New bay
agreement won't go far enough, some say
By KARESSA E. WEIR Staff Writer
Some area residents want the
new Chesapeake Bay Agreement to take a stronger stance against development and
for wetlands restoration, while others just want to make sure it doesn't impede
their boating.
In
The final agreement must be signed by
the governors of
"It is important that you voice
your support or displeasure on the different parts of the agreement. It has
been a lengthy process for the states to come to some consensus," said
Frank Dawson, chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Program's living resources
committee.
The agreement is a list of goals to
protect and restore the bay and its watershed. Among them are a 30 percent
reduction in the rate of development, a tenfold increase in the oyster
population, restoration of 25,000 acres of wetlands and 114,000 acres of
underwater grasses.
This is the third revision of the
original agreement signed in 1983. Most of the new goals set a deadline of
2010, while some, such as a 40 percent reduction in nutrients in the bay,
extend deadlines not reached this year.
And some of the goals don't go far
enough, said Marguerite Whilden of St. Margarets.
Even as Gov. Parris N. Glendening is
fighting
"I don't think we could tolerate
(more development) in
John Melchner of Saefern questioned the
need for "no discharge zones" in sensitive areas of the bay zones
where boats could not release treated sewage.
"Joe Boater really wants to do good
things for the bay. You are only talking about 188,000 boats in the bay and
most don't have a head. I would have to see (statistics) on what boaters
contribute to the nutrient load," Mr. Melchner said.
Crownsville resident William Moulden,
past president of the Severn River Association, said the agreement doesn't
focus enough on multi-species management. He would like to see as much
attention paid to preserving and restoring beach habitat as is given to
underwater grasses.
"We are seeing a dramatic loss of
beach strand. Somebody needs to take a more complex view of watershed
management," Mr. Moulden said. "One day we'll all wake up and know we
lost it."
And Keith Underwood of Crownsville wants
the state to make a bigger commitment to preserving endangered plants and
animals.
"This should be an immediate goal.
2010 is too late for these guys. We need to say there will be no loss of
species on our watch," he said.
The three remaining hearings will be
held Feb. 28 in
Public comments on the draft agreement
will be accepted until March 31 by telephone at (410) 267-5777, in writing to
Chesapeake Bay Program,
Published