That's a level of enforceability not present in the Bay Program. Even if all adequate nutrient reductions are made, the desired resource objectives in the water may not be met by the end of the next decade, for reasons that are fairly well understood. The effects of some nutrient control efforts take years to be felt. Also, conditions in the Bay are highly susceptible to natural events, such as the amount of rainfall received. That prevents the mixing of the top and bottom layers, which makes it easier to deplete bottom water of oxygen.
More rainfall also washes more nutrients off the land than during dry years.
Also, biological goals, such as restoring grasses to certain depths, may not be met because it can take grasses years to colonize new areas. As a result, in 2011, it may be difficult to know whether the impairment has been eliminated.