Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Play

Nashville mourns six dead in the latest mass shooting, the EPA takes public input on a proposal to clean up Pennsylvania's drinking water, and find ways to get more Zzz's during Sleep Awareness Month.

Play

A shooting leaves six dead at a school in Nashville, the White House commends Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to pause judicial reform, and mayors question the reach of state and federal authorities over local decisions.

Play

Finding childcare is a struggle everywhere, prompting North Carolina's Transylvania County to try a new approach. Maine is slowly building-out broadband access, but disagreements remain over whether local versus national companies should get the contracts, and specialty apps like "Farmers Dating" help those in small communities connect online.

Report: PA Lags in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Goals

Play

Tuesday, October 11, 2022   

The Chesapeake Bay Clean Water Blueprint has deadlines for Pennsylvania, and other states in the watershed, to implement practices to reduce water-pollution levels by 2025. The latest checkup on the Blueprint shows the Keystone State is lagging behind.

At the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Agricultural Program Manager and Interim Director Bill Chain said they're disappointed the Keystone State hasn't made more progress, particularly in reducing farm runoff.

But he added that they're still hopeful because the Pennsylvania General Assembly has passed legislation and made funding available to speed up conservation implementation on farms.

"We're particularly pleased with the Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program," said Chain. "We know that that's going to help local farmers, in working with their county conservation districts, to implement lots of conservation measures. In the Clean Streams Fund, there were other funding sources put out to help improve Pennsylvania's rivers and streams."

Chain added that money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal dollars are coming to the state for farm conservation practices. But he said more investment is needed to achieve the Clean Water Blueprint by 2025.

Chain explained that conservation means limiting nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution in local waters. This keeps farm topsoil on the fields, not running off into road gullies and local streams.

Controlling manure as fertilizer is another issue. He said more farmers are adopting practices like planting trees along stream banks.

And the Foundation's "Keystone 10 Million Trees" partnership plants its five millionth tree this month.

"So, this is a great milestone in the Commonwealth's mammoth goal for forested buffers," said Chain. "The nation, regional and state/local agencies and conservation organizations are going to join us for a five million tree dedication - and really, pep talk - to get the other five million seeded. Pennsylvania was once 98% trees. Right now, it's down to about 54%."

Agriculture in Pennsylvania is the main source of nitrogen pollution entering the bay. And farmers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed have fewer than four years to adopt the practices to meet the goals of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint.

It says about 90% of the remaining pollution reductions need to come from agriculture.



Disclosure: Chesapeake Bay Foundation contributes to our fund for reporting on Energy Policy, Rural/Farming, Sustainable Agriculture, Water. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
Black Americans are the most likely to suffer from insufficient sleep. (ChadBridwell/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

March is Sleep Awareness Month and health experts say Americans are not getting enough of it. United Health Foundation data found more than 32% of …


Environment

Environmental groups are seeking greater input as California puts the finishing touches on its application to become a hub for hydrogen fuel productio…

Social Issues

This month marks 160 years since the first Medal of Honor was awarded by President Abraham Lincoln. More than a dozen of the 65 recipients alive …


According to The Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation, 3,514 men and one woman have won the Medal of Honor in service of their country from the Civil War to the present day. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

160 years ago, Civil War soldiers were awarded the first Medals of Honor. Now, a Medal of Honor Monument will soon be built on the National Mall in …

Social Issues

The meat processing industry continues to face scrutiny over labor practices in states like Minnesota. Proposed legislation would update a 2007 law…

A report published in late February says children of mothers who are abused or neglected were more likely to demonstrate symptoms and behaviors linked to depression, along with other health issues. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

New findings suggest health effects stemming from child maltreatment can be passed on to the next generation. In South Dakota, leaders in early-…

Social Issues

Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle will pay workers at its former location in Augusta, Maine as part of a settlement over labor law violations…

Environment

One Arizona mayor is among the more than 2,800 elected city officials in Washington, D.C., this week for The National League of Cities' Congressional …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021