Stormwater runoff is the second largest, and still growing, source of water pollution into the Chesapeake Bay, our nation’s largest estuary. Solutions to reduce stormwater runoff have typically been expensive and difficult to implement across large areas. To help address this issue and accelerate improvements, water quality trading markets have been developed and have been active in Maryland, and other regions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, for many years. However, credit trades have either occurred between point source dischargers (wastewater treatment plants) or in the agricultural sector, with little to no engagement from private industry to help address impacts of urban stormwater runoff.
