and produced by Carper Cre8tive.
