In the early stages of the restoration effort, watershed modelling was identified as a key instrument to provide essential information to guide decision-makers in Bay restoration. The Bay system is exceedingly large and complex to conduct extensive field experiments. Environmental models were deemed essential for simulating the Bay’s aquatic and atmospheric conditions. A modelling framework was needed for the entire Bay system to provide a quantitative tool to assist in the decision -making process for the restoration of the Bay, and to enhance the understanding of Bay water quality processes and their sensitivity to external nutrient loads. The parties committed to specific actions to achieve the objectives, and decided to review the implementation of such actions annually with additional commitments developed as needed. Stakeholders set a major goal to reduce the nutrients (N, P) entering the Bay by 40% by year 2000.
Basin wide integrated modeling activities assisted in the evaluation and monitoring of water quality changes. As such, water quality data management, analysis, and modeling became a cornerstone in future stakeholder involvement to access data, review alternative water quality management options, and provide input to the decision making process.
The use of modeling tools in the case of the Chesapeake Bay was effective in implementing the actions and monitoring the goals set by the CBP partners. It provided decision makers with quantitative information that has assisted the restoration efforts of the Bay. The tools supplied the basis for policy makers to reach an agreement and to commit resources to work towards a common goal on an otherwise highly untenable consensus.