Press Release

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—House members and senators from the Chesapeake Bay region yesterday reintroduced bipartisan legislation to help accelerate farmers’ progress reducing agricultural runoff into the Bay and its rivers and streams. 

Titled the Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act, the bill was introduced in the House by Chesapeake Bay Task Force Co-chairs Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.) and Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.) and Rep. Jennifer Kiggans (R-Va.). 

It was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt-Rochester, John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Mark Warner (D-Va.). 

The Chesapeake Bay Conservation and Acceleration Act proposes five changes to make in the next Farm Bill to support Bay region farmers who adopt voluntary conservation practices, like planting streamside forested buffers, that lead to cleaner rivers and streams. 

The Farm Bill was last reauthorized in 2018 and initially set to expire September 30, 2023. It has been extended twice, most recently until September 30, 2025. The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act was first introduced during the last Congress, in July 2023. 

The bill would:

• Incorporate the Chesapeake Bay States’ Partnership Initiative, known as “C-SPI,” into the Farm Bill. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created C-SPI in May 2022 to steer an extra $22.5 million in conservation assistance to Bay region farmers that year.  
• Make it easier for states to increase incentives for farmers to participate in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP is a USDA cost-share program that provides funding and technical assistance to farmers who implement high-priority conservation practices. 
• Create a “turnkey” program, operated by a third party, to cover the up-front costs of designing, installing, and maintaining forested buffers for interested landowners. These buffers of trees along rivers and streams are among the most cost-effective ways to reduce agricultural runoff into nearby waterways. 
• Expand the number of people trained to provide technical assistance to farmers. Even before the staffing turmoil at USDA, including in field offices that directly serve farmers, the department faced a shortage of trained personnel to help farmers make their conservation work successful. 
• Reduce bureaucratic barriers to creating a commercial blue catfish fishery. The proposal would transfer responsibility for inspecting wild-caught blue catfish from USDA to the Food and Drug Administration. Blue catfish are a voracious, fast-growing invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay that prey on native species such as blue crabs, striped bass, and menhaden. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Federal Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement:

“Farmers are essential to restoring the Bay and its waterways. The Chesapeake Bay Conservation Acceleration Act would encourage more farmers to adopt conservation practices that reduce fertilizer and sediment runoff, the largest source of water pollution to the Bay.   

“The bill would also enable more watermen to improve their bottom line by harvesting invasive blue catfish. This would help protect native Bay species and the seafood industry from this voracious predator while supporting the region’s economy. 

“With the staffing turmoil at USDA, the proposals for increasing the number of trained professionals on the ground helping farmers improve water and soil quality are more important than ever.  

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation thanks Reps. Wittman, Scott, Elfreth, and Kiggans and Sens. Van Hollen, Alsobrooks, Fetterman, Kaine, and Warner for reintroducing this bipartisan legislation. We urge Congress to quickly pass a new, more Bay-friendly Farm Bill that includes the smart policy changes outlined in this bill.” 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—In what EPA called “the biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin yesterday unveiled its intent to unleash an unprecedented assault on dozens of science-based standards that safeguard the environment, protect public health, and ensure the federal government does its part to restore the Chesapeake Bay. 

Targets of the Trump administration’s sweeping deregulatory push include limits on pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from dirty power plants and vehicle exhaust, tougher standards for reducing soot and curbing interstate air pollution, the legal foundation for fighting climate change, and EPA’s environmental justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion work. The regulatory rollbacks are proposals that must still undergo a rigorous process before being finalized.  

Yesterday EPA also unveiled plans to rewrite the definition of wetlands and other waters protected by the Clean Water Act. This could exclude more wetlands from federal protection, leaving them vulnerable to destruction. 

This threat of a deregulatory blitz comes following weeks of crushing blows to the federal government’s leadership on Chesapeake Bay restoration, including:

• The Trump Administration’s proposal to slash EPA’s budget by at least 65 percent;  
• The termination of $20 billion in climate and clean energy grants; 
• Destabilizing mass layoffs; 
• Freezing, canceling, or withholding grant funds that clean up streams, plant tree buffers, expand brook trout habitat, restore oyster populations, and other projects vital to Chesapeake Bay restoration. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement:  

“This barrage of deregulatory declarations essentially removes the word protection from the Environmental Protection Agency and undermines the federal/state effort to save the Bay. 

