The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It is home to more than 2,700 species of plants and animals and produces about 500 million pounds of seafood per year. The Bay's watershed covers portions of six states and Washington, D.C.
Watershed facts:
- Area: 64,000 square miles including portions of 6 states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) and Washington, D.C.
- New York area: 6,250 square miles in 19 counties
- Population: More than 17 million people live in the watershed
- New York population: About 640,000 people live in New York's portion of the Bay watershed
- Source: The Susquehanna and Chemung rivers in New York form the northern headwaters of the Bay
New York's Connection to the Chesapeake Bay
New York's portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed is made up of the Susquehanna River watershed and Chemung River watershed. Together these two watersheds form the northern headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay and cover much of New York's Southern Tier.
The Susquehanna River begins at Otsego Lake in Cooperstown, New York and flows 444 miles south to the northern end of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The Chemung River flows across the western portion of the Southern Tier and joins the Susquehanna River in northern Pennsylvania. The Susquehanna River is the Bay's largest tributary. It provides nearly 50 percent of the fresh water that enters the Bay - an average of 19 million gallons of water per minute.
In total, some or all of 19 New York counties are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: Allegany, Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Otsego, Schoharie, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, and Yates.
Water Quality Problems and Solutions
Excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and sediment from all over the Chesapeake Bay watershed degrade the Bay's water quality. The main nutrient sources are sewage, cattle manure, inorganic fertilizer and atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Most of the sediment comes from agriculture, stream bank erosion and construction.
The Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) in December 2010 to address the water quality problems in the Chesapeake Bay caused by excess nutrients and sediment.
A Total Maximum Daily Load defines the capacity of a waterbody to absorb a pollutant and still meet water quality standards. The Chesapeake Bay TMDL sets limits on the amount of nutrients and sediment that can enter the Bay and allow it to meet water quality goals. Because nutrients and sediment in the Bay come from all over the watershed, all six states and Washington, D.C. are involved in the work to meet the goals outlined in the TMDL.
A Plan to Improve Water Quality
All six states (and Washington, D.C.) in the Chesapeake Bay watershed developed, and are now implementing, Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP) that describe the contributions each state will make toward improving water quality in the Chesapeake Bay. Each state also develops two-year goals, called milestones, that outline short-term steps toward the long-term objectives described in the WIPs. Quality assurance and verification procedures provide confidence in the data reported to EPA each year.
Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan
DEC has completed the last phase (Phase III) of New York's Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). DEC worked with the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets, the Upper Susquehanna Coalition (the USC represents 17 New York and 4 Pennsylvania counties in the Chesapeake Bay watershed) and Cornell University to develop New York's Phase I, Phase II , and Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans.
Main Document: May 2021 Final Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan Amendment for New York's Chemung and Susquehanna River Basins (PDF)
Appendices:
- Appendix A: New York is meetings its nitrogen targets for the Chesapeake Bay TMDL: Technical Summary (PDF)
- Appendix B: Revisions to CAFO ECL and CWA General Permits (PDF)
- Appendix C: Hydrogeomorphic Regions in New York (PDF)
- Appendix D: Cover Crop Watershed Model Efficiencies (PDF)
- Appendix E: Explanation of New York's Draft Phase III WIP Planning Targets (PDF)
- Appendix F: Delivered and Discharged Loads from Non-Significant Wastewater Treatment Facilities (PDF)
- EPA Cover Letter Final Evaluation of New York May 2021 Final Amended Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (PDF)
- EPA Final Evaluation of New York May 2021 Final Amended Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (PDF)
As part of EPA's evaluation of the Amended Phase III WIP, DEC worked with EPA to develop an agreed-upon methodology to assess growth in all sectors and establish a growth tracking threshold, which if triggered, will require additional actions to be implemented to offset growth in loads. The 2022-2023 milestones will include the a growth tracking milestone for each sector, including the results of the Chesapeake Bay Significant Wastewater Treatment Plant Growth Methodology (PDF) analysis. Below is the May 2021 Final Amended Phase III WIP and appendices, EPA's evaluation of the November 2020 Final Amended Phase III WIP, and DEC's response to that evaluation.
Past Watershed Implementation Plans
- Phase II WIP (PDF): Final Phase II WIP - January 2013.
