agricultural sources, especially into Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. 

 Today the states have their own phosphorus control programs as 

 part of the implementation agreement with Canada. 



After adopting measures to control point and nonpoint sources of 

 nutrients, the Great Lakes Program focused on methods to abate 

 pollution caused by nonpoint sources of toxics. Toxic pollution is 

 the result of activities that have occurred in the watershed for many 

 years. The Great Lakes Program is also studying the effects of 

 airborne toxics. 



One lesson from the Great Lakes Program is that pollution controls 

 evolve from a phased process. After nearly two decades, the Great 

 Lakes Program now focuses on toxics control. Its management 

 process consists of identifying pollution problems based on "im- 

 paired uses" ; linking critical pollutants to use impairments; identify- 

 ing sources, primarily chemicals; developing remedial actions; and 

 implementing actions. 



A second lesson is recognition of the need for continuous monitor- 

 ing of water quality and living resources. Without monitoring, there 

 is no way to know whether the actions taken have worked. The 

 Great Lakes Program is carrying out a monitoring plan that surveys 

 the lakes to determine the levels of and trends in concentrations of 

 nutrients, metals, and toxics. The results will enable the United 

 States and Canada to assess compliance with the objectives of the 

 agreement, evaluate the effects of the control program, and identify 

 emerging problems. 



The Chesapeake Bay Program, which was mandated by Congress, 

 began in 1977 as a federal-state partnership. From 1978 to 1982, 

 scientists examined the bay. They found that phosphorus and 

 nitrogen loads from both point and nonpoint sources were the chief 

 causes of the bay's declining water quality and resources. As a 

 result, specific recommendations were made in 1983 to reduce 

 sources of the nutrients and to clean up the bay. 



The findings and recommendations of the study spurred the states 

 to action. In 1983, the governors of Maryland, Virginia, and Penn- 

 sylvania, and the mayor of the District of Columbia, signed the 

 Chesapeake Bay Agreement with EPA's Administrator. The agree- 

 ment commits the states and the District to prepare plans that will 

 improve and protect the bay's water quality and living resources. 

 The following actions are being implemented successfully: 



• Institution of land-use controls at or near the bay shoreline; 



• Development of nonpoint source control programs for 

 agricultural and urban sources; 



• Acceleration of tighter controls of point sources, particularly 

 municipal treatment plants; and 



• Strengthening of wetlands protection laws and programs. 



While continuing to implement those actions, a 1987 agreement 

 pledged new regional leaders to more specific goals, objectives, 

 and commitments. The 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement is sup- 

 ported by a series of plans, reports, and strategies describing how 

 these goals, objectives, and commitments will be met. 



Chesapeake Bay Program 