“For example, rolling back federal protections for wetlands and waterways removes accountability for water pollution crossing state lines while further jeopardizing restoration efforts.  

“Clean air and clean water are rights that cannot be taken for granted. We must stand up for the health and wellbeing of our region’s people, the Chesapeake Bay, and its rivers and streams.” 

Survey reveals concerns and priorities of MD, PA, VA, and DC residents as leaders update federal-state Chesapeake Bay Agreement

As the federal-state partnership to restore the Chesapeake Bay faces unprecedented federal upheaval, more than half (52%) of surveyed Chesapeake Bay-area residents believe challenges to the Bay will become more serious over the next five years, according to a new poll by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). Only 12 percent expect challenges to become less serious.  

Most poll respondents (55%) think restoring the Chesapeake Bay has become more of a priority over the last 10 years. CBF commissioned the poll of 2,000 residents of Chesapeake Bay watershed counties in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.   

When asked how to address the challenges facing the Bay, respondents indicated a range of actions are necessary. Some of those include:

• Ensuring the Bay is free of toxic contaminants (86%);  
• Protecting and enhancing living resources such as fish and oysters (84%); 
• Restoring, protecting, and enhancing vital habitats (84%); 
• Reducing pollutants and improving water quality (84%);  
• Increasing environmental literacy (79%); and,   
• Increasing climate resiliency (76%)   

Bay restoration success should be measured comprehensively, the polling results suggest, with the top three indicators being pollution reductions (82%), water quality and clarity (77%), and habitat improvements (59%).   

This comes as recent actions by the Trump Administration threaten to wreak havoc on the decades-long Bay restoration effort. Those include planned budget cuts, including at least a 65 percent cut proposed for the Environmental Protection Agency, mass layoffs at government agencies supporting Chesapeake Bay restoration, and suspended grant programs.   

This upheaval coincides with efforts by the federal-state Bay restoration partnership to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement in 2025. This historic long-term collaborative plan to restore the Bay must continue to address the many complex issues facing the Chesapeake and not be stripped down to a narrow focus.  

“Nearly 19 million people in our region rely on the Chesapeake Bay for their wellbeing, livelihoods, and quality of life,” said CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk. “Federal rollbacks risk upending decades of progress toward a healthy Bay. States in this region must step up and do more, not less, in the face of setbacks.”  

“The Chesapeake Bay Agreement has guided restoration work for decades, remaining a constant through changes in federal and state administrations,” Falk said. “We need a comprehensive Chesapeake Bay Agreement where success is focused not only on reducing pollution, but also ensures thriving people, plants, and animals.”   

Chesapeake Bay Agreement to be Revised in 2025 

The Bay restoration effort is built on a partnership between the federal government, the six states in the Bay watershed, Washington, D.C., and the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The federal government is vital to Chesapeake Bay restoration, providing science, accountability, and technical and financial resources. 

The 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement is the guiding force in this effort, with a stated vision of “an environmentally and economically sustainable Chesapeake Bay watershed with clean water, abundant life, conserved lands and access to the water, a vibrant cultural heritage, and a diversity of engaged stakeholders.”  

To realize this vision, the agreement focuses on 10 comprehensive goals related to reducing pollution, toxics, sustainable fisheries and habitats, climate change, environmental education, and more. State and federal leaders have pledged to update this agreement in 2025.  

At a March 28 meeting organized by the Chesapeake Bay Program, federal and state leaders will take the first steps toward making recommendations on the scope of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The revised Agreement is expected to be finalized by the leaders in December at a Chesapeake Executive Council meeting.  

“Strong federal support, combined with leadership from the states, has been key to every Bay restoration success so far—from bringing back oyster reefs to reducing pollution from sewage treatment plants,” Falk said. “The Chesapeake Bay Agreement brings everyone together and provides accountability to the federal-state partnership.”  

Environmental Education, Toxics, and Bay Life 

Reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment will always be a central element to improving water quality and shrinking the Bay’s oxygen-starved dead zone. But focusing solely on reducing pollution will not save the Bay. 

