Press Statement

Nine-term Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) died today, passing away “peacefully at his home this morning, surrounded by family,” according to a statement his family posted on Connolly’s website.  

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

“The Chesapeake Bay has lost a fierce champion. Rep. Connolly was one of the Bay’s most dependable allies in Congress. His death is a huge loss for everyone who loves the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.

“Rep. Connolly never shied away from defending what he cared about most. Whether protecting the Chesapeake Bay Program from budget cuts or standing up for environmental justice, he was a passionate fighter. We were fortunate to have him in our corner. 

“Rep. Connolly worked tirelessly for Virginia and his constituents. He joined with colleagues to oppose drilling off Virginia’s coast and approval of the environmentally harmful Mountain Valley Pipeline without public input. He supported strengthening hands-on outdoor learning opportunities for students around the county. And he reveled in his regular meetings with local environmental advocates. 

“We’re incredibly saddened by the passing of Rep. Connolly. CBF extends our deepest sympathies to his family and friends as they mourn his loss.” 

“Should encourage us to maintain, even accelerate momentum,” CBF says

Maryland’s oyster population has grown significantly in the last 20 years, according to the latest benchmark stock assessment issued this week by Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. The assessment estimates more than 12 billion oysters in Maryland waters as of 2024—more than triple the population recorded in 2005. 

Experts attribute this success to multiple factors, including significant large-scale oyster restoration efforts, several years of strong natural reproduction thanks to favorable environmental conditions, and harvest restrictions implemented since 2018. 

Nearly a decade ago, the Maryland General Assembly passed a law requiring this stock assessment—a calculation of the total abundance of oysters and sustainable fishing rates—to be conducted at least every two years. Maryland’s assessment is subject to review by independent experts and is considered one of the most advanced for oysters in the nation.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) championed this legislation and continues to advocate for data-driven decision making for Maryland’s public oyster fishery based on the stock assessment. Ongoing oversight from DNR is critical to identify and respond to threats to oysters such as disease outbreaks and increasing harvest pressure, and to continue forward momentum for oyster sanctuaries in the Bay and its tributaries.  

CBF’s Maryland Executive Director, Dr. Allison Colden, issued the following statement: 

“Oyster restoration is one of the Chesapeake Bay’s greatest success stories, and this latest stock assessment proves it. Oyster abundance in restored oyster sanctuaries has increased five-fold, even higher than the increase observed throughout Maryland. The strong results should encourage us to maintain, and even accelerate, the momentum for large-scale oyster restoration. 

“However, luck has also played a role. Drought caused by changing environmental conditions has supported oyster population growth in recent years but also threatens to increase oyster diseases. While disease trends have remained low since 2018, DNR must continue vigilant monitoring to avoid significant oyster mortality like that observed in the early 2000s. Environmental conditions can quickly change. DNR’s strong oversight will help mitigate these often-uncontrollable threats. 

“Not only are oysters a keystone species that naturally clean the water and support hundreds of other animals, they’re also critical to our state’s economy and culture. DNR’s conservative management of the oyster fishery since 2018 seems to have stabilized, and even grown, oyster fishery harvests. If we’d like to see oyster populations continue to double and triple for the foreseeable future, we must maintain sustainable, data-driven management of oysters in Maryland.”  

States and school districts around the Bay region have made some progress toward meeting their goals for teaching students about the environment, but much work remains, according to data recently released by EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program.  

The news comes as the Trump administration proposes to eliminate the environmental education grant program, the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program.  

Chesapeake B-WET is administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office, which the administration also would defund.  

According to the Bay Program, the number of school districts that say they are “well prepared” to adopt a comprehensive environmental education program increased from 17 percent to 19 percent between 2022 and 2024. The percentage rebounded nearly to the pre-Covid level of 20 percent. 

The seven Bay jurisdictions committed in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement to ensuring their students can graduate high school with the knowledge and skills to be good stewards of their local watershed by the end of this year. 

Chesapeake B-WET is the principal source of federal funds to advance that goal. It helps school districts develop curriculum and instruction to get students outside for hands-on learning and to investigate real-world phenomena, gather data, draw conclusions, and devise solutions to environmental challenges in their communities. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Vice President for Environmental Education Tom Ackerman released the following statement: 

“With day-to-day experience increasingly dominated by screen time, students need hands-on, real-world learning. The federal government must invest more in environmental education, not eliminate it.

