• About
    • About Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
      • Meet the Board
      • Board Documents
    • Annual Report
    • Board of Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Our Work
    • Wins for the Bay
    • Bay Issues
    • Pro Bono Projects
    • Services Provided
    • Get Legal Help
    • CLA Testimonials
    • CLA’s Legal Documents
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Job Opportunities
    • Get Legal Help
  • Home
  • Guides + Reports
    • Guides + Reports
    • Maryland Violations Tracker
  • News
    • Top News
    • CLA In The News
    • CLA Publications
    • CLA News
    • BAY BRIEF Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Foundation Partners
    • Planning for the Future
    • Become A Law Firm Partner
    • Gifts Of Stocks + Securities

Contact Us | Donate

Chesapeake Legal AllianceChesapeake Legal Alliance
  • About
    • About Us
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
      • Meet the Board
      • Board Documents
    • Annual Report
    • Board of Advisors
    • Contact Us
    • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Our Work
    • Wins for the Bay
    • Bay Issues
    • Pro Bono Projects
    • Services Provided
    • Get Legal Help
    • CLA Testimonials
    • CLA’s Legal Documents
  • Get Involved
    • Volunteer
    • Job Opportunities
    • Get Legal Help
  • Home
  • Guides + Reports
    • Guides + Reports
    • Maryland Violations Tracker
  • News
    • Top News
    • CLA In The News
    • CLA Publications
    • CLA News
    • BAY BRIEF Newsletter
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Foundation Partners
    • Planning for the Future
    • Become A Law Firm Partner
    • Gifts Of Stocks + Securities
Home Agricultural Pollution
agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay

Agricultural Pollution

Agriculture is the largest contributor of nutrient and sediment pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, accounting for 42 percent of the nitrogen, 58 percent of the phosphorous, and 58 percent of the sediment that entered the Bay in 2012. Reducing agricultural pollution is an important step in protecting the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Reducations in these pollutants can be made through implementing on-the-ground management practices, such as stream buffers and cover crops, and precision nutrient application technology.

Raising animals for consumption produces large amounts of animal manure and other pollutants. Large-scale industrial animal farming operations for hogs, dairy, or poultry are known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). Many Bay states are home to large-scale poultry operations and feedlots. The manure from these CAFOs contains nutrients, including phosphorous and nitrogen, which can be useful as fertilizer. However, when manure is applied to land already saturated with nutrients, these nutrients can spill or runoff into waterways as pollutants that increase algae blooms and reduce oxygen needed to sustain aquatic life. Additionally, CAFOs emit gases, such as ammonia and methane, and airborne particulate matter that can carry pathogens that impact air quality and public health.

Projects related to Agricultural Pollution

Challenge to Maryland General Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Permit
A CLA volunteer attorney, along with the Columbia Law School Environmental Law...
Improving Maryland Proposed Nutrient Credit Trading Regulations
A CLA volunteer attorney assisted the Maryland Clean Agriculture Coalition and the...
Manure-to-Energy Facility, Public Hearing Request
A CLA volunteer attorney helped the Trust to request a public hearing...
Maryland General CAFO Permit Comments
A CLA volunteer attorney assisted the Assateague Coastal Trust (ACT) draft general...

Our Work

  • Bay Issues
  • Pro Bono Projects
  • Services Provided
  • Get Legal Help
  • CLA Testimonials
  • CLA Legal Documents

Projects By Issue

  • Agricultural Pollution

  • Air Quality

  • Bay Cleanup + Government Transparency

  • Energy + Climate Change

  • Environmental Justice

  • Fisheries + Oysters

  • Hazardous Waste + Toxics

  • Land Use + Habitat Protection

  • Municipal and Industrial Waste Water

  • Public Health

  • Septic and Sewer Systems

  • Stormwater Runoff

Projects By Service

  • Administrative Hearings

  • Advocacy

  • Analysis and Advice

  • Corporate Legal Support

  • Education & Training

  • Legislation and Policy

  • Litigation

  • Permit Review & Comments

Contact Us

We're currently offline. Send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Message
Need legal assistance? We Can Help

About Us

The Chesapeake Legal Alliance provides free legal services for those seeking to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay and its communities.  

More About Us
Volunteer With Us

Find Us on Social Media

  • Newsletter

Contact Us

Chesapeake Legal Alliance
501 6th Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21403

P: (410) 216-9441
F: (410) 216-7077

Charity Navigator
Strategic Plan
Annual Report

© 2023 Chesapeake Legal Alliance. All Rights Reserved. Website by The Downstream Project

  • Bay Issues
  • Pro Bono Projects
  • Services Provided
  • Get Legal Help
  • CLA Testimonials
  • CLA Legal Documents