An Economic Assessment of Policy Options To Reduce Agricultural Pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay

Economic Research Report No. (ERR-166) 73 pp, June 2014

In 2010, a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) was established for the Chesapeake Bay, setting limits on emissions of nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment necessary to reverse declines in the Bay’s quality. Agriculture is the largest source of nutrients and sediment in the watershed. The cost of achieving water quality goals depends heavily on which policies are selected and how they are implemented.

Keywords: Chesapeake Bay, sediment, manure, water quality, economic incentives, conservation policy, regulation, phosphorus, nitrogen, TMDL

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Last updated: Wednesday, June 04, 2014

For more information contact: Marc Ribaudo, Jeff Savage, and Marcel Aillery