“The cleanest water in the world means little if we don’t have the Bay’s beautiful marshes, clean streams, sustainable fisheries, and flourishing communities,” Falk said.  

New science shows that Chesapeake Bay restoration can be done more efficiently and effectively, as summarized in the 2023 report by dozens of leading Bay scientists called Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR). However, that means looking at the Bay watershed holistically, not slashing important work already underway.  

Toxic contaminants such as PFAS are dangerous chemicals that can persist in waterways for generations, compounding health risks to people and animals. The 2014 Bay Agreement includes an overarching goal to ensure the people and animals around the Bay are not harmed by toxic contaminants. That includes research into toxic contaminants, as well as supporting policy to prevent toxics.   

“PFAS are yet another example of why we should approach watersheds as systems,” said David B. Arscott, Ph.D., executive director, president, and research scientist at Stroud Water Research Center. “These cancer-causing chemicals contaminate not just farm fields and groundwater, but surface waters too. If PFAS are not included in the Bay Agreement, then where will this complex issue receive the attention it needs to improve the health and safety of our waters?” 

 Environmental education connects students with the world around them and builds the next generation of leaders. Studies show that this type of hands-on learning fosters critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and creativity. The 2014 Bay Agreement has an overarching goal to ensure students around the watershed know how to protect and restore their local waters.

“Our children are inheriting a world where environmental challenges are becoming increasingly urgent,” said Tonya Humphrey, a teacher with Prince George County Public Schools in Virginia who has led students on environmental education experiences for 20 years.  

 “Through environmental education, we empower our students to become problem solvers, advocates, and stewards of our natural world,” Humphrey said. “They will carry these lessons forward in their careers and communities. This kind of learning is only possible through strong partnerships between schools, local and state governments, and environmental organizations.” 

The 2014 Bay Agreement includes a goal to protect and restore the Bay’s fisheries, as well as a separate goal to protect and restore vital land and water habitats.   

One of the Bay’s recent success stories is the coordinated effort to restore the Chesapeake’s historic oyster reefs in 11 Bay tributaries—the world’s largest and most successful oyster restoration effort so far. Work on healthy habitats helps children have clean streams to splash in, wetlands absorb floodwaters and filter pollutants, and urban trees shade hot city streets on baking summer days.   

“Recreational and commercial fisheries support local businesses and people that depend on the Bay. Protecting those fisheries by improving water quality and Bay habitats will make sure our children and grandchildren can feel the joy of reeling in a striped bass, or savoring a Maryland crab cake, for generations to come,” said Dave Sikorski, the Coastal Conservation Association’s Maryland Executive Director 

The Chesapeake Bay is facing mounting challenges from climate change, increasing development, and population growth. Now, more than ever, is the time for a comprehensive Chesapeake Bay Agreement to guide work across states toward a common goal. Success is not only about reducing pollution, but also ensuring thriving people, plants, and animals.   

Additional Polling Results   

• 72% of survey respondents living in or near the watershed agree that efforts to Save the Bay also address climate change.  

• Top five issues negatively affecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed: Plastic waste (51%), Toxic pollution (47%), stormwater runoff (36%), climate change (35%), residential and commercial development (34%) 

• 50% of these watershed residents spend at least a few days per year at or on the Chesapeake Bay  

• What is the best crab seasoning? Old Bay (79%), J.O. (5%) 

• What is the Bay animal most in need of protection? Blue crab (70%), bald eagle (68%), oyster (49%), striped bass (36%) 

About the Survey 

Commissioned by CBF, the poll was conducted in October 2024 by Ipsos utilizing the Ipsos Online Panel system and partner online panel sources among 2000 adults aged 18-99 within watershed counties in Maryland, Pennsylvania (plus Philadelphia), and Virginia. Surveys were also collected in Washington D.C. The sample consists of approximately 600 respondents from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, and 200 from Washington D.C. The sample is reflective of these states’ populations’ age and gender. No other demographic weights, beyond age and gender, have been applied. Where results do not sum to 100 or the ‘difference’ appears to be +/-1 more/less than the actual, this may be due to rounding, multiple responses, or the exclusion of don’t know or not stated responses. 

