Press Release

Last night, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk was pleased to honor Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin with CBF’s Clean Water Legacy Award at its 2024 DC on the Half Shell gala.

CBF was joined by more than 600 top philanthropists, lawmakers, and community leaders on March 18, 2024, at Union Market as the organization honored Sen. Cardin’s extraordinary efforts to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay. DC on the Half Shell is CBF’s most important event in the nation’s capital. 

“Whether advocating for Maryland fisheries, promoting environmental education, or ensuring federal support for Bay research and restoration, Sen. Cardin’s career has been one legislative victory for clean water after another,” Falk said. 

“CBF is proud to honor Sen. Cardin’s enduring legacy as a devoted clean water champion, not only for the Bay and its tributaries, but for the entire country. We are deeply grateful for decades of leadership and dedication,” Falk added. 

Sen. Cardin has advocated for the Bay since he began his public service career in 1967 in the Maryland House of Delegates. From his work on the original Chesapeake Bay Agreement in the early 1980s to his recent success securing historic funding increases for the federal Chesapeake Bay Program, Sen. Cardin has never wavered in his commitment to saving our region’s greatest natural resource. 

“It’s an honor to receive the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean Water Legacy Award. I’ve dedicated my career to improving the health of our watershed because of its direct and existential impact on the communities and wildlife it serves as home and habitat. For nearly six decades, I’ve proudly supported the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s efforts to protect our treasured Bay,” Sen. Cardin said.  

“The Chesapeake Bay is the heart of Maryland’s identity and economy, and the success of our state, region and nation relies on its sustainability. In the Senate and beyond, I will remain fully committed to continuing the work to improve the health of the Bay and its local rivers and streams so that it remains a national treasure for future generations,” Sen. Cardin said. 

DC on the Half Shell guests spent the evening listening to live music, enjoying gourmet cuisine, sampling local oysters, and most importantly, celebrating Sen. Cardin’s decades of achievements in the fight for a cleaner, healthier Bay. 

The biennial event spotlighted the Bay’s most critical natural filter, the oyster. Oyster farmers from around the region served an assortment of the finest (and sustainably grown) oysters the Bay and its rivers have to offer. Guests also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, a full buffet dinner, and dessert. 

Milestone Reached Through Federal, State, and Local Efforts, Surpassing Halfway Point to 10 Billion Oysters Goal

Following a banner year for Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration and aquaculture, the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA) this week announced it has recorded a new total of 6 billion oysters directly added to the Bay since 2017.  

COA’s count aims to include all oysters directly added to the Bay and its tributaries through restoration and aquaculture. These efforts have now surpassed the halfway mark to the group’s goal to promote adding 10 billion new oysters to the Bay by 2025.  

The majority of contributions toward the 10 billion oyster goal come from major restoration initiatives in Maryland and Virginia targeted towards 11 Bay tributaries, which are on track to be completed by 2025.  

“We’re seeing an exciting oyster renaissance on the Bay, from massive tributary scale-efforts down to widespread citizen involvement and public awareness.  At least six billion oysters have been added to the Chesapeake in recent years thanks to heroic work by Maryland and Virginia, federal partners, and COA aquaculture and restoration partners,” said Tanner Council, COA Senior Manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Each year, the Chesapeake Bay is getting closer to an extremely ambitious goal of adding 10 billion new oysters.”  

The 2023 oyster count in Maryland was elevated by a record year for oyster restoration thanks to large-scale restoration work by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Oyster Recovery Partnership.  

In Virginia, an outstanding year for oyster aquaculture saw a total of about 119 million oysters recorded in the Commonwealth in 2023. Virginia aquaculture numbers in recent years range from a low of 86 million in 2020 to a high of 129 million in 2022. Oyster aquaculture operations raise these oysters to sell to restaurants and consumers, supporting local economies while filtering water and creating habitat.   

A significant number of oysters were also added through small-scale restoration work and the efforts of individuals and small businesses through programs like oyster gardening.  These efforts are a great example of how the people and partners throughout the region have embraced the many benefits of oyster restoration and aquaculture.    

