"Leadership–key to saving Bay 30 years ago–is more vital today," The Bay Journal, June 2003 <p>Leadership–key to saving Bay 30 years ago–is more vital today <p>Forum / By Dr. William C. Baker <p>Thirty years ago this month, former Maryland U.S. Sen. Charles McC. Mathias embarked on a historic Chesapeake Bay fact-finding tour that would change the governance of this national treasure forever. In five days, he traveled nearly 500 miles to see firsthand the Bay’s declining condition through the eyes of the people closest to it. <p>During that trip, Senator Mathias developed his vision for what was needed to stop the pollution and to begin to repair the damage. <p>He envisioned a formal partnership between the key stakeholders—Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and the federal government—to begin to save the Bay. His vision was partially achieved in 1983, when a Congressionally authorized $30 million Bay study (1976-1983) led to the establishment of a state/federal partnership now known as the Chesapeake Bay Program. <p>What Has Been Achieved <p>Mathias and others who built the framework to save the Bay can be proud of the progress made in the past 30 years. Today, we have multijurisdictional agreements that set valuable and ambitious goals. The Chesapeake Bay Program is the model of estuary protection and restoration. It is emulated not only across the country but also around the world. <p>The Bay Program’s Executive Council, composed of the watershed’s most senior elected officials, still gathers annually to monitor progress and chart a course for the future. The Bay region’s scientific resources are world-renowned. <p>We know more about the Bay’s ecological systems than any other on Earth. <p>Historic commitments to reduce nutrient pollution by a minimum of 40 percent have been set, of which a ban on phosphates in detergents was an important first step. Sound management has resulted in a resurgence of the Bay’s rockfish population, now considered one of the world’s great fisheries restoration achievements. <p>Challenges for Our Future: What’s at Stake <p>Despite its modest improvement, the Bay is still dangerously out of balance. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s health index pegs the Bay’s health at 27 on a scale of 100. <p>No one thought that the trends of the past 100 years would be quickly reversed, but progress to meet the benchmarks outlined in the new Chesapeake 2000 agreement has stalled. <p>Bay scientists conclude that much more must be done if water clean enough to support healthy living resources like crabs, oysters and underwater grasses is to be realized. Reducing nitrogen pollution from all sources in the watershed remains the biggest challenge. <p>We are convinced that the public supports the stated goals of the Chesapeake 2000 agreement. If implemented, they will achieve a Bay with a health index score of 40 by 2010. <p>Science has provided a clear understanding of precisely what is necessary to accomplish these goals. It is time to get serious. <p>Senator Mathias’ leadership set the bar high for restoring the Bay. Now a new generation of Bay leaders must step forward. We are hopeful that today’s elected officials will understand the urgency and necessity of truly bold actions to reduce pollution, restore habitat and wisely manage our fish and shellfish. If they do, the Bay will be saved in our lifetimes. <p>Thirty years ago this month, former Maryland U.S. Sen. Charles McC. Mathias embarked on a historic Chesapeake Bay fact-finding tour that would change the governance of this national treasure forever. In five days, he traveled nearly 500 miles to see firsthand the Bay’s declining condition through the eyes of the people closest to it. <p>During that trip, Senator Mathias developed his vision for what was needed to stop the pollution and to begin to repair the damage. <p>He envisioned a formal partnership between the key stakeholders—Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia and the federal government—to begin to save the Bay. His vision was partially achieved in 1983, when a Congressionally authorized $30 million Bay study (1976-1983) led to the establishment of a state/federal partnership now known as the Chesapeake Bay Program. <p>What Has Been Achieved <p>Mathias and others who built the framework to save the Bay can be proud of the progress made in the past 30 years. Today, we have multijurisdictional agreements that set valuable and ambitious goals. The Chesapeake Bay Program is the model of estuary protection and restoration. It is emulated not only across the country but also around the world. <p>The Bay Program’s Executive Council, composed of the watershed’s most senior elected officials, still gathers annually to monitor progress and chart a course for the future. The Bay region’s scientific resources are world-renowned. <p>We know more about the Bay’s ecological systems than any other on Earth. <p>Historic commitments to reduce nutrient pollution by a minimum of 40 percent have been set, of which a ban on phosphates in detergents was an important first step. Sound management has resulted in a resurgence of the Bay’s rockfish population, now considered one of the world’s great fisheries restoration achievements. <p>Challenges for Our Future: What’s at Stake <p>Despite its modest improvement, the Bay is still dangerously out of balance. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s health index pegs the Bay’s health at 27 on a scale of 100. <p>No one thought that the trends of the past 100 years would be quickly reversed, but progress to meet the benchmarks outlined in the new Chesapeake 2000 agreement has stalled. <p>Bay scientists conclude that much more must be done if water clean enough to support healthy living resources like crabs, oysters and underwater grasses is to be realized. Reducing nitrogen pollution from all sources in the watershed remains the biggest challenge. <p>We are convinced that the public supports the stated goals of the Chesapeake 2000 agreement. If implemented, they will achieve a Bay with a health index score of 40 by 2010. <p>Science has provided a clear understanding of precisely what is necessary to accomplish these goals. It is time to get serious. <p>Senator Mathias’ leadership set the bar high for restoring the Bay. Now a new generation of Bay leaders must step forward. We are hopeful that today’s elected officials will understand the urgency and necessity of truly bold actions to reduce pollution, restore habitat and wisely manage our fish and shellfish. If they do, the Bay will be saved in our lifetimes. <p>William C. Baker is president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.