Chesapeake Bay Program
A Watershed Partnership
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The Chesapeake Bay
Targeted Watersheds
Grant Program (TWGP)
provides financial and
technical support to
projects that expand the
collective knowledge on
the most innovative,
sustainable and cost-
effective strategies for
reducing	nutrient
pollution within specific
tributaries of the
Chesapeake Bay.
The TWGP is a partnership
among the Chesapeake
Bay Program, the National
Fish & Wildlife
Foundation and the
Environmental Protection
Agency.
Chesapeake Bay
Targeted Watersheds Grant Program
2007 Targeted Watershed Grants Project Descriptions
Crop Management Projects
Innovative Cropping Practices in the Shenandoah River Watershed
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Shenandoah River Watershed, Virginia
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $400,000
Partnership Contributions: $317,259
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University will demonstrate the potential
for continuous no-till practices to be integrated with other innovative cropping
practices to maximize reductions in nutrient runoff to the Shenandoah River and
ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The project will integrate continuous no-till with
innovative technologies such as no-till manure injection, sensor-based precision
fertilizer applications, and innovative cropping systems with continuous cover (never
fallow). The project includes a significant monitoring program to establish the
benefits of these practices to surface and groundwater quality. Implementation of the
integrated, innovative cropping practices will be achieved through a farmer-to-farmer
participatory mentoring network and "train the trainer" education events.
Manure & Livestock Management
Reducing Nutrient Loads from Equine Operations
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Frederick, Baltimore and Carroll Counties, Maryland
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $700,000
Partner Contributions: $281,000
The Maryland Department of Agriculture will work with small horse farms to reduce
nutrient runoff to the Chesapeake Bay by an estimated 105,701 pounds of nitrogen
and 13,978 pounds of phosphorous. Horses outnumber dairy cows and beef cattle in
Maryland, yet horse operations often are ineligible or unaware of agriculture
conservation programs. Through this project, equine specialists will provide outreach
and technical support tailored to small horse farmers. The project will include the
implementation of 400 equine best management practices on 1,450 acres to improve
manure and pasture management in strategic watersheds within the Chesapeake Bay.
The project also will provide cost-share funding to implement the conservation
practices on those equine operations that do not meet eligibility criteria for federal or
state cost-share programs. Project partners will include Soil Conservation Districts,
the Maryland Horse Outreach Workgroup, the Maryland Horse Industry Board, the
University of Maryland, Extension Horse Specialist, and Natural Resource
Conservation Service, USD A.
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ChesajjeakeJia^Tar2eted^Vatershed_GrantsJ>rojectDescri]3tions
Page^
Conestoga Watershed Manure Composting
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc.
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $800,000
Partnership Contributions: $751,000
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Inc. will coordinate the removal of 40,000 pounds of nitrogen and
35,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering the Conestoga River by implementing a diversified
manure composting system in the watershed. The project includes a comprehensive marketing
analysis of end users for the compost. Two such uses include using the compost to restore 385 acres
of Abandoned Mine Land, and a partnership for use by the Pennsylvania Department of
Transportation. It is estimated that about 100,000 tons of raw poultry manure will be composted in the
two-year grant period, resulting in an annual estimated land application reduction of 2.8 million
pounds of nitrogen and 5 million pounds of phosphorus. This project will accelerate nutrient reduction
targets in Pennsylvania's Tributary Strategies, while restoring Abandoned Mine Lands, furthering
Pennsylvania's utilization of bio-based energy generation, and increasing farm profitability. Project
partners will include Wenger's Feed Mill, Inc., TerraGro Inc., the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, Penn State University, and
Lancaster County Municipalities.
Stream Fencing Pilot for Reducing Nutrient Loads
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Rockingham and Augusta Counties, Virginia
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $800,000
Partnership Contributions: $280,400
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University will develop, implement, and evaluate an
adaptive stream fencing pilot project to reduce nutrient loads in the Shenandoah River basin,
including 540,000 pounds of sediment and 120,000 pounds of nitrogen. The project will work with
farmers who have not previously participated in fencing programs to identify barriers to participation.
A community-based approach including educational materials and outreach programs will be used to
identify barriers and encourage the adoption of stream fencing practices that address local concerns
while also meeting water quality goals. The project will install a total of 30,000 feet of stream
fencing. An intensive monitoring program will be used to provide sound science-based estimates,
ensuring cost effectiveness and efficiency of the pilot project. The efforts from this project will have
very broad implications and applicability throughout the Chesapeake Bay in the many areas where
livestock contribute to nutrient, bacteria, and sediment loads.