- Phase I WIP (PDF): Final Phase I WIP - December 2010.
Two-Year Milestones
DEC works with the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Upper Susquehanna Coalition and other partners to develop and implement New York's two-year milestones. Each set of milestones includes program actions in addition to implementation of specific best management practices. The current milestone period runs from January, 1 2024, through December 31, 2025.
- 2024-2025 programmatic milestones (PDF): Final 2024-2025 milestones
Past Two-Year Milestones
- 2022-2023 programmatic milestones (PDF)
- 2023 Significant Wastewater Treatment Plant Growth Report (PDF)
- 2020-2021 programmatic milestones (PDF)
- 2021 Significant Wastewater Treatment Plant Growth Report (PDF)
- Climate Change Milestones and Input Deck (PDF): Numeric milestones for addressing New York's climate change allocation
- 2018-2019 programmatic milestones (PDF)
- 2016-2017 programmatic milestones (PDF)
- 2014-2015 programmatic milestones (PDF)
- 2012-2013 programmatic milestones (PDF)
Quality Assurance and Verification
The following quality assurance project plans for point and nonpoint sources of nutrients and sediment describe the procedures New York follows to collect, report and verify BMP information in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
The Chesapeake Bay Program produced a Quick Reference Guide for Best Management Practices (PDF) that provides summarized profiles for each Chesapeake Bay Program approved BMP in the Watershed Model.
Chesapeake Bay Riparian Buffer Action Strategy for New York
DEC worked with the Upper Susquehanna Coalition to develop the Chesapeake Bay Riparian Buffer Action Strategy (PDF)for the Upper Susquehanna and Chemung watersheds. The strategy includes current opportunities for implementation, technical assistance, and support needed to meet the riparian buffer targets included in the Watershed Implementation Plan.
Upper Susquehanna Watershed Progress Dashboard
The purpose of this ArcGIS Dashboard is to provide stakeholders with a simple and direct platform to access data and information relevant to the Upper Susquehanna Basin and Chesapeake Bay TMDL in New York. Users can view current BMP implementation, water quality trends, locations of recent state biological monitoring results, and estimated nutrient and sediment loads delivered to the Chesapeake Bay. The Upper Susquehanna Watershed Progress Dashboard Guide (PDF) contains step-by-step directions on how to use the dashboard.
Chesapeake Bay Urban Nutrient Management Plans
Urban nutrient management plans (UNMPs) help to identify fertilization practices that achieve the most efficient nutrient use by turfgrass systems (lawns, golf courses, athletic fields, etc.) while minimizing nutrient runoff from fertilized areas that may negatively impact water quality in surface and groundwaters. An UNMP designates appropriate fertilizer application rates and timing for turfgrass in a particular management area.
For the Upper Susquehanna and Chemung Watersheds, DEC created a guidance document with recommendations from Cornell University to assist with the development of voluntary UNMPs. The use of voluntary UNMPs supports State of New York's Nutrient Runoff Law. For more information see the Cornell Turfgrass Program and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition Urban Nutrient Management site.
The following best management practices are included in the UNMP guidance:
- Avoid spillage of fertilizer and turfgrass clippings onto paved surfaces and storm drains.
- Retain clippings and mulched leaves on the lawn-these are natural fertilizers and can help your lawn stay healthy.
- Avoid late-season applications (after mid-October) of all nitrogen sources and avoid excessive early-spring applications of water soluble (quick release) nitrogen sources. NY prohibits application of any lawn fertilizer December 1 - April 1.
- Do not apply fertilizer within 20 feet of a water feature.
- No phosphorus applications or secondary nutrients unless a soil test indicates a deficiency.
- If turf has desirable function, growth, and quality, fertilizer (of any kind) is not necessary.
- Set mower height at 3.5 inches or taller-grass at this height is healthier and more drought resistant.
- Fertilizer applications should not be made when soil temperatures are under 50 degrees or during intense summer heat when fertilizer can burn the lawn.
- For efficient use of fertilizer, use slow-release nitrogen fertilizer, especially on sandy soils.
- If more assistance is needed, work with a professional to develop an UNMP based on a soil test analysis.