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) founded the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance in 2018 to spark momentum and innovation to bring back oysters from historically low levels. COA has grown to include more than 110 nonprofits, academic institutions, businesses, and aquaculture operations.  Together, these partners advocate for accelerating oyster restoration, science-based fisheries management and expanding the oyster aquaculture industry throughout the Bay.   

To support progress in oyster restoration and aquaculture, COA promotes research and new approaches through oyster innovation grants, restoration funding, facilitating collaborations between partners, and an annual Chesapeake Oyster Science Symposium.  Strong coalitions such as COA are key to long-term success in restoring a keystone species like the Bay oyster.   

“Having now surpassed the halfway mark, we are more motivated than ever to maintain momentum and accelerate progress by building support, innovation, and partnerships,” Council said.  

In January 2024, COA also announced its most recent Oyster Innovation Awards, totaling $140,000 for 15 organizations making progress in oyster-related research, technologies, reproduction, educational opportunities, and more. This is the fourth consecutive year of similar grant distributions under the COA Oyster Innovation Awards

Oysters filter water and form reefs that provide essential habitat for countless other species. They also support the region’s recreational and commercial fisheries, and the Bay’s local economy and culture. Despite oysters’ critical role, their population is just a small fraction of what it once was. Restoration efforts and aquaculture in the Chesapeake Bay are critical to bringing back this keystone species.  

General Assembly Session Acknowledges Necessity of Climate Readiness and Ecosystem Restoration

Significant investments in cleaner water, conservation, and climate readiness were proposed by Virginia state lawmakers this week as the General Assembly session heads toward the finish line.  

The budget conference report released Thursday afternoon by Virginia state lawmakers proposed support for resilience efforts, flood protection, conserving the state’s disappearing trees, continued investments in beloved species like oysters, and reducing pollution to critical waterways amid a looming 2025 deadline to meet Chesapeake Bay restoration goals. Legislators proposed the following levels of investment over the two-year budget period:

Pollution Reduction

Building off last year’s historic investment in farmers, legislators recommended investing $231 million in the Virginia agricultural cost-share program. Practices like fencing cattle out of streams, and planting streamside trees are among the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Chesapeake Bay and improve water quality throughout the state. 

Tree Conservation

• Legislators are proposing a $20 million investment for a pilot Pay for Outcomes Program where pollution reduction projects with verified, successful results are compensated. 
• Legislators recommended $400 million in bonds to fund upgrades at wastewater treatment plants, which are essential to continuing progress in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. 
• With the state losing tree canopy at an alarming rate, the proposed budget included $1.16 million in funding to study the Commonwealth’s forests and conservation opportunities. The conference report also supports funding for a Department of Forestry policy specialist.  

Climate Resiliency

• Although the proposed budget removes $25 million from the Resilient Virginia Revolving Loan Fund, it maintains the $100 million in year one that the Governor proposed for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). Communities from Southwest Virginia to Fairfax to the Eastern Shore have used the CFPF for projects that protect homes and businesses from flooding.
• Lawmakers included language to return Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state carbon emission reduction program. RGGI participation is key to Virginia’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts as well as our clean water goals.
• The budget also includes $1 million over the biennium to create the Office of Commonwealth Resilience, which will help coordinate climate adaptation efforts across Virginia government as we build towards a Climate ready Commonwealth. 

Tackling Invasive Species & Rebuilding Keystone Species

• The budget proposal restores $1 million over the biennium for oyster replenishment activities. This funding is vital to thriving waterways and local economies that until recently had long-suffered from overharvesting, pollution, and disease.
• Strengthening the blue catfish industry also received support from lawmakers. The final budget for this initiative included $250,000 in the second year of the biennium. A robust commercial fishery for blue catfish will help reduce their predatory pressure on other commercial and recreationally important fishery species.  

The House and Senate compromise on the state budget will head to the governor for approval.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford issued the following statement:  

“Virginia lawmakers heard growing calls from their communities about the detrimental loss of neighborhood trees, flooded streets, and the threat of pollution to beloved waterways and species. They answered these calls with this conservation-focused budget, which invests in cleaner water, agricultural conservation practices, and climate resilience.  

