A Comparative Analysis of Non-Point Source Pollutant Reduction Funding Strategies for Pennsylvania Dairy Farms in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Chaplin, Emma
Area of Honors:
Environmental Resource Management
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Matthew B Royer, Thesis Supervisor
Michael Lee Hile, Thesis Honors Advisor
Keywords:
Chesapeake Bay
agricultural nonpoint source pollution
Pennsylvania dairy agriculture
Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)
Watershed Implementation Plans (WIP)
best management practices (BMPs)
public-private partnerships
Abstract:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollutants damaging the Chesapeake Bay. These limits are called a “Total Daily Maximum Load” or TMDL. Years of voluntary agreements did not solve the Bay’s water quality program, which is why a TMDL was necessary. Nutrient and sediment pollutants are contributing to eutrophication, hypoxia, and die-offs in the Bay. The EPA required that the TMDL be completed by 2025. Pennsylvania is one of the states within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and contributes a large amount of nutrient pollutants from the agriculture industry. By 2025, Pennsylvania failed to meet its assigned pollution load target. Pennsylvania is still producing pollutant loads that exceed the TMDL requirement. The main priority area for pollutant reduction is agriculture. Pennsylvania has a deeply culturally and economically important agricultural industry, meaning that water quality progress cannot come at the total expense of farmers. Farmers, specifically dairy farmers, have experienced a challenging few years. This thesis explores ways that government (state and federal), non-profits, and the private sector can collaborate to improve water quality while also serving dairy farmers in Pennsylvania.