Urban/Suburban Stormwater Management
Watts Branch Watershed Restoration Project
District of Columbia Department of the Environment
Washington, DC
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $500,000
Partnership Contributions: $2,150,600
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Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watershed Grants Project Descriptions
Page 3
The District of Columbia Department of the Environment will restore 1.75 miles of urban stream and
28 acres of riparian buffer through stream corridor restoration, and three Low Impact Development
stormwater control retrofits. The project's comprehensive watershed approach will demonstrate
reductions of nutrient and sediment loads to the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay, including
the removal 30,000 pounds of sediment. This project will serve as a model for urban watershed
restoration by utilizing a combination of natural stream channel restoration, an innovative social
marketing campaign, low cost non-point source pollution reduction techniques, and comprehensive
in-stream monitoring documenting the pollution reduction benefits of stream restoration. Project
partner include the District Department of the Environment, the District Department of
Transportation, the District Parks and Recreation, the District Water and Sewer Authority, the Natural
Resources Conservation Service, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington Parks and
People, and the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation.
Extreme BMP Makeover
Center for Watershed Protection
James River Basin, Virginia
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $605,000
Partnership Contributions: $266,400
The Center for Watershed Protection will work with the local governments in the James River Basin
to improve and accelerate the implementation of the proven, most effective stormwater management
practices. The project will install 150 best management practices to improve nutrient reduction,
which will reduce nutrient runoff to the James River by an estimated 1,890 pounds of nitrogen and
575 pounds of phosphorus. The project will result in the dissemination of a stormwater design
manual to 800 communities in the Chesapeake Bay region and improved capability of local
stormwater program staff to install more cost-effective, sustainable, and maintainable practices in the
James River watershed and throughout the Chesapeake watershed. Project partners include the
Virginia Department of Natural Resources, the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, and
the James River Association.
Market- Based Incentives
Market Based Approach to Nutrient Reduction
Protected Harvest
Lancaster County, PA and Rockingham County, VA
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $800,000
Partnership Contributions: $335,180
Protected Harvest will establish a third-party dairy certification program that provides premium
pricing to dairy farmers who adopt conservation practices that minimize nutrient runoff to the
Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The program will be demonstrated in two intensive dairy
communities — Lancaster County, PA and Shenandoah Valley, VA - and will reduce nutrient runoff
by an estimated 86,400 pounds of nitrogen and 81,600 pounds of phosphorus. Through a collaborative
standard-setting process, producers, processors, academics, environmentalists and other stakeholders
will work collaboratively to develop sustainable production standards and the accompanying
certification program. Protected Harvest will conduct the third party certification, as well as market
research and development. The end result will be a sustainable, market-driven approach to reducing
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Chesapeake Bay Targeted Watershed Grants Project Descriptions
Page 4
nutrient runoff from dairy farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Project partners include
Environmental Defense, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Pennsylvania State University,
TeamAg Inc., Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, Virginia Cooperative Extension,
Virginia Technical University, Shenandoah Valley Soil and Water Conservation District, Virginia
State Dairymen's Association, Dairy Farmer's of America, and Virginia Department of
Environmental Quality.
Meeting Regional Goals through Local Benefits
The Conservation Fund
Jefferson and Berkeley Counties, West Virginia
Targeted Watersheds Grant: $400,000
Partnership Contributions: $262,000
The Conservation Fund will reduce nutrient and sediment runoff entering Rockymarsh Run - a
tributary to the Potomac River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay — by an estimated 300 tons of
sediment, 15,000 pounds of nitrogen and 1900 pounds of phosphorous. This project will work with
private land owners to restore and protect riparian buffers, implement Low Impact Development
practices on newly developed land, and pump out and maintain failing septic systems. The water
quality benefits associated with these practices will be quantified and marketed to the local
wastewater treatment plant as offsets. The project will have the added local benefit of restoring four
miles of native Eastern brook trout habitat. The marketing materials and economic analysis for the
project will demonstrate the potential for offsets and water quality trading to reduce nutrient and
sediment loading in multiple watersheds in the West Virginia Eastern. Partners include the West
Virginia University Water Research Institute, Trout Unlimited, the West Virginia Brook Trout
Conservation Group, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection, the West Virginia Conservation Agency, the West Virginia Bureau of
Public Health, the Jefferson and Berkeley County Health Departments, the Corporation of
Shepherdstown, and the Shepherdstown Water and Sanitary Boards.

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