“The historic show of bipartisan votes and funding for these solutions demonstrates the increasing urgency to contend with these environmental threats. We applaud these investments and look forward to working with legislators to further protect Virginians and the environment.”

Local photographers are now invited to submit their top photographs from around the Chesapeake Bay watershed for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s annual Save the Bay Photo Contest.

CBF is seeking photos that illustrate the beauty of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, as well as the plants, animals, and people that rely on it. Images depicting water, wildlife, recreation, farms, and flora within the watershed will be considered. 

Photographs captured from across the watershed are eligible, including in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. All skills levels are encouraged to participate.

“The beauty of the Bay is captured best by our everyday interactions with it,” said Jennifer Wallace, CBF’s senior creative project manager and contest organizer. “That is proven to me every year when submissions for the photo contest roll in. I am always amazed by the talent of each contestant and the benefits these photos have for our mission to save the bay.”

“As photographers, it’s wonderful to be able to share our work with other nature lovers in the Chesapeake Bay community,” said Bill Mish, winner of the 2023 Save the Bay Photo Contest, from Annapolis, Maryland.

The deadline for submissions is March 29. Photos will be narrowed down by a CBF panel based on subject matter, composition, focus, lighting, uniqueness, and impact. The public will then vote for their favorite image in the Viewer’s Choice Gallery from April 8 to April 30.

Winners will receive a one-year membership to CBF and can receive cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500. Winning photographs will also be featured on CBF’s website, social media, 2025 calendar, and award-winning Save the Bay magazine.

More information and submission instructions can be found at cbf.org/photocontest.

Volunteers and Chesapeake Bay Foundation Join Tribe in Project

The Nansemond Indian Nation’s efforts to heal and deepen their physical connection to their ancestral riverfront land took a significant step with the first tree planting in Mattanock Town on March 1.   

“It’s incredible to feel the comradery and kindship for this project that is so valuable for the ecosystem,” Nansemond Indian Nation Chief Keith Anderson said. “It is a great honor to be a steward of this land.” 

The Tribe, volunteers, and representatives from the Department of Forestry and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation planted dozens of native trees along the Nansemond River Friday. This kicked off a multi-day project where a total of 450 native trees are expected to be planted.  

Native black gum, hackberry, and witch hazel trees were among the native plants that replaced debris and an invasive species known as privet that previously dominated the property. Buried beneath the soil, volunteers found oyster shells and scallop shells as big as their palms. 

“I feel that I am on sacred ground. I feel a spiritual connection as I’m here helping restore this land,” said Mary Hill, a tree planting volunteer Friday and a member of the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance. Hill said she is the descendent of seven generations of African-American watermen and had ancestors with connections to the Nansemond Indian Nation.  

Considered the cultural heart of the Tribe, the Nansemond River never left the spirits of the Nansemond Indian Nation even after centuries of displacement that date back to the arrival of colonists in the 1600s. According to the Tribe, their name meaning “Fishing Point” comes from the Coastal Algonquian language spoken by their ancestors, who lived in settlements along the Nansemond River for thousands of years. 

Following federal and state tribal recognition, the Tribe committed to reconnecting its people to the local waterways through a variety of projects including oyster gardening, community events, and tree plantings.   

On Friday, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation provided volunteers and expertise while the Department of Forestry showed volunteers how to plant the trees. 

“You couldn’t walk in this area just a short time ago because it was filled with invasive species,” Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore said. “It is very exciting to see so many partners come together for this comprehensive restoration effort that stretches from underwater up to the land.” 

For more information on the Nansemond Indian Nation and their vision for cultural revitalization through river stewardship, check out the Tribe’s story map, Indigenous Life On The Nansemond River.  

Legislation Protecting Virginians From Cancer-Linked Product Passes Committee

Virginians are closer than ever before to receiving protection from harmful toxic sealants commonly used to coat driveways.  

For the first time since being introduced three years ago, a bill that bans toxic pavement sealants passed the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources by a 11-3 bipartisan vote on Feb. 27.  

House Bill 985 patroned by Delegate Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, now heads to the full Senate for consideration. The bill cleared the House of Delegates by a 78-21 vote.  

