Addressing nutrient pollution in the largest estuary in the United States – the Chesapeake Bay – is the topic of the latest episode of the “Clean Water Pod” podcast. Maryland’s Bay Restoration Fund (BRF), established in 2004, is dedicated to upgrading wastewater treatment plants to meet nutrient reduction goals in support of improvements to the Bay. The fund is financed by plant and septic users, and has generated more than $1.9 billion in support of projects preventing an estimated 8.5 million pounds of nitrogen from entering the bay each year.
Host Jeff Berckes speaks with four environmental professionals whose work touches the BRF: Kathy Stecker and Walid Saffouri, P.E., both with the Maryland Department of the Environment; Bob Summers, Ph.D., the retired secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment and principal of EcoLogix Group, Inc.; and Cheryl Lewis, who serves as the town manager of Oxford, Maryland. The guests discuss the history of the BRF, their roles with the fund, and the challenges, changes and successes of the program.
The “Clean Water Pod” is available on most podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Podcasts.
Podcast updates are posted on X (@CleanWaterPod), as well as NEIWPCC’s social media channels (@NEIWPCC).
About The Clean Water Pod
Through perspectives and stories from across the country, the “Clean Water Pod” explores the challenges and successes of restoring and protecting water quality through the Clean Water Act 303(d) program.
This podcast is funded by a grant through the U.S. EPA and produced by Flip the Field and NEIWPCC.
Learn more about our work around the 303(d) program.