See CBF 2024 Perceptions and Public Research—Public Release Questionnaire

For more information on survey methodology, please contact the Ipsos team: 

Moriya Bobev – Moriya.Bobev@ipsos.com

Kimberly Liedel – Kimberly.Liedel@ipsos.com

Implementation now depends on sustained environmental funding in the state’s budget

In an exciting step for Maryland water quality, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the five watershed projects that’ll be implemented as part of the Whole Watershed Act. This is a five-year pilot program that will restore targeted rivers and streams of various geographies, levels of impairment, and uses. The selected projects include: Antietam Creek in Washington County, the Baltimore Harbor, Newport Bay in Worcester County, the Severn River near Annapolis, and the Upper Choptank River on the Eastern Shore. 

The Whole Watershed Act, which passed in the 2024 General Assembly, will implement innovative, science-based approaches to waterway restoration. The program is a direct response to the 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report—an evaluation of water quality progress for the Chesapeake Bay—which recommended targeting restoration in key watersheds to accelerate water quality, habitat, and living resource benefits, particularly in shallow water areas like creeks and streams.  

Project proposals had to demonstrate strong community and local government support, and had to address non-point source pollution. Concepts range from planting trees on farms, to protecting shorelines from erosion, and restoring underwater grasses and oyster beds. Selected watersheds will benefit from technical assistance, funding, and a coordinated permitting process that will help implement the projects over the five-year pilot program. 

However, funding for this program is currently at risk as legislators work to address the state’s $3 billion budget deficit. The Department of Legislative Services recommended a sweeping, four-year cut to environmental programs, which could effectively halt implementation of the Act and other Chesapeake Bay restoration projects. 

Allison Colden, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Executive Director, issued the following statement: 

“This announcement is an exciting step toward fully restoring these five watersheds, which will have incredible water quality benefits for Marylanders and the Chesapeake Bay. Accelerating the pace of restoration in a data-driven way that achieves multiple outcomes – from climate mitigation, improved air and water quality, to vibrant fisheries – is key to Maryland achieving its Bay restoration, climate, and economic goals.  

“However, these exciting plans are somewhat tempered by looming recommendations to cut funding for environmental programs that would fund implementation of the Whole Watershed Act. We urge the Maryland General Assembly to resist environmental budget cuts so that the Whole Watershed Act’s strategic, science-driven solutions can be implemented, and the resulting water quality benefits can be enjoyed by all.” 

(HARRISBURG)—The Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership (K10) plans to add nearly 200,000 new trees to Pennsylvania this year, approaching a lofty goal of 10 million new trees planted by the end of 2025.

With over 320 partners, the collaborative effort coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), has amassed over 8.2 million new trees in Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay watershed since it launched in spring of 2018. Last year alone, partners planted 468,467 trees.

“Having planted 8.2 million trees as of last fall is a very good sign we’re closing in on 10 million,” Partnership Manager Marley McKind said. “I am so thankful for all the hard work of our partners and growers alongside the K10 team. We couldn’t have gotten to 8.2 million without them.” 

The effort reached its midway, 5-millionth tree milestone in fall of 2022.

This spring, CBF plans to directly fund and distribute roughly 90,000 trees, and critical tree sheltering supplies, with an additional 100,000 planned for the fall planting season. Trees will be coming from nurseries in Lancaster County and northern Maryland.

A $75,000 tree survival grant from the Foxwynd Foundation, of Chester County, will allow trees planted along streams by partners to live longer, grow stronger, and have a better chance to clean and protect local waters.

Funding from Foxwynd will be used this spring for maintenance, supplies, and logistical support. Partners are applying now for $30,000 in maintenance grants that will be announced in April, the same time trees will be distributed for planting.

The partnership continues to place special emphasis on plantings in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Adding trees in those counties is critical because of the amount of nitrogen pollution generated and to improve local stream health and reverse the overall loss of trees.

CBF reflects on the resilience and determination of the partnership as it nears its goal.

“This campaign ran through a pandemic and just kept going,” McKind said. “The fact that funders continued to provide grants, partners remained dedicated to the program, and the enthusiasm of volunteers to plant trees never waned shows the spirit and passion for this work.”