“This ban is a commonsense action to protect our children’s lives and our waterways from dangerous pollutants,” Tran said. “Young children up to six years old are particularly vulnerable. I have little kids, and they play on the driveway. No parent would want their kids being exposed to these toxic substances.” 

Applied both commercially and privately, the sealant is a black liquid marketed as a pavement protector. These products contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that can harm people, birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and plants. The bill would prohibit any pavement sealant with a PAH concentration greater than one percent by weight.    

A USGS fact sheet shows that the excess cancer risk for people living adjacent to pavement treated with toxic sealants is significantly higher than for those living near unsealed pavement. There are also detrimental impacts to the environment. 

“PAHs are definitely toxic. There really isn’t a question about that. When organisms, whether oysters, mice, or fish, are exposed to these products in research studies, they have caused negative health effects,” Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Senior Scientist Joe Wood said.

Michael Jones, who owns Jones Striping and SealCoating in Petersburg, told Senate committee members that his company stopped using the toxic sealant in 2015 and switched to a safer alternative sealant.  

“We did learn that it was a carcinogen. We learned it was toxic and harms the skin,” Jones said. “We did this for the health of our clients, our employees, and the environment. This still keeps us competitive.” 

PAHs have been detected in several fish and waterways throughout Virginia, correlating to freshwater mussel decline in the Clinch River. PAHs have also been a driver of fish cancer in the Elizabeth River and three experiments indicated significant negative impacts of PAHs on various early life stages of the Bay’s native oyster. According to one experiment, mice exposed to these sealants develop “mutations in bone marrow, liver, lung, small intestine, and glandular stomach.”  

These dangerous chemicals can enter the environment through skin contact, such as a child sitting on a coated driveway. They can also be loosened when a car drives over pavement, then be washed off by rain or transported by the car’s tires.   

Stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot have stopped the sale of such sealants. Other types of asphalt sealants are available that are significantly less toxic, are priced similarly, and are widely available.  

Most highway departments and road agencies, including the Virginia Department of Transportation, have not used toxic pavement sealants on asphalt pavement for many years. Virginia’s neighbors, Maryland and Washington D.C., have both instituted bans. 

Prohibitions on the use of toxic sealants have shown to be effective, with some places showing a 50 percent decline in toxins in waterways after only a few years. The EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program has prioritized PAHs as among the most critical toxic contaminant to rivers, streams, and Chesapeake Bay.  

The bill includes a grace period for applicators who may have already purchased PAH sealant products to use their existing supplies.   

The Virginia House and Senate unveiled separate proposed spending plans Sunday, which included needed investment in environmental efforts but also marked missed opportunities to support critical issues. 

These proposals approved by the House and Senate money committees Sunday made amendments to the budget previously pitched by Governor Youngkin. The House and Senate budgets vary significantly in their proposed funding for conservation over the next two years.   

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) looks forward to working with legislators and the Youngkin Administration throughout the budget process to secure significant support for clean water, a climate-ready Commonwealth, agricultural conservation practices, and invasive species management. CBF is gratified the see the following investments in the state’s natural resources:   

Agricultural and Tree Conservation 

• Building off last year’s historic investment in farmers, legislators in both Houses proposed $231 million for each year of the biennium to the Virginia agricultural cost-share program. Practices like fencing cattle out of streams and planting streamside trees are among the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Chesapeake Bay and improve water quality throughout the state. 
• The House proposed a $20 million investment in a pilot program that would pay for verified, successful results in pollution reduction projects.  
• With the state losing tree canopy at an alarming rate, the House included $1.16 million in funding to study the Commonwealth’s forests and conservation opportunities. Both chambers also proposed funding for a Department of Forestry policy specialist.  

Wastewater Treatment  

• The House budget included $400 million in bonds to fund upgrades at wastewater treatment plants essential to continuing our progress in reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. 
• Stormwater runoff from roofs, sidewalks, and roadways remains a growing source of dangerous pollution and the focus of many local pollution reduction projects. But neither chamber proposed needed investment in the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund. This fund provides matching grants to localities for projects like rain gardens and stream restoration. 

