2018 Work is Key to Reaching State's Clean Water Goals

The Phase III Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) Steering Committee met recently in Harrisburg at a pivotal moment for Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay cleanup. As we enter 2018—the halfway point toward the 2025 pollution‑reduction deadlines—early EPA modeling suggests Pennsylvania’s nitrogen and phosphorus reduction targets may be lower than previously thought. Even so, PennFuture and other stakeholders stress that a strong Phase III WIP is essential to restore thousands of miles of streams and meet our obligations.

DEP Secretary Patrick McDonnell told the Citizens Advisory Council that the Chesapeake Bay Program will release updated nutrient and sediment reduction targets in February and finalize them in May. He acknowledged that Pennsylvania still faces uphill challenges and noted that the Conowingo Dam will have its own implementation plan. The actions taken this year by the WIP Steering Committee and state agencies will shape how well Pennsylvania steps up to protect clean water.

Despite forward movement, legislators in Harrisburg continue to threaten environmental funding and push to roll back regulations, jeopardizing the Chesapeake Bay cleanup. Meanwhile, federal lawmakers have introduced Farm Bill bills to support stream buffers and farmers. PennFuture urges a strong state commitment to restoring and protecting drinking water and remains deeply involved in WIP development at the state and federal levels.