Trees are the most cost-effective tools for cleaning and protecting waterways. Trees filter and absorb polluted runoff, stabilize streambanks, and improve soil quality. Trees also help address climate change by cooling the air and sequestering carbon.

To learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership visit www.TenMillionTrees.org.        

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Applauds Strides for Clean Water, Outdoor Learning, Public Health

Update: On March 24, Governor Youngkin cut $500,000 in environmental literacy funding from the state budget that had been approved by legislators. For more information, see CBF’s press statement.

Though it was a short legislative session, Virginia lawmakers secured significant victories this month for climate adaptation, conservation, and cleaner water—all helping lead to healthier communities and a stronger economy.  

This session marked wins for the state’s wetlands, outdoor learning for students, stronger safeguards against disastrous weather, and protecting Virginia’s trees.  

But there’s still more work to be done when it comes to the Chesapeake Bay’s most important fish known as menhaden, funding living shorelines, studying microplastics in our drinking water, and protecting homes and businesses from extreme storms.  

CBF backed the following bills and budget measures passed by lawmakers, which will now head to Governor Youngkin to consider signing into law:  

Protecting Virginians from Flooding and Extreme Weather 

• HB 2034 introduced by Delegate Shelly Simonds: This bill establishes a taskforce to protect the state’s existing tidal and nontidal wetlands, which are natural water filterers and sponges. The Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA stripped federal protections from many wetlands nationwide, making Virginia’s existing regulations even more essential.  
• HB 2630 introduced by Delegate Rodney Willett and HB 2638 introduced by Delegate Patrick Hope: These bills are especially important as the state continues to lose tree canopy at an alarming rate. Another natural sponge that cools our neighborhoods and reduces our energy use, trees would be easier to preserve and replace under these two bills that answer calls to expand localities’ ability to conserve tree canopy.  
• HB 2077 introduced by Delegate Paul Krizek: This bill allows federally-recognized tribal governments access to Community Flood Preparedness funding.  
• HJ 434 introduced by Delegate Michael Feggans and HJ 437 introduced by Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler: HJ434 directs studies on how state and localities would fund Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) plans. HJ437 reestablishes the Joint Subcommittee of Recurrent Flooding.  
• $50 million to provide climate resilience funding. With the need for proactive flood prevention at an all-time high, lawmakers slotted these monies to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF), which provides vital grants to localities across the state—from Winchester to Hampton, Danville to Fairfax.  

Protecting and Restoring Key Species  

• CBF is encouraged to see $250,000 in the state budget to reduce the predatory pressure of the invasive blue catfish in Virginia’s waters on native species like menhaden, striped bass, shad, and blue crabs. These funds will help increase processing capacity of blue catfish so we can get more of them out of the waters and onto people’s plates.  
• CBF is deeply disappointed that Omega Protein once again stood in the way of science to thwart good faith efforts to study the health of the Chesapeake Bay’s menhaden population.  

Solar Projects: Durable Future for Clean Energy  

• To achieve established clean energy goals without unduly compromising farmland or forests, CBF supported legislation to create a state advisory body for localities considering utility-scale solar projects. The legislation also required a regional energy plan. CBF is disappointed this measure did not advance, and remains committed to supporting localities seeking utility-scale solar projects.   

Reducing Pollution in Waterways 

• $40 million in the proposed state budget for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) to help cities and counties reduce polluted runoff from urban and suburban lands. SLAF provides matching grants to localities for projects such as wetland construction, living shoreline installation, and stream restoration work. 
• $31 million to fully fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and $26 million for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share program: Practices like fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and many others are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Bay and local streams. 

Advancing Environmental Education 

• The budget includes an investment of $500,000 to support the statewide competitive environmental education experiences grant program. This ensures that Virginia’s youth meet state education standards and stay on par with neighboring states. The state’s current investments of just 30 cents per student in environmental education lags significantly behind neighboring states, falling 89.2% below Maryland ($2.78 per student) and 48.3% less than Pennsylvania (58 cents per student). 

CBF Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford released the following statement:  

“This General Assembly session delivered some significant wins for Virginia’s environment and our communities. Lawmakers prioritized wetlands protection, expanded local authority to preserve vital tree canopy, and secured critical funding for flood preparedness and stormwater management. These victories will bolster our resilience to climate change, protect clean water, and create a healthier Commonwealth. 

