Press Statement
The Chesapeake Bay Commission this week announced that it has elected Maryland Senator Sara Love as its next chair. Love takes over from outgoing Chair Virginia Delegate David Bulova. The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a tri-state legislative body that works with state legislatures in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia on Chesapeake Bay restoration policy.
Sen. Love represents part of Montgomery County in the Maryland General Assembly. She has sponsored and supported legislation critical to the health of the Chesapeake Bay, including the Whole Watershed Act, which will target restoration investments to high priority watersheds, updates to the Forest Conservation Act to preserve more trees, and legislation establishing stronger regulations controlling the transport and use of industrial sludge.
The Bay Commission also announced this week that it elected Pennsylvania Senator Gene Yaw to chair the Pennsylvania Delegation and Virginia Del. David Bulova to chair the Virginia Delegation of the Commission.
CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement.
“We’re entering a critical year for the Chesapeake Bay. With the Chesapeake Bay Agreement set to be updated by the end of 2025, the Bay Commission will continue to serve a key role in leading collaboration across state lines while ensuring all voices are heard.
“Senator Love is a strong leader with a stellar track record on Bay issues. We congratulate her on being elected chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, as well as Delegate Bulova and Senator Yaw for their critical work in Virginia and Pennsylvania. We look forward to working closely with them to ensure a healthy Chesapeake Bay for future generations.”
President Biden signed into law bipartisan legislation last week to extend federal programs essential to restoring the Chesapeake Bay and increasing access to this national treasure.
The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act passed the Senate December 18 by voice vote with no objections. It passed the House on December 3 with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 366-21.
The legislation extends the historic ACE Act of 2020, which President Trump signed, another five years through fiscal year 2030. It reauthorizes EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million annually; renews the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) program at $15 million annually; and re-ups the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails program at $3 million a year.
The ACE Reauthorization Act also extends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through fiscal 2030. NFWF was created by Congress in 1984 and awards grants for conservation projects across the country. NFWF administers the Bay Program’s two main grant programs and Chesapeake WILD grants.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Federal Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement:
“With the Chesapeake Bay cleanup facing new challenges, renewing programs that fund community-led efforts to restore the Bay and its waterways could not come at a better time.
“The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act will give the federal and state restoration partners the resources they need to improve water quality, protect vital habitats, and provide more recreational opportunities across the Bay region.
“CBF is deeply grateful to Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), John Sarbanes (D-Md), and Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for their tireless work and bipartisan commitment to steering this vital legislation through Congress.
“We also thank President Biden for signing the ACE Reauthorization Act into law and making it part of his rich environmental legacy.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) should prioritize regenerative farming methods to promote conservation practices with the greatest climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits, experts at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) advised the department in comments filed today.
CBF’s recommendations respond to a request from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for input on how to maximize the resiliency benefits of conservation practices eligible for cost-share funding under the programs it administers.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 provided $20 billion over five years specifically to fund climate-smart conservation practices. Unless the increase is incorporated into the Farm Bill as mandatory spending, the additional IRA funds will run out at the end of fiscal year 2026.
CBF urged NRCS to prioritize regenerative agriculture practices such as raising livestock on pastures with perennial forage, silvopasture, and relying on organic nutrient sources to improve soil organic matter and microbial activity. By improving soil health, these practices increase farms’ resiliency to extreme weather like heavy rains, flooding, soaring temperatures, and drought accelerated by climate change.
These practices also lead to cleaner rivers and streams and benefit the Chesapeake Bay. They increase water quality, enhance ecosystem biodiversity, and produce more nutrient dense food. Other benefits include saving farmers money on livestock feed, animal antibiotics, and synthetic fertilizers and other chemical treatments.
Silvopasture involves planting trees on land where livestock graze. Trees retain moisture and stabilize the soil while providing shade and shelter to the animals, an increasing and critical need in the face of hotter summers. CBF called on NRCS to fund silvopasture practices in Pennsylvania through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), which Maryland and Virginia currently do.
To better support pasture-based livestock operations, CBF said NRCS should make it a higher funding priority and increase payment rates for practices such as silvopasture, rotating the pastures where livestock graze, and planting woody trees and shrubs. CBF also encouraged NRCS to make greater use of monitoring systems to quantify the climate benefits of these practices for farmers in addition to its current modeling tools.
