Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool
CAST Newsletter: August 2022
Tips and information to facilitate environmental restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
Did You Know?
Did you know there is a plethora of information you can access right from the CAST Homepage? You can find resources, from GIS layers to BMP definitions, right on the CAST Homepage. These resources are updated frequently, so you can always rely on CAST to be your most up-to-date data source.
CAST Webinars and Training
Available Training Videos
We are taking a summer break and will resume CAST webinars in September. In the meantime, if there are any topics you would like us to cover, please submit your suggestions to us using the 'Contact Us' feature from any page on the CAST Website.
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 Program Deadlines
2022 Progress toward the Bay TMDL
The Chesapeake Bay Deadlines refer to the major jurisdictions' annual reporting of 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.
The Phase 6 NEIEN Appendix has been approved and is available for download under CAST Progress Reporting.
August 31, 2022: Data submissions and decriptions are due for: 1) permitted forest harvest acres, 2) continually disturbed and permitted construction acres - including estimates of any unpermitted acres, 3) CAFO/AFO animal splits by county, 4) nutrient concentrations in manure for poultry and swine.
September 1, 2022: Jurisdictions are encouraged to begin submitting their BMP implementation via NEIEN for the progress assessment. Ongoing review of submissions will occur between September and December, with the expectation that December 1 submissions are final.
September 1, 2022: Updates to juridictions' BMP Verification Program Plans (QAPPs) due describing new data sources and changes to methods of tracking, reporting, and verification - that pertain to the data submitted for the 2022 Progress model assessment. Additional revisions to the jurisdictions' QAPPs may be necessary after December 1 as a result of EPA's review of each jurisdiction's 2022 Progress submission.
October 16, 2022: CBPO provides intial feedback to jurisdictions concerning the draft QAPP September 1 submission. The time between the initial submission on September 1 and October 16 is 45 days, which is the standard EPA QAPP review period.
No later than December 1, 2022: Final BMP submissions for the previous July 1 to June 30 data period due fom jurisdictions for the 2022 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.
February 7, 2022: Final progress run information for progress available to jurisdictions - needed for outside reporting of progress on commitments and to keep results relevant.
Updates to CAST
A full list of changes is available on CAST's Upgrade History. The new CAST version is Phase 6 - 7.3.1.