“Investments in reducing the impact of invasive blue catfish will help control this threat to the Bay’s blue crab population and other native species. However, Omega Protein’s continued resistance to a science-based menhaden study is deeply concerning. This crucial fish is essential for the Bay’s overall health, and we urge lawmakers to prioritize this in future sessions. 

“While solar siting legislation did not advance, we will continue to advocate for responsible clean energy development. Protecting our homes and businesses from increasingly severe storms remains a top priority, so we must address the urgent need for living shoreline funding and further explore the impacts of microplastics in our drinking water.” 

Further cuts could jeopardize ongoing investments in local economies and undermine progress in Chesapeake Bay cleanup

In an already contentious budget year for the Maryland General Assembly, the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) has made an alarming recommendation to steeply cut funding for programs that improve water quality and protect the Chesapeake Bay. If adopted, DLS’s recommendations would cut environmental programming more than 42 percent, effectively halting progress for Bay restoration. These dollars go directly to farmers, watermen, homeowners, and restoration practitioners who are on the ground improving Maryland’s waterways. 

This week, the House and Senate will consider how to address the state’s $3 billion deficit during hearings on the 2025 Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (HB 352/SB 321). The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), its advocates, and partners urge legislators to support Governor Wes Moore’s proposed budget and resist additional funding cuts for critical programs that support Maryland’s water quality, health, jobs, and ways of life.

“Investments in clean water and air are investments in Marylanders,” said Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director. “These programs are not just good for the Bay but support jobs, improve people’s health, and make strong financial sense.”

The state agencies that help protect the Bay—Departments of the Environment (MDE), Natural Resources (DNR), and Agriculture (MDA) as well as the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) have a combined proposed budget of $1.046 billion in FY 26 and are slated to collectively contribute well over $255.4 million to deficit reduction in the Governor’s budget plan through a combination of cuts, fund swaps, and other reductions.

Governor Moore’s preliminary budget already included reasonable one-time adjustments to Bay programs. However, DLS has recommended diverting an additional $180 million annually for the next four years from environmental programs including:

• Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund, which supports farmers installing practices that reduce pollution into local waterways; 
• Program Open Space, which protects Maryland lands and forests and provides local governments with funds to improve recreational amenities. 
• Clean Water Commerce program, which compensates businesses that reduce pollution and promote climate resiliency; 
• Waterways Improvement Fund, which addresses shoreline erosion, abandoned vessels, and marine sewage pump out programs that protect Bay water quality. 

“Protecting the Chesapeake Bay’s health is of paramount importance,” said Johnny Shockley, founder of Blue Oyster Environmental oyster aquaculture company. “We have made significant progress, and it is crucial that we continue to safeguard our state’s future by maintaining funding for vital programs such as the Clean Water Commerce.”

“Program Open Space isn’t a slush fund for budget shortfalls—it’s a commitment to Maryland’s communities, parks, and future,” said Kevin Kinnally, Legislative Director, Maryland Association of Counties (MACo). “Diverting these dedicated funds breaks that promise, undermines decades of conservation progress, and forces counties to fill the gap. This is not belt-tightening—it’s a raid on local investments that support economic growth, environmental resilience, and quality of life. Maryland must keep its commitment to communities and protect funding for open space preservation.”

Further cuts to these programs would significantly hinder the state’s ability to deliver on commitments to improve water quality and habitats, and would risk backsliding on natural resource investments that are the backbone of Maryland’s economy.

Maryland’s seafood industry contributes nearly $600 million to the state’s economy annually. Every acre of oyster reef restored provides more than $40,000 annually in non-harvest benefit, and robust recreation, hunting and fishing opportunities result in nearly $20 billion in economic impacts annually. Additionally, fully funding farm pollution-reduction programs would inject $655 million annually into the region’s economy. 

“Now, more than ever, Maryland cannot afford to abandon its leadership role in the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund is a catalyst for environmental restoration and local economies across our state,” said Matt Johnston, Executive Director of Arundel Rivers Federation. “Grant dollars provided by this fund are sent right back into our communities by organizations like Arundel Rivers who use these grants to employ engineers, construction workers, truck drivers, landscape professionals, and so many other local laborers to deliver projects that reduce local pollution and create more resilient communities.” 