For manure storage, CBF recommended NRCS prioritize funding for composting and facilities that store solid or dry manure. Both are less expensive and produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than uncovered liquid storage systems. These “lagoons” are also more likely to spill and pollute waterways, a problem only exacerbated by the greater frequency and intensity of extreme weather driven by climate change.
CBF also highlighted systems that capture, store, and reuse rainwater, like the one used at Plantation Park Heights urban farm in Baltimore, as innovative and economically viable ways to promote climate change resiliency or adaptation. These systems enable farms to better withstand drought conditions by providing a reliable water source during dry stretches and mitigating flood risks by reducing runoff.
CBF Science and Agriculture Advisor Jenna Schueler issued the following statement:
“Regenerative agriculture practices are the best way for farmers to build resiliency and adaption to a changing climate into their operations. The Natural Resources Conservation Service can help farmers maximize those benefits by promoting conservation practices that improve soil health, like rotational grazing and silvopasture.
“Soil rich in organic matter and microbes is more resilient to extreme weather and temperatures because of its capacity to capture and hold more moisture. It also reduces greenhouse gases by sequestering carbon and improves water quality by reducing runoff.
“Farmers can play an important role fighting climate change and its devasting effects. Preserving Inflation Reduction Act funding for climate-smart conservation practices is critical to ensuring they have the necessary resources to protect their farms, enhance soil and water quality, and reap the cost savings these practices make possible.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin proposed budget amendments Dec. 18 that include an additional $17 million for agricultural best management practices that lead to cleaner rivers and streams. The budget proposal also included funding for additional staffing to help farmers get conservation practices on to Virginia farms.
Farm conservation practices like fencing cattle out of streams and planting streamside trees and grasses are among the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Bay and local streams.
Gov. Youngkin also proposed creating a Disaster Relief Fund at the Department of Housing and Community Development for $127 million, using money from the general fund as well as from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state cap-and-trade program designed to reduce carbon emissions.
If approved, these budget amendments would be applied to Virginia’s biennial budget previously approved by state lawmakers. The budget proposals will be considered by legislators during Virginia’s legislative session, which begins Jan. 8.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement.
“In the past, Virginia has been inconsistent in support of farmers wanting to get conservation practices on the ground. But we have fully funded the program in recent years, and this proposed investment by Governor Youngkin will help ensure that in future years we fully meet Virginia’s commitments for pollution reduction to our waterways.”
“Climate change is making extreme weather all too frequent, which underscores the urgency of the Disaster Relief Fund. But it also demonstrates the need for proactive investments before disaster strikes, which is why Virginia must rejoin RGGI as soon as possible.”
“We eagerly anticipate collaborating with the Governor, his Administration, and Virginia legislators during the upcoming legislative session to secure the necessary funding for vital clean water programs and Virginia’s living resources. By prioritizing these investments, we can ensure a healthier, more resilient future for the Chesapeake Bay and its communities.”
CBF statement on the lack of Board action, concerns for striped bass in Chesapeake Bay
Striped bass will not receive additional protection for the 2025 fishing season, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)’s Striped Bass Management Board determined today during a special meeting in Arlington. Instead, the Board initiated an addendum to the Atlantic Striped Bass Interstate Fishery Management Plan that would consider changes for the 2026 fishing season.
The Board held a special meeting on Dec. 16 to discuss potential action to further protect striped bass after reviewing the 2024 striped bass stock assessment during its annual meeting in October, as well as new short-term projections provided by the Commission’s technical committee.
These estimates indicated that without further action it’s unlikely that striped bass would recover to their target numbers by 2029. The projections through 2029 did not include the implications of six consecutive years of recruitment failure in Chesapeake Bay. These consistently low numbers of young striped bass are a looming concern that has led to calls for additional conservation measures.
Seasonal closures, particularly in the warm summer months, would help reduce striped bass mortality both from harvest and catch-and-release. Summer is when high volumes of recreational fishing meet with warm water temperatures and poor water quality conditions—a deadly combination for striped bass in the Bay. Even though many anglers practice catch-and-release, an estimated 9 percent of fish still die due to stress, injury, or poor handling.