Climate Resiliency  

• The House proposed $200 million over the biennium for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which supports local flood prevention and protection projects. This fund has been tapped by communities from Southwest Virginia to Fairfax to the Eastern Shore to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. 
• The House conditioned their budget upon Virginia’s reentry to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state carbon emission reduction program. RGGI participation is key to Virginia’s climate adaptation and mitigation efforts as well as our clean water goals.  

Tackling Invasive Species & Rebuilding Keystone Species 

• The Senate restored $500,000 per year that had been removed for oyster replenishment activities. Oyster restoration efforts are vital to thriving waterways and local economies that until recently had long suffered from overharvesting, pollution, and disease.  
• Efforts to strengthen the blue catfish industry enjoyed support from both chambers with the House investing $500,000 and the Senate $250,000 in the second year of the two-year budget. A robust commercial fishery for blue catfish will help reduce their predatory pressure on other commercial and recreationally important fishery species.  

A conference committee of legislators will now negotiate a single set of budget amendments, which will need approval from Governor Youngkin before becoming law. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement:  

“The Commonwealth’s budget is an important opportunity for the state to invest in clean water and restore beloved ecosystems, as well as better protect our homes, businesses, and families as we build a climate-ready Commonwealth. CBF applauds the proposed investments in agricultural conservation, wastewater, and climate resilience. We look forward to working with legislators to ensure widespread support for programs that enhance Virginia’s waterways and protect residents from a host of environmental threats. 

“Communities across the state are ramping up work to confront invasive species, protect their local economies, reduce pollution and better ready their communities for the reality of climate change. Passing a robust conservation focused budget will help demonstrate that Virginia lawmakers are committed to enhancing Virginia’s economically and ecologically important natural resources.” 

As major climate change challenges loom, redoubling efforts to restore the Bay’s native oyster will pay dividends

With Chesapeake Bay oyster recovery at a crucial point, building on current momentum will increase resiliency to climate change in the region while creating multiple benefits for people and the environment, according to a new report released today by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 

Recommendations in the report, titled “Hope on the Half Shell: Harnessing Oysters to Build Ecological and Community Resilience,” include targeting oyster restoration in 20 additional Bay rivers, equitably growing the oyster aquaculture industry, and modernizing management of the wild oyster harvest.

“Oysters are the bedrock of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, long recognized for their ability to provide habitat and improve water quality. But their benefits to communities and the ecosystem extend far beyond that,” said CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden. “Oysters are key to adapting to climate change, supporting local economies, and cleaning up waterways. You can’t overstate their importance to the Bay.” 

But oysters are at a critical juncture. Over the last century, Chesapeake Bay oyster numbers plummeted to just a fraction of historic levels due to disease, overharvesting, pollution, and habitat loss. 

The decline of oysters and their habitat has exacerbated water quality issues, reduced productivity of key Bay fisheries, and left critical shoreline habitats like marshes and underwater grasses susceptible to erosion and loss.

Fortunately, the Chesapeake Bay is now home to some of the most successful oyster restoration projects in the world. Under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, federal-state efforts are on track to fully restore 11 Chesapeake Bay tributaries for oyster habitat by 2025. Monitoring of these restored reefs shows incredible success, with most reefs sustaining or expanding while meeting or exceeding criteria for oyster abundance. 

“Restoring native oyster habitat and populations in ten tributaries is one of the few material outcomes set by the Chesapeake Watershed Agreement that will actually be achieved by 2025,” said Don Boesch, President Emeritus of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. “But this is just the beginning, not the end, for recovery of the Bay’s oyster population.” 

Large-scale oyster restoration achievements have been possible through strong federal investment, state support, and the collaboration of many partners. As this major phase nears completion, sustained federal funding and state support will be crucial.

“With all the elements for success now in place, it’s time to seize the moment and accelerate the pace and scale of oyster recovery in Chesapeake Bay,” said Colden. 

This comes as Maryland and Virginia ramp up work to address the effects of climate change. Oysters can play an important role in protecting Chesapeake Bay shorelines and marshes from erosion, sea-level rise, and intense storms.  