“Over the past several years, ShoreRivers has been the grateful recipient of funding from a number of state programs, including the Clean Water Commerce Account, the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, and the Tree Solutions Now Act of 2021,” said Timothy Rosen, Director of Agriculture & Restoration at ShoreRivers. “But it hasn’t been our organization that has benefitted the most from that funding—the majority has been passed on to local Maryland businesses to install and maintain restoration projects on our Eastern Shore farm fields and in our local communities.”  

“According to a recent report on the economic impact of conservation on the Delmarva peninsula [compiled by the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy and Delmarva Resource Conservation Network], investment in restoration and conservation directly gives back to Maryland by supporting almost 140 jobs over the lifetime of a single project, with every $1 million invested returning $1.8 million back to the state through local economic output. While we recognize the considerable task our legislators are facing this session, this crucial funding has created jobs and a restoration economy that helps us achieve clean water goals, keeps Marylanders employed, and supports a robust and vibrant rural economy,” added Rosen. 

CBF urges members of the General Assembly to reject DLS’s recommendation and resist further environmental budget cuts that would result in long-term harm to Maryland’s waterways, economies, and people. 

To help protect water quality across the Chesapeake Bay region, Alan Girard, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s Maryland Advocacy Director, was elected this year’s Chair of the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative (DLLC). 

Chicken farming has been an essential part of the Delmarva Peninsula’s culture for 100 years. While chicken litter is a valuable fertilizer for crops, it can lead to harmful pollution if not well managed. Agriculture is one of the leading sources of nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. 

DLLC was founded to help address these issues with a collaborative group of diverse stakeholders. Committee members include chicken companies, farmers, agencies, academics, and environmental groups. Each year, the DLLC Chair changes hands between an agriculture and environmental representative.  

In his role as Chair, Girard will help ensure the region’s agricultural and poultry operations remain productive, while also protecting water quality and communities. One of the Committee’s top priorities this year is to better understand why Delmarva waterways lag behind other Bay tributaries in reducing nutrient pollution. 

Alan Girard, CBF Maryland Advocacy Director and DLLC Chair, issued the following statement: 

“The Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative’s goal is clear—productive farms, clean water, and thriving ecosystems. However, the solutions are complex, and collaboration and partnerships with the agricultural and environmental communities are critical. As DLLC Chair, I’m eager to continue nurturing those key relationships and progressing towards our shared goals together.” 

Despite mounting troubling signs about the health of the Chesapeake Bay’s menhaden population, this legislative session Virginia lawmakers failed to approve three separate efforts to fund a study intended to answer long-standing questions about the Bay’s menhaden. 

The Commonwealth’s long wait for the necessary science into the Commonwealth’s largest fishery and most important fish in the Bay persists. 

Atlantic menhaden are the target of Virginia’s largest commercial fishery, run by a company called Omega Protein, and its affiliates. Typically turned into fishmeal and fish oil products in a process known as “reduction fishing,” the small schooling fish also are a key food for iconic predators like striped bass, bluefish, and ospreys. All other states have banned the practice of reduction fishing.  

After thousands of menhaden and gamefish washed up on Virginia shores during high-profile fish spills by Omega Protein, the General Assembly passed legislation in 2023 requiring plans for studying menhaden populations in Virginia waters. This was backed by Omega Protein. But in early 2024, Virginia lawmakers failed to pass a bill that would have funded this necessary research.   

This year, Delegate Paul Milde spearheaded one effort for the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to complete the $3 million three-year study of the ecology, fishery impacts, and economic importance of the menhaden population in Virginia. That House Bill 2713 and the accompanying budget amendment Item 148 #4h failed to advance from the House. 

Another effort by Delegate Betsy Carr slotted the first year of funding for the study in the state budget to VIMS, but this measure was killed during budget negotiations. 

The study would address critical data gaps, including the menhaden population within the Bay and the impacts of “reduction” fishing. 

