Virginia is receiving $1.75 million in federal funds to support the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay.Kidding, just kidding. The Bay cleanup is expected to cost the governments over $25 billion (with a "b") up to 2025. There will be more funding aimed at agriculture, but as near as I can see, the various parties involved have decided to blame most of the Bay's problems on nutrients from agriculture, but aim most of the government support to urban issues, stormwater, sewage overflows etc.
Announced Thursday by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, the funding is through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
The funds will be used over the next four years to expand the use of fencing and other practices to prevent farm animals from wading into streams and fouling the water. The money will be used in areas where tributary streams drain into the bay.
The governor's office said most of funding will be paid directly to farmers.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation will receive $300,000. It will be distributed to the Department of Forestry and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to provide technical assistance on forested buffers on agricultural land.
Why? It's easier to force individual farmers to clean up on their own, than to force cities and urban counties to do it. Cities are where the votes are.
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