Pennsylvania is lagging behind in its efforts to reduce pollution going into the Chesapeake Bay from the Susquehanna River, risking action from federal regulators if it does not clean up its act soon, writes Elizabeth Hardison for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

In western Chester County, the Octoraro Creek is a tributary of the Susquehanna River, which is the largest tributary in the Chesapeake Bay, providing nearly half of its freshwater flow.

According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Pennsylvania’s efforts to decrease agricultural runoff and stormwater pollution into the bay have been derailed by poor planning and lack of funding.

Five years ago, Pennsylvania was one of the states that signed an agreement with the EPA aimed at repairing the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. The EPA can impose consequences on states that do not uphold their end of the agreement, and Pennsylvania tops that list.

“A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and that is also true for the partnership working to restore water quality across the region,” said William C. Baker, Chesapeake Bay Foundation president. “Today, unfortunately, Pennsylvania’s link is not only weak, it is broken.”

Read more about pollution in the Chesapeake Bay in the Pennsylvania Capital-Star here.

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