Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Compliance Support

Chesapeake Bay

Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic selected Michael Baker to identify optimal solutions and stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. The Bay holds significant ecological, economic and historic importance and offers a bounty of natural resources. NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic is accountable for the environmental compliance of installations within its area of responsibility, including those in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Our team created a Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Action Plan in response to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pollutant reduction requirements for eight naval installations in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The TMDL Action Plan details the current Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit program and includes the resources and methods to meet EPA requirements to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment loading. Although nitrogen and phosphorus are essential nutrients with beneficial properties, excessive quantities due to agricultural runoff, development, wastewater treatment and other sources pollute the Bay and other watersheds.

Our comprehensive services involved implementation of NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic’s MS4 Stormwater Management Plan, including creating database and evaluation tools to track and meet MS4 permit requirements.