A rigorous program in the watershed states is essential to saving the Bay. Congress should strengthen the requirements by prohibiting any new discharges of a pollutant into a waterbody impaired by that type of pollutant. Restore Oyster Reefs in the Bay CBF has been building new oyster reefs, modeled on historic reefs found in the Bay 400 years ago. These reefs have shown promising results and created a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. The oyster s amazing filtering capacity improves water clarity by removing algae and sediments.
Oyster reefs provide habitat for rockfish and many other species.
Congress should appropriate more money to this important effort. Promote Smarter Growth and Mass Transit Poorly planned growth, known as sprawl, endangers Chesapeake Bay restoration. The health of the Chesapeake Bay remains dependent on stemming the continued loss of wetlands throughout the watershed. Congress should also eliminate the devastating Tulloch loophole to nontidal wetlands. To restore the Bay, the state and federal governments will need to preserve land that serves as stream buffers, forest cover or wetlands.