Adaptive Management as a New Strategy for the Chesapeake Bay.

With a watershed of 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States.  Water quality in the Bay is reduced by a number of factors, most importantly nitrogen and phosphorus.  Agricultural operations, which occupy approximately 25% of the land in the watershed, have been identified as the largest source of these nutrients.  Because of this, management practices on farms have an important impact on water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.  Farmers are most receptive to new concept and techniques when they have an active role in their development and demonstration.  One possibility is an adaptive management approach that involves farmers, agricultural service providers, policy makers, regulators, scientists and others in the processes of identifying needed improvements, collecting data to support improvements in management practices, and implementing these practices.  The Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) is a partnership of six states, the District of Columbia, and various agencies and organizations.  Since its’ founding in 1983, its mission has been the restoration of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay.  Recent reports indicate that water quality is not improving as expected and numerous articles in the popular press have been very critical of the CBP.  In response to these issues, the CBP is undergoing a significant reorganization.  The reorganization uses an adaptive management approach to engage stakeholders, increase accountability and flexibility, and make iterative improvements in the function and effectiveness of the CBP.  This presentation will describe two examples of adaptive management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and identify important challenges to their success.