NEWSLETTER

Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool

CAST Newsletter: November 2024

Tips and information to facilitate environmental restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Did You Know?

Did you know the BMP Targetings Maps are now updated with CAST-23 and 2023 Progress data? The BMP Targeting Maps were created using delivery factors and loads to communicate which segments in the watershed may be most effective for BMP targeting. There are six, interactive maps available - one for each nutrient and sector.

CAST Webinars and Training

Upcoming Webinars

This month's webinar will highlight Monitoring Trends. Although the model data is used for planning and tracking progress toward the Bay TMDL, the monitoring data is what is used to calibrate the model and ultimately delist streams. Three guest speakers will join us to share resources that can be used to track water quality and living resource progress in the nontidal and tidal Chesapeake Bay. Breck Sullivan will kick things off by sharing the information available in the Tributary Summaries and Storymaps, which summarize the short- and long- term trends in the nontidal and tidal water quality for major Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Then, Dr. Rebecca Murphy will share the findings available in the recently updated tidal trends, which are based on data collected from more than 130 monitoring stations throughout the mainstem and tidal portions of the Bay. Dr. Qian Zhang will then take us home with a demonstration of shiny apps for the Water Quality Standards Attainment Indicator, which house the data used to update the Water Quality Standards Attainment and Monitoring Outcome on Chesapeake Progress.

  • Topic: Monitoring Trends
  • Time: November 20, 2024 at noon EST
  • Join Zoom Meeting
  • Meeting ID: 886 5874 4443
  • One tap mobile +13017158592,,88658744443#

In-person trainings are available upon request.

Available Training Videos

Last month's CAST webinar focused on how to convert BMPs from percentages to acres in scenarios. This process is commonly called for when adding BMPs to a scenario that has WIP or Progress BMPs copied into it. A working knowledge of how to create CAST scenarios will be useful before viewing this webinar.

This, and other past training videos on topics ranging from buffers to targeting nutrient reductions, are available in the Learning section of CAST under 'Free Training Videos'. Amongst the variety of training content available, there are also short videos on topics like 'Where do I start,' under CAST 101 - Getting Started.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Success Story

Shaw Family Nature Preserve in Mount Joy Twp. growing by nearly 19 acres: The wooded Otto and Berta Florschutz tract will be purchased and is being added to the preserve, providing a buffer to the supporting landscape for the Conewago Creek that the Conservancy describes as having critical habitat for fish, reptiles, and amphibians. Read more about this success story on the Lancaster Online website.

Does your organization have a Chesapeake Bay Watershed success story you'd like to share? If you have a story you would like to see in the next CAST Newsletter, submit an article using the 'Contact Us' feature from any page of the CAST website.

Chesapeake Bay Program Deadlines

2024 Progress toward the Bay TMDL

The Chesapeake Bay Deadlines refer to the major jurisdictions' annual reporting of new BMPs implemented, and existing BMPs verified as functioning in the watershed. BMP implementation information is used to create annual progress scenarios using CAST and to make assessments and report out the estimated impacts of restoration efforts.

  • No later than December 1, 2024: Final BMP submissions for previous July 1 - June 30 data period due from jurisdictions for the 2024 Progress Phase 6 model assessment - both wastewater data and non-wastewater BMPs. Wastewater data includes the categories CSO, bio-solids, spray irrigation, large onsite septic systems, and rapid infiltration.
  • December 2024: Progress reports and resubmission reminders are available each Friday. Calls with state technical leads are scheduled to resolve issues.
  • January 2025: Progress reports and resubmission reminders continue. Calls with state technical leads continue.
  • February 10, 2025: Final opportunity for states to update BMP data.
  • February 11, 2025: Final progress run information available to jurisdictions - needed for outside reporting of progress on commitments to keep results relevant.
  • March 21, 2025: 2024 Progress finalized and released on CAST. Progress may be delayed due to unresolved issues surrounding the verification assessments.

Updates to CAST

New features: Carbon sequestration estimates are added to the BMP Submitted vs Credited report and a new Carbon Loads Report is now available.

Miscellaneous updates to the backend framework.

Interim Targets are added to the Compare Planning Targets tool. Interim Targets are the Phase 3 Planning Targets factoring in 2025 climate and Unaccounted Additional Loads (UALs).

A full list of changes is available on CAST's Upgrade History. The new CAST version is Phase 6 - 7.14.0.

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