Mikulski in FY16 Spending Bill Fights to Protect the Health of the Chesapeake Bay, Supporting Surrounding Communities and Jobs of Those Who Rely On It

Press Release

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), Vice Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 includes crucial investments to protect the Chesapeake Bay, surrounding communities and the lives and livelihoods of those who rely on it.

The legislation is currently under consideration in the House of Representatives. The Senate is expected to take it up later this week.

"The Chesapeake Bay is an integral part of who we are as Marylanders -- our heritage, our economy and our culture," Senator Mikulski said. "I'm fighting to protect the health of the Bay and to support the lives and livelihoods of those who rely on it."

State Revolving Funds

Senator Mikulski fought to restore $480 million for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) state revolving funds (SRF) after they were slashed in the House Republican bill. The SRFs fund low interest loans for communities to finance water and sewer upgrades. The Clean Water SRF will receive $1.4 billion for construction and upgrades of wastewater treatment facilities to help reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay from outdated facilities. The Drinking Water SRF will receive $863 million to build, upgrade and prevent pollution in drinking water systems.

In 2015, Maryland received $49 million from the SRFs. In addition to improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay, this funding protects the public health of Maryland's rural communities, protects Marylanders' pocket books by taking the financial burden off of ratepayers, and creates jobs.

"Maryland cities and towns need to upgrade their water and sewer infrastructure, but they can't do it on their own," Senator Mikulski said. "They need a government that's on their side. I'm fighting for smart federal funding that communities can use to wash away the rust and decay of crumbling water infrastructure and create jobs, protect public safety, protect the environment and protect ratepayers. I'll keep working to shine a light on the need for water infrastructure investments to make sure that Maryland's water works."

Land & Water Conservation Fund

Senator Mikulski provided $450 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), including $4.3 million for projects to protect the Chesapeake Bay through the Rivers of the Chesapeake initiative. Rivers of the Chesapeake was selected as one of eight initiatives to receive funding for land acquisition through LWCF's collaborative landscape program, which is an interagency initiative to identify large natural areas in the highest priority landscapes where funds for land acquisition can make the biggest difference.

Land acquisition in the Chesapeake Bay is a critical piece of conservation. Surrounding the Chesapeake Bay are many critical habitats, high-value forests, historic cultural sites and opportunities for recreation. Investments in land acquisition through the Rivers of the Chesapeake initiative will protect and conserve these areas, while adding new public access sites to the Chesapeake Bay.

The land acquisition projects selected for funding within the Rivers of the Chesapeake initiative are located at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (MD), Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historical Trail (DE) and Piscataway Park (MD).

"Investing in our environment is an investment in the future of our state," Senator Mikulski said. "It helps with jobs in the tourism industry by providing an engaging environment for residents and visitors, and it helps with the environment by providing a complex habitat for many species."

EPA Chesapeake Bay Programs

Senator Mikulski fought to protect funding for the EPA's Chesapeake Bay office and other critical Chesapeake Bay programs. Funding for the Chesapeake Bay office is maintained at $73 million, including two $6 million set-asides for the Chesapeake Small Watershed Grants Program and the Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants. The Chesapeake Bay Office is the lead federal program coordinating the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort, and it coordinates science, research, modeling and data collection to make sure the states in the Bay Watershed are achieving their pollution reduction goals. It is responsible for implementing the Chesapeake Bay's pollution diet and Total Maximum Daily Loads, and implementing the President's 2009 Executive Order to protect and restore the Bay watershed.

The legislation also protects funding for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails program at $2 million, which is a matching grant program to state and local partners to increase public access to the Chesapeake Bay. This program helps local economies by promoting tourism around the Bay and providing better public access. It funds visitor center amenities, interpretive programs and signage, and develops youth education and teacher training.

Finally, the legislation protects funding for the National Estuary Program at $27.3 million. The Maryland Coastal Bays Program is the premier National Estuary Programs in the country. Federal funding for the Maryland Coastal Bays Program helps it balance environmental protection and restoration with economic and recreational demands in the lower Eastern Shore.

Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration

This legislation includes $1 million for the Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration program to continue efforts to increase the oyster population in the Chesapeake Bay by building new oyster habitat in the Choptank River in a Maryland Department of Natural Resources-designated permanent sanctuary. Once oyster reefs are established, larvae will be carried by the tidal cycle to open-harvest areas for the watermen.

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