“State education agencies and school districts deserve a lot of credit for recent progress. The coordination and leadership from NOAA and other federal partners have been an essential catalyst and support.

“While environmental education has rebounded since the pandemic, we have also seen massive teacher turnover. Now more than ever, we need B-WET to help train new teachers to deliver high-quality, locally relevant educational experiences that inspire students to be good stewards of the Bay and its rivers and streams.

“We urge Congress to reject the Trump administration’s misplaced priorities and support investing in the future of our students.” 

Office of Commonwealth Resilience Comes as Federal Rollbacks Demand State Leadership

Virginia’s governor’s office announced Wednesday that the Office of Commonwealth Resilience is now fully staffed. This central office aligns climate resiliency resources statewide, marking a significant step forward for the Commonwealth in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and increasingly severe weather events.

Legislation establishing this office was championed by Delegate Phil Hernandez last year.

The same week of the bill’s passage, parents in the Hampton Roads region dealt with their children’s schools being closed due to flooding, drivers navigated swamped roads, and communities across the Commonwealth prepared to mark Flood Awareness Week by sharing memories of severe storms that damaged their homes and businesses.

Delegate Phil Hernandez issued the following statement:

“I am excited to see my bill come to fruition and recognize the immense importance of this Office of Commonwealth Resilience in our fight against climate change and the disastrous weather challenges facing communities across Virginia.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to the dedicated individuals who have been appointed to lead this vital new office. Their expertise and commitment will be instrumental in coordinating climate adaptation efforts across our state government, ensuring a proactive and comprehensive approach to building a more resilient Virginia for all its citizens.”

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

“We are excited to work alongside the appointees to the Office of Commonwealth Resilience on the significant challenges our commonwealth faces in building climate resilience. This couldn’t be more timely given proposed federal rollbacks to climate resilience efforts. Virginia must take a strong leadership role in this critical area as we face increasingly severe weather driven by climate change. Instead of reacting to extreme weather by relying on disaster recovery funds, this office is a step forward to a preventative approach that truly prepares Virginia for inevitable climate change challenges on our horizon.”

Today, in an exciting step for clean water and the local economies it supports, Governor Wes Moore signed the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (HB506) into Maryland law. This legislation, sponsored by the Governor in partnership with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Agriculture (MDA), and Department of the Environment (MDE), will help improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and promote economic growth across the state.

The Bay Legacy Act will make implementing environmentally friendly practices easier and more appealing for individuals and businesses across Maryland, including farmers, oyster growers, and restoration practitioners. 

Some key parts of the Act include:

• Establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program, which will create tiered incentives to prioritize agricultural conservation that maximizes benefits to habitat and biodiversity and reduces pollution reaching the Bay; 
• Promoting regenerative agriculture, a suite of on-farm practices that improve soil health, on state-owned land; 
• Consolidating state water quality monitoring programs to streamline and improve the quality of data, as well as increase coordination to help quantify progress towards cleaning the Bay’s rivers and streams; 
• Simplifying reporting for the aquaculture industry, which greatly benefits water quality and fish habitat in the Bay; 
• Securing funds for the Whole Watershed Act, which will implement targeted restoration in five key watersheds across the state.  

The Act’s programs and reforms will address key recommendations identified in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s May 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) strongly supported this legislation and was honored to join Governor Moore, DNR, MDE, MDA, and other partners at the bill signing ceremony at the State House in Annapolis on May 13.

Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director, issued the following statement:

“Governor Moore’s Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act brings hope for a healthier and more resilient future. This legislation gives farmers, oyster growers, and restoration practitioners the tools they need to succeed, and in turn, will reduce pollution in our rivers and streams.  

“With federal cuts and rollbacks looming heavily on our state, Maryland’s environmental leadership is more important than ever. This Act will help maintain forward momentum and ensure that investments in clean air, clean water, habitats, and local economies are secured.