In large part due to reduction fishing, more than 70 percent of all commercial menhaden harvest lands in Virginia. But menhaden management continues to rely on coastwide data that doesn’t paint a full picture of how the fishery affects fish in Virginia. A lack of Bay-specific data hinders effective management decisions and jeopardizes the health of this keystone species and renowned estuary.  

Robust menhaden populations are essential to Virginia’s $980 million recreational fishing economy, supporting valuable sportfish like striped bass. Yet troubling signs continue to mount, including starving osprey in areas of the Bay where they depend on menhaden for food. 

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

“This is not just bad news for fishermen, but bad news for a Chesapeake Bay ecosystem that continues to scream warnings about menhaden. For years, we’ve lacked the baseline knowledge we need to establish robust and lasting sustainability for menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Unfortunately, one foreign-owned entity continues to stand in the way of good science—Omega Protein, the largest harvester of menhaden on the Atlantic Coast.”   

“We are deeply disappointed that once again Omega Protein and their lobbyists have thwarted the good faith efforts to develop the necessary science for the Chesapeake Bay. Perhaps even more frustrating is the fact they twice previously supported the proposed approach to studying many of the most pressing questions related to the Commonwealth’s menhaden resource. This delay will not be received well by the public, who has long supported better menhaden science for the region.” 

Investments Bolster Chesapeake Bay Restoration and a Climate-Ready Commonwealth

Virginia lawmakers made some of the strongest investments in recent years when it comes to flood protection, cleaner rivers and streams, and more hands-on outdoor learning in the compromise budget proposal announced Thursday.

The budget conference report released Feb. 20 by Virginia state legislators proposed investments in climate resiliency, environmental education, and significant investment in pollution reduction. 

This House and Senate compromise on the state budget will now head the full House and Senate then Governor Youngkin for final approval.

Creating a Climate-Ready Commonwealth

• The proposed budget commits an additional $50 million dollars in general funds to the Community Flood Preparedness Fund, which is Virginia’s only dedicated climate change adaptation program. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund has helped communities around the Commonwealth begin to adapt to sea level rise and the costliest natural hazard: flooding.

Advancing Environmental Education 

• The proposed budget includes an investment of $500,000 to support statewide competitive environmental education experiences grant program: This ensures that Virginia’s youth meet state education standards and stay on par with neighboring states. The state’s current investments of just 30 cents per student in environmental education lags significantly behind neighboring states, falling 89.2% below Maryland ($2.78 per student) and 48.3% less than Pennsylvania (58 cents per student).  

Protecting Keystone Species

• The proposed budget includes $250,000 to reduce the predatory pressure of the invasive blue catfish in Virginia waters: The invasive species are known to feed on native species like menhaden, striped bass, shad, and blue crabs, straining these critical fisheries populations.
• The proposed budget does not include funding for a critical study intended to answer long-standing questions about the Bay’s menhaden and the Commonwealth’s largest fishery. 

Cleaner Water for Everyone

• The proposed budget includes a significant $40 million investment in the state’s Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF): Runoff from roofs, sidewalks, and roadways is a major source of harmful pollutants reaching our waterways. SLAF provides matching grants to localities for projects that reduce polluted runoff, such as stream restoration, rain gardens, and other retrofits. 
• The proposed budget commits an additional $31 million to fully fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and $26 million to ensure we can fund agricultural best management practices in the years ahead: This is one of the highest investments for cleaner water in recent years in the state budget. Practices like fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and many others are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Chesapeake Bay and local streams. At the same time, many of Virginia’s sewage treatment facilities have made important progress in nutrient reductions in recent years due to investments made by the General Assembly. 

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

“Virginians are speaking clearly. They want clean rivers and streams for their kids to enjoy, stronger defenses against devastating storms, and a healthy environment that supports our economy. Investing in these priorities isn’t just good environmental policy, it’s smart economic sense. A thriving natural environment means a thriving Virginia.” 

“These are investments that pay off for generations. We can’t afford to wait until the next major storm hits or another waterway is polluted. Reactive measures are costly and often insufficient. We need proactive investments in climate change adaptation, pollution reduction, and environmental education.”

“The budget is a reflection of our priorities. We are grateful to see a proposed budget that invests in a sustainable future for Virginia—a future with clean water, resilient communities, and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation. This is what Virginians want, and it’s what our future demands.”