Earlier this month, we announced the first recipients of competitive grants from the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund. After careful evaluation, projects in eight counties and the City of Baltimore were selected for proposing the most effective and targeted activities.
 
In partnership with the General Assembly in November 2007, we created the Trust Fund to provide a dedicated source of funding to accelerate Bay restoration by focusing financial resources on the most effective nonpoint source pollution control projects. These grants will fund urban and suburban stormwater management and watershed restoration projects that will deliver the greatest possible benefits to the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
 
BayStat was critical to the Trust fund selection process, allowing us to identify priority watersheds where projects will have the most impact in improving the Bay. Grant applications were evaluated using the best scientific data available including review by a 15-member Scientific Advisory Panel of experts on water quality, resource economics, agriculture, engineering, growth and development policy.
 
Targeting our efforts provides the most effective and efficient way to use our limited resources to accomplish our shared goal of restoring our national treasure  the Chesapeake Bay.  This is one of the O'Malley-Brown Administration's greatest priorities, and even during these challenging times for our nation's economy, we have proposed $25 million in funding for the program for fiscal year 2010.  We believe that by working together  and by making these investments together  we can pass on a healthy and thriving Chesapeake Bay to our children and theirs, and ensure a smarter, greener more sustainable future for our State.

Sincerely,