“We appreciate the Moore-Miller administration’s dedication to a healthier Chesapeake Bay and look forward to helping implement these solutions statewide.”

President Trump today proposed a fiscal year 2026 budget that would devastate the federal government’s ability to lead efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. 

For decades, restoring the Chesapeake Bay has relied on resources and strong leadership from multiple federal agencies working in partnership with the six watershed states and Washington, D.C. 

The president’s proposed fiscal year 2026 “skinny” budget—which he is expected to provide further details on in the coming weeks—would gut funding for key federal agencies involved in Chesapeake Bay restoration, and eliminate resources that support joint state and federal cleanup efforts.  

The proposed budget also targets cuts towards many programs focused on climate change research, environmental injustices, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.  

The budget would slash the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) funding by $5 billion, or 54.5 percent—reducing it from $9.1 billion this year to $4.2 billion in fiscal year 2026.  

Roughly half of the cuts—about $2.46 billion—would cripple loan programs that help states upgrade water treatment infrastructure to reduce nitrogen and other pollutants harmful to the Bay and its rivers and streams. 

An additional $1 billion in cuts would eliminate numerous state grant programs, including those that Bay states rely on to improve local water quality, reduce polluted runoff, and meet their Bay cleanup commitments. 

The Trump Administration’s fiscal year 2026 budget would eliminate $1.3 billion in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) grants and research, targeting climate and education programs.  

These funds help NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office conduct work and research that restores and protects native species like oysters, blue crabs, and striped bass, and improve climate resilience in the region. They also fund hands-on environmental education through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Training (B-WET) program, helping to cultivate the next generation of Bay stewards.  

Also slated for major cuts is funding for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Trump’s fiscal year 2026 budget calls for slashing $564 million from USGS surveys, investigations, and research programs—eliminating climate-related work “to instead focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals.” The Bay states and the federal government rely on USGS’s data to meet water quality goals and inform strategies for protecting the Bay region’s lands, waterways, fish, and wildlife. 

The budget also cuts technical assistance and personnel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) who work with farmers to implement conservation practices. Many USDA conservation programs have waitlists, as farmers seek to implement practices like planting trees along streams, rotating grazing land, and fencing livestock out of streams. Cutting these programs would be detrimental to state and federal restoration efforts.  

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

“The White House’s proposed budget would unravel decades of partnership and progress restoring the Bay and local waterways. The federal government must lead Bay cleanup efforts and support state restoration work—not undermine it. 

“These proposed cuts would leave already-strapped states struggling to meet their clean water commitments and manage natural resources. The budget would choke off essential restoration funding—including efforts to rebuild oyster populations and help farmers reduce polluted runoff. It would also virtually eliminate cutting-edge research and data collection critical for restoring water quality and building climate resilience.

“It’s not too late to stop these draconian cuts. Everyone who loves the Bay should tell Congress to reject the dangerous rollbacks in the White House budget. The Bay, its waterways, and the nearly 19 million people living in the Chesapeake region deserve better.”  

The Trump administration plans to propose deep budget cuts and program closures at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its budget for next year. This would devastate NOAA’s work helping to restore the Chesapeake Bay, manage the Bay’s fisheries, and educate the next generation of Bay stewards. 

The plan, outlined in a leaked White House memo and press reports, would slash NOAA’s total budget by $1.7 billion, or 27 percent, from the current level of $6.1 billion to $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2026.  

The budget for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the NOAA agency that manages fisheries and protects marine ecosystems, would be cut roughly 30 percent, from $1.1 billion currently to $789.3 million in fiscal 2026.  

The White House would move NMFS fisheries and marine species protection functions to the Interior Department’s Fish and Wildlife Service and direct what remains of NMFS to prioritize permitting energy development projects like offshore drilling. 

The plan also calls for zeroing out funding for NOAA’s Office of Education and effectively eliminating its Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. 

NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office is a key partner in Chesapeake Bay restoration, leading work and science across the region that protects fisheries, improves climate resilience, and supports high-quality environmental education. Housed within NMFS, the Bay Office coordinates closely with the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program on Bay restoration work across the watershed.  