As momentum, funding, and expertise coalesces around oysters, recommendations in the report for immediate next steps include:

• Accelerate the pace and scale of large-scale oyster restoration projects, restoring an additional 20 Bay tributaries by 2035 that collectively encompass 4,000 acres or more of restored oyster reef.
• Grow Maryland’s oyster aquaculture industry to 50,000 acres under lease and 500,000 bushels harvested annually by 2035. That compares to 7,500 acres under lease and 94,000 bushels harvested for Maryland oyster aquaculture in 2022.  
• In Virginia, initiate an oyster stock assessment, ensure aquaculture growth in all regions, and ensure that oyster aquaculture leases are effectively utilized. 
• Increase the use of oysters in shoreline protection and restoration to address sea-level rise and erosion from more intense storms due to climate change. 
• Modernize oyster fishery management to increase oyster numbers. That includes utilizing the most up-to-date scientific information and methods, implementing harvest quotas, and using electronic harvest reporting.
• Manage oyster shell to grow this critical resource for oyster restoration, as well as oyster replenishment work to support oyster fisheries. 

The report recommendations aim to achieve six vital outcomes for Maryland and Virginia, which are: 

• Improved water quality;
• Equitable economic opportunities for coastal communities;
• Increased resilience to sea-level rise and storm surge;
• Climate change mitigation; 
• Transparency and accountability in fishery management; and, 
• Modernized fishery management for sustainable harvests.

Oysters create significant economic benefits for Bay states. Sales of oysters brought in more than $56.8 million in revenue in Maryland and Virginia in 2022, and restoration reefs support millions more in revenue for other fisheries by providing key habitat for game fish and blue crabs. 

This comes alongside the growing recognition that coastal restoration efforts in the face of climate change must be undertaken holistically. For example, for the greatest benefits, new oyster reefs can be built in conjunction with underwater grasses, living shorelines, and buffers of native trees and shrubs. 

In addition, oyster restoration efforts take place in shallow water, an area where the recent Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response report indicated Chesapeake Bay restoration partners should focus near-term restoration efforts.

“Increasing oyster numbers benefits all facets of life in and along the Chesapeake,” said CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore.  “Now let’s expand on the achievements to date. With oysters, we can adapt to climate change, support the Bay’s ecological, economic, and social resilience, and build vibrant communities where people and nature thrive together.” 

Bill Walton, who is the Shellfish Aquaculture Program Coordinator for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, noted the importance of expanding aquaculture.  

“It’s exciting to see a restoration plan for Chesapeake Bay that embraces shellfish aquaculture as part of the solution. While many might think of the economic benefits of shellfish aquaculture and how those rely on a healthy Bay, the science is clear that shellfish aquaculture can provide environmental benefits,” Walton said. “As the report notes, reaching the ambitious environmental goals will require the diversity of people who care about Chesapeake Bay to work together creatively to achieve those outcomes.”

Boesch also expressed support for the report’s recommendations. 

“We must build on what we have learned to take the next steps recommended in this report by CBF,” Boesch said. “While bold, these recommendations are entirely feasible and achieving them will provide manifold benefits for society, ecosystem health, and climate resilience.”

* * *

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Bills that Conserve Trees, Ban Toxic Products, and Strengthen Climate Resiliency Clear Crossover

Virginia state lawmakers marked the midpoint of their 60-day legislative session on February 13 with historic support for environmental issues.   

At this midpoint known as crossover, bills passed by the House and Senate are sent to the other chamber for consideration. If the bills clear both chambers, they head to Governor Youngkin’s desk to be signed into law, vetoed, or become law without a signature.  

Toxic Pavement Sealant Ban Within Reach 

For the first time since being introduced three years ago, a bill that bans toxic pavement sealants has cleared the House of Delegates by a 78-21 vote.  

If passed into law, toxic products used mainly to seal driveways and parking lots could no longer be sold in Virginia. Delegate Kathy Tran (House Bill 985) patroned the bill. Applied both commercially and privately, the sealant is a black liquid marketed as a pavement protector.  

These products contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that can harm people, birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and plants. The bill would prohibit any pavement sealant with a PAH concentration greater than one percent by weight.  

