Chesapeake Bay defies legislative norms

After a 90-day session, the Maryland General Assembly approved three bills that will further protect the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. The first bill will double Maryland’s “flush tax” – a fee tacked on to sewer bills to fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and sustainable agricultural practices. The assembly also approved a storm water management tax and a limit on septic systems in large residential developments.

An editorial in The Baltimore Sun suggested this legislative activity speaks to the importance of the Chesapeake Bay to Maryland residents, especially at a time when budgets are tight.

Read more at The Baltimore Sun.

Image credit: NOAA Habitat Conservation.