NOAA’s Bay Office provides the science and technology to protect oysters, blue crabs, striped bass, and their habitat—fisheries vital to the Bay ecosystem and the region’s economy. NOAA’s research and science are critical to protecting homes and businesses from flooding and extreme storms due to climate change.  

The Chesapeake Bay is home to the largest and most successful oyster reef restoration projects in the world, thanks to NOAA’s expertise, leadership, and investment. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office’s expertise is essential to implementing large-scale oyster restoration projects that boost the native oyster population, improve water quality, promote biodiversity in the Bay and tidal tributaries, and support the seafood industry.  

NOAA’s Bay Office also administers the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) environmental literacy program. Chesapeake B-WET gives students and educators the tools, resources, and funding to learn first-hand about local environmental issues, the natural wonders of the Bay ecosystem, and how to protect it.   

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Senior Vice President for Programs Alison Prost issued the following statement: 

“Dismantling and defunding NOAA would be an incredible blow to the Chesapeake Bay.  

“NOAA’s science is critical for restoring oyster reefs, managing commercially important fisheries like blue crabs, and protecting our region’s homes and businesses from climate change.  

“This attack on NOAA jeopardizes what we know works best for restoration: world-class science, innovation, and a strong partnership between the states and federal government. Now is the time for everyone who loves the Bay to speak up and urge Congress to protect NOAA from these dangerous cuts.” 

CBF Vice President for Education Tom Ackerman issued the following statement:  

“It will be up to the next generation to ensure a future with clean air, clean water, and a healthy Chesapeake Bay.  

“NOAA has helped connect countless students with the world around them, from paddling a canoe to walking through the marsh or using state-of-the-art scientific tools to measure local water quality.  

“These programs help prepare students to solve the complex problems of tomorrow. Environmental education is a smart investment for the future, not just a line item to delete from the budget.”  

A Trump Administration memo issued Feb. 26 spells disaster for the Chesapeake Bay, directing federal agencies to prepare for mass layoffs. The Trump Administration yesterday also announced a 65 percent cut to the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget.  

Since the first Chesapeake Bay Agreement in 1983, the federal government has worked with states to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, with the EPA acting as lead federal partner. Because pollution to the Bay crosses state lines, strong federal leadership has been crucial to bringing states together for a healthier Bay. This has resulted in successes that range from the return of historic oyster reefs to massive cuts in pollution from sewage treatment plants.  

The federal government’s role in Chesapeake Bay restoration is a statutory requirement, as enshrined in section 117(g) of the Clean Water Act.  

Recent federal actions that threaten the Chesapeake Bay include:    

• The federal freeze on grant funding, which has halted projects around the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The majority of federal investment in Chesapeake Bay restoration goes to states and communities through grants, which support everything from farmers installing conservation practices, to projects that reduce flooding in cities, to work on the ground by local organizations.  
• Unprecedented reductions to the federal workforce, including through buyouts, layoffs, and the proposed mass firings outlined in the Feb. 26 memo. These are leading to a major loss of expertise and knowledge from federal agencies, including EPA, NOAA, and the USDA.   
• Significant proposed budget cuts to federal agencies.  While EPA is charged with leading and coordinating federal involvement, many federal agencies play a vital role in the comprehensive Bay cleanup.   

CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement.  

“The Trump administration has rolled out an existential crisis for the decades-long Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Taking a wrecking ball to federal agencies and grants not only cripples progress, it will leave future generations with air choked by emissions, fouled beaches where it’s unsafe to swim, and empty tables at crab feasts.  

“Cuts to federal programs risk destroying more than 40 years of collaborative federal/state efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay—a national treasure. Predating many of our nation’s bedrock environmental policies, science-based efforts to restore the Bay are heralded as an international model of restoration and conservation success. If what’s happening here is any indication, the rest of our nation’s waters are in jeopardy.  

“Hollowing out agencies and defunding grant programs wreaks havoc far beyond the federal government. States will face major budget shortfalls, critical scientific research will stop, farmers will be stuck with out-of-pocket expenses the federal government promised to pay, and many local nonprofits may cease to exist. These are the groups doing the valuable work of restoration—planting trees at churches and neighborhood playgrounds, testing water quality to let residents know if it’s safe to swim, and performing countless other invaluable services for their communities. 

