Washington, D.C. – Councilmember Tommy Wells has been elected Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) which advises the Governors of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Mayor of the District of Columbia on ways to improve progress toward restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.  The 64,000 square miles of the Chesapeake Bay watershed is the largest estuary in the United States.  About 17 million people across six states and the District of Columbia all live within a few minutes of the Bay’s more than 100,000 rivers and streams.  Wells will lead the body of 21 local elected officials from four states in developing strategies and policy recommendations to clean up the Bay.

Most of the Bay's waters are degraded.  Low oxygen levels and high levels of chemical contaminants and sediment are threatening the entire food web of the Bay ecosystem, including the fish, crab, and wildlife populations.  Further, many local rivers and streams are unsafe for swimming and fishing.  The EPA plans to release a new set of restoration targets (perhaps more stringent than current standards) in 2010.  Wells stated:

        “I am honored to be elected chair of LGAC.  Local government plays an intimate role in the implementation of policies to improve environmental quality and peoples’ overall quality of life.  Cleaning up the Bay is a Herculean task, but one with substantial benefits to all our communities.  

       “Unfortunately, if we fail to restore the Bay the economic, recreational, and public health consequences are profound.  Here, within the District of Columbia, our own Anacostia River is a reminder of how pollution can take away a valuable community amenity.  But just as we are working diligently to restore the great Anacostia through measures such as new stormwater management requirements, sustainable transportation strategies, and public infrastructure improvements, municipalities can make an impact on the larger Bay by focusing on their own local piece of it.

       “Today, we are only 20% of the way there when it comes to meeting the original Bay restoration goals intended for 2010.  This is not acceptable, and we must hold our highest state leaders accountable if we are to get back on track. I know we can do much better if we provide local governments the right tools and resources they need to carry out the restoration work.  I look forward to working with my colleagues from around the Chesapeake region to restore the health and vitality of the Chesapeake Bay.”

 For more information:  http://www.chesapeakebay.net/bayrestoration.aspx