The ASMFC will meet next at their winter meeting in February to develop options to consider in the proposed addendum. Once approved for release, the addendum will be available for public comment with final action by the Board expected in late 2025.
CBF’s Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement:
“Our only hope now is that 2026 will not be too late for striped bass. With increases in fishing expected in 2025, bringing striped bass removals back down to a sustainable level – and keeping it there – will be critical. Given the uncertainty associated with the striped bass fishery and its incredible social and economic value to states along the East Coast, fisheries managers must err on the side of conservation.
“There are many external factors affecting striped bass, from climate change and invasive predators to habitat loss, making fishery management even more important. ASMFC could have taken action for striped bass, but unfortunately delayed.”
CBF’s Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement:
“Given the history of striped bass management and the warning signs from young of the year surveys, it’s unfortunate that fisheries managers failed to act to conserve fish during the 2025 fishing season.
“Striped bass are experiencing a host of stressors, from degraded habitat due to climate change to invasive predators such as blue catfish. These challenges will make it even harder for striped bass to rebound like they have in the past. Lack of action is disappointing and a missed opportunity to help ensure we meet the rebuilding deadline for this iconic species.”
MD Gov. Moore, VA Gov. Youngkin, and PA Gov. Shapiro Pledge to Update Multi-State Agreement
State, federal, and local leaders from around the Chesapeake Bay watershed met today and pledged to, by the end of 2025, update the key agreement to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
This comes as states are expected to miss 2025 deadlines to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake, and new science shows that major changes are needed to meet Bay restoration goals. The Bay effort must also confront mounting challenges from climate change, population growth, and development.
The Chesapeake Executive Council joins together state and federal leaders to work toward a common goal of cleaner rivers and streams and a healthy Chesapeake Bay.
The meeting today in Annapolis, Md., was attended by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, as well as representatives from the EPA and other federal agencies, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New York, West Virginia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
They approved a document titled Charting the Course Beyond 2025, which included a pledge to update the 2014 Chesapeake Bay watershed agreement by the end of 2025 with revisions that:
- Update goals and outcomes, ensuring that they are “measured and timebound,” and accomplished “as quickly as possible,” in particular for nutrient and sediment pollution;
- Incorporate the latest science;
- Engage all people living in the Bay watershed;
- Address reducing pollution as well as benefits to plants, animals, and habitats, known as “living resources.”
Starting in 2010 under the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, states in the Bay restoration partnership committed to a 2025 deadline for goals to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to the Bay. The 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement included this commitment and additional Bay restoration goals.
While states have made notable progress on work to reduce pollution, particularly from wastewater treatment plants, efforts are lagging to curb polluted runoff from developed areas and farms. Despite missing the 2025 deadline, states are still required to meet the pollution-reduction goals.
The Executive Council today named Gov. Moore as chair of the Council for a second term at today’s meeting. Gov. Moore also announced plans for a package of new bills this upcoming state legislative session that would advance Bay restoration in Maryland.
Last week, Gov. Youngkin issued a directive that outlined proposed Virginia initiatives for the next phase of Chesapeake Bay restoration. CBF’s statement on Youngkin’s directive is linked here.
This week, Gov. Shapiro announced $24 million in investments to clean up Pennsylvania rivers and streams that flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
Working with farmers is one of the biggest remaining opportunities to reduce pollution to the Bay. Recognizing this, the Chesapeake Executive Council today also committed to establishing an Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement:
“The Chesapeake Bay has always been our region’s greatest unifier, and we just saw that bipartisan support for the Bay is alive and well.
“It’s a really big deal when three governors and leaders from around the region meet to stack hands and reaffirm commitments to clean water. This kind of local and state leadership is more critical than ever.
“Now it’s time to put pen to paper on a revised Chesapeake Bay Agreement through a process that is clear, integrated, and inclusive.
“By this time next year, we expect to see an updated Agreement that follows the latest science with equal priority toward achieving water quality and living resource goals. Milestones that measure progress and provide accountability should also be updated to include a combination of scientific modeling and real-world monitoring. Demonstrating visible success