“The Chesapeake Bay cleanup is not only historic; it is legally mandated. The Clean Water Act specifically requires the federal government to coordinate Chesapeake Bay restoration, pulling together six states working together for healthy waterways, thriving communities, and strong local economies.  

“Leadership is more important than ever as the federal/state Chesapeake Bay Agreement is revised this year. A goal of that process is to make restoring the Bay more efficient and effective in the face of challenges from climate change, population growth, and growing sources of pollution.  

“Pollution is costly—to our environment, our health, our livelihoods, and our future.  After so much progress, ending investments in clean water now ends the promise of leaving a vibrant Chesapeake Bay ecosystem and related economies to the next generation. 

“We cannot allow a healthy Chesapeake Bay to be a casualty of misguided efforts to root out waste. The Chesapeake Bay is not a waste. The health and wellbeing of the 18 million people who live here is not a waste. The thousands of amazing and unique species that depend on it are not a waste. Our culture and way of life are not a waste. Losing decades of progress, undermining science, destroying an effective federal/state partnership, and jeopardizing our future—that’s not just a waste, it’s a tragedy. 

“It’s never been more important to band together. We are restoring waterways, finding solutions, and creating healthier communities. The effort to save the Bay has always been fueled by the people who love this place. Now, it will take all of us to stand up for it.” 

Plans demonstrate commitment to Chesapeake Bay restoration and a Climate-Ready Commonwealth

Virginia lawmakers recognized the strong connection between thriving, healthy Virginians, a cleaner environment, and robust living resources with their proposed budget amendments released Sunday. 

The Virginia House and Senate money committees unveiled their separate proposed spending plans Sunday. These plans make amendments to the budget previously pitched by Governor Youngkin. 

The budget reports support a host of CBF initiatives including climate readiness following another year of record-breaking and costly extreme weather, investments in environmental education, and investments in cleaner water and air for future generations.

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

Creating a Climate-Ready Commonwealth

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

Advancing Environmental Education 

• The House budget includes an investment of $1 million annually 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¢ per student). 

Cleaner Water for Everyone

• Each chamber’s proposed budget includes significant investment in the state’s Stormwater Local Assistance Fund (SLAF) with the Senate recommending $40 million and the House $50 million: 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 House budget committed an additional $48 million to fully fund wastewater treatment plant upgrades and $26 million to ensure we can fund agricultural best management practices in the years ahead: 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: 

“Whether it’s from the Eastern Shore or Southwest Virginia, communities are calling for help in dealing with extreme storms, flooding, and pollution. We need ramped up resources to proactively tackle extreme weather and ensure cleaner rivers and streams for the long-term health of our children and our economy. Dollars spent in these areas pay back in dividends either through reduced public health costs, increased quality of life and tourism, less disaster recovery spending, and sustainable billion-dollar Virginia fisheries. 

“These budget proposals illustrate a dedication to a more sustainable and resilient future for Virginia. By prioritizing climate readiness, investing in environmental education, and protecting our natural resources, lawmakers can approve a budget that demonstrates their commitment to Virginians’ health and a thriving economy.”

After a remarkable career improving the Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay, Laurie Schwartz has announced her retirement from the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore (WPB). Schwartz has served as president of WPB since the organization was founded nearly 20 years ago. She will officially retire on WPB’s 20th anniversary in June. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is honored to have worked with Schwartz on Baltimore Harbor initiatives including creating the Harris Creek Rain Garden and the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership—a collaboration between CBF and WPB to grow oysters in the Harbor and engage community members in large-scale oyster restoration. 

Carmera Thomas-Wilhite, CBF’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice, previously served as WPB’s Healthy Harbor Program Manager under Schwartz’s leadership, and currently serves on the Waterfront Partnership’s Board. 

To congratulate Schwartz, Thomas-Wilhite issued the following statement:  

“Laurie Schwartz has been a true champion for Baltimore. When I joined WPB in 2016, Laurie welcomed me immediately to her small and mighty team. Together, we worked to build equitable practices for the organization. I am honored to have learned from her and congratulate Laurie on her retirement on the 20th year anniversary of Waterfront Partnership.”