Landmark Support for Tree Conservation  

Tree conservation has also enjoyed landmark support from lawmakers. Though tree legislation has historically stalled in the House of Delegates, multiple bills are now successfully moving through the General Assembly. These bills mainly give localities authority to conserve and replace trees, among the most cost-effective solutions to alleviating flood impacts and reducing pollution. 

HB 529, introduced by Del. Patrick Hope, would give localities broader authority to replace trees lost during construction. If passed into law, localities could establish tree replacement requirements and establish a tree fund if trees can’t be replaced on site. It heads to the Senate with a 53-44 vote from the House.  

Another bill, HB 1100, introduced by Del. Betsy Carr, would help cities and counties preserve trees before they are cut down, rather than replacing them. It enables all localities to conserve more trees during development. Currently, only some Northern Virginia localities have the authority to adopt tree conservation ordinances. This passed the House by a 52-46 vote. 

Lastly, HB 309 by Del. Patrick Hope and SB 461 by Sen. David Marsden would allow Virginia to determine how many acres of the Commonwealth’s forests are healthy, the cause behind the lost canopy acreage, how to reconnect forest fragments, and identify opportunities for further conservation efforts. HB 309 and SB 461 passed their respective chambers unanimously. 

Resiliency Bills Advance 

Two House bills that prepare Virginia to become a climate-ready Commonwealth are also heading to the Senate with widespread support. 

HB 1458, introduced by Del. Phil Hernandez, passed the House unanimously. This bill unifies the government’s climate change resources and adds oversight to flood protection funding. HB 673, introduced by Del. Michael Feggans, prioritizes low-income communities in the Virginia Resilient Revolving Loan Fund and ensures climate change solutions are equitable.   

Environmental Education Makes Strides 

Human impact on the environment and the value of Virginia’s natural resources are essential parts of state education standards, but many school districts aren’t connected to the resources needed to offer hands-on, inquiry-based learning opportunities through environmental education. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is also supporting increased funding in the budget for Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences that would be focused on environmental literacy.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement. 

“This historic support for critical environmental legislation is a huge step toward protecting Virginians and the environment from toxic products and flooding damage, while communities across the Commonwealth would benefit from cleaner air and water. We applaud these significant advancements by state lawmakers. 

“Virginia urgently needs to ramp up work to become a climate-ready Commonwealth. This landmark support from legislators from tree conservation to resiliency signals the importance to representatives of reducing carbon emissions, polluted runoff, strengthening flood protection, and reducing storm damage.” 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Middle School Bay Eco-Camp offers outdoor adventures and environmental learning for students across the region

Middle school students passionate about nature, science, and the environment can experience a once-in-a-lifetime summer adventure at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s Middle School Bay Eco-Camp. The five-day overnight summer camp experience is designed for students entering sixth, seventh, and eighth grade who are interested in spending time outdoors and learning about the unique Chesapeake Bay.

“Bay Eco-Camp offers one of few summer opportunities for middle schoolers to get hands-on, up-close experiences with remote Bay ecosystems,” said Tom Ackerman, Vice President of Education at CBF. “During their adventure, campers will canoe, boat, interact with critters, and explore beaches and historic Chesapeake Bay communities.”

The camp is held at CBF’s Port Isobel Island Environmental Education Center. Port Isobel is a 250-acre island campus that is part of the Tangier Island, Virginia, community in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay. Throughout this ecologically diverse landscape, students will explore underwater grass beds, study vibrant oyster reefs, and discover the beauty of salt marshes surrounding a historic fishing community.

“I really enjoyed learning about the Chesapeake Bay and the flora and fauna that inhabits it,” said Callen Moore, eighth grade student from Virginia Beach. “Every day was filled with fun activities and exploring the environment.”

Campers can choose between two sessions available: July 15–19 or August 12–16. Space is limited and registration closes on June 3 for the first session and July 5 for the second. Student pick-up and drop-off will take place in Crisfield, Maryland. Interested students can learn more and register here.

CBF has been a leader in environmental education for over 50 years. Through student field and leadership programs, as well as professional learning opportunities, CBF educators have offered meaningful watershed experience to more than 1.5 million participants.