Vast areas of its virgin forest were stripped and huge quantities of coal were mined. The land was left scarred by erosion and many streams were polluted with acid mine drainage. Industrial wastes and raw sewage were indiscriminately discharged into the waterways. N.Y. While the legacy of this abuse and neglect remains, I am happy to report that many of these problems have been solved. The quality of the river is much improved.
Strict laws prohibit point source pollution, regulate mining, and control erosion.
The Commission is partnering with the federal and state governments to track down and control the sources of non-point source pollution. More importantly, the Commission is filling in the water management gaps in state water laws. The Commission manages the amount of water that is consumed during low flows, something that no other agency in the basin addresses. The Commission reviews all proposals for large withdrawals from surface and ground water. Both of these functions help to ensure that all water users and the Chesapeake Bay will receive a sufficient amount of water.