CBF's Clean Water Captains are the eyes, ears, and voice for the Bay in their communities. First published in the Daily Press, CBF Clean Water Captain Patricia VonOhlen of Newport News discusses how the 2019 Virginia General Assembly can make significant steps towards clean water in the Old Dominion.
I have high hopes the General Assembly will protect our waterways. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation recently released the State of the Bay report, and the unprecedented rains of 2018 caused a setback in water quality.
Stormwater runoff is a huge source of pollution washing sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus into the waterways resulting in algal blooms, dead zones, and problems for marine life.
The Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint outlines steps to restore water quality. There is a good chance that this General Assembly can pass a budget which will include Stormwater Local Assistance Funds (SLAF) and funding to help farmers implement best management practices to address fertilizer runoff. Gov. Ralph Northam's budget includes this funding.
There is currently a bill in the General Assembly that will require coal ash ponds to be closed and coal ash be stored in lined landfills.
Contact your legislators and let them know we support efforts to fund clean water projects and safe closure of coal ash pits.
Learn more about our Clean Water Captains program and how you can get involved!
