Bay Restoration Behind Schedule - But NGOs, States Satisfied

Analysis: DC, states within Chesapeake Bay watershed making progress on pollution cuts

Washington, D.C., and states within the Chesapeake Bay watershed are making progress to reduce pollution flowing into the hobbled estuary but none is on track to meet cleanup commitments set this year, an analysis by environmental groups concludes.

The mixed assessment released Monday is based on an analysis of benchmarks each state and the district are aiming to meet by year’s end to help measure progress to restore the bay and keep the cleanup on track.

So the much vaunted 'Bay Diet' is already losing ground, but the NGOs that push it and states that have to implement it are seemingly satisfied?

“This interim analysis is important because it celebrates the areas where states are exceeding the goals, but also shines a light on areas needing improving,” said William C. Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The foundation and the Choose Clean Water Coalition conducted the analysis.

The states within or part of the 64,000-square-mile watershed are Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York. About 17 million people live in the crowded corridor. A detailed analysis of New York was not conducted because the authors of the assessments did not have a partner group in that state, but it also likely would not meet all its pollution goals in 2013.

"...did not have a partner in that state"?  I suspect that is argle bargle bureaucrat speak for "none of the agencies in New York would give us any money to produce a favorable report on their progress."

My theory on why the NGOs and states seem pretty happy with the state of the progress, even though it's generally behind what's necessary to achieve the restoration goals set is that their true goals are being met; increasing control over the land use and economies of the affected states.