Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Tributary Team Meeting Issues and Suggested Responses, March 24, 2005

RLE Trib Team Meeting - 033105 ;ues to be Addressed/Suggested RLE responses UPDATED 032405 RLE - Welcome ■ Welcome everyone and ask Team members to introduce themselves. ■ Thank Teams for hard work and dedication; welcome opportunity to meet and discuss important Bay Restoration issues; acknowledge work of agencies to help define role of Teams and reaffirm their place in the State's efforts to restore the Bay. ■ More interaction between the agencies and teams will lead to more successful initiatives. This meeting is an example that. ■ We are improving Team appointments process via collaboration among Cabinet and appointments office - 35 new members just appointed. ■ Working with the Team leadership to revise Mission Statement. Al Smith, Charles County Commissioner, Patuxent River Commission Thank Governor for time and Set Context for Trib Team Recommendations ■ Purpose of meeting is to recommend specific actions that will keep Maryland a leader among Bay watershed states and continue our progress toward a restored Chesapeake Bay. This goal is critical to all Marylanders for both our quality of life and for future generations. Economically, the value of a restored Bay is estimated to be $1.2 trillion, which means our investments in Bay clean up will certainly pay off. ■ By design the Teams are not just another environmental group. They are a diverse group of dedicated and committed stakeholders that work at the local level to recommend policy solutions to challenging water quality issues. ■ Commend Governor for leadership on Bay Restoration Fund, which will ultimately achieve a 7.5 million lbs reduction in nitrogen. This addresses the end of the pipe (point source) portion of the Bay's problems and provides much needed resources for septic systems and cover crops. ■ To be successful in restoring the Bay we must address non-point sources as well. Agriculture contributes approximately 40% of nutrients to the Bay in Maryland. Urban and Suburban stormwater, a growing source of nutrients, contributes roughly 20%. ■ We must work in partnership with private landowners, local governments and farmers to overcome implementation challenges and find ways to restore the Bay. NO RLE RESPONSE NEEDED AT THIS TIME Skip Pieper, Farmer, Chair Upper Western Shore Tributary Team Message: Work cooperatively with agriculture community to protect water quality and keep farming a viable industry in the state. ■ Increase funding for implementing Agricultural Nutrient Management Plans and restore USDA and State base funding for Soil Conservation and Water Quality Plans personnel. Work with Congress to encourage effective use of "Green Payments" that will provide incentives for farmers to increase conservation. Find additional funds and/or incentive to increase Cover Crop acreage beyond what the Bay Restoration Fund will implement. ■ Promote Manure as a valuable resource. Teams commend Governor for signing the Chesapeake Executive Council Directive (04-03) calling for improved management of Animal Manure and Poultry Litter throughout the Bay watershed. To move forward with the commitments in that directive the Teams recommend MD reinstate and fund the Animal Waste Technology Fund to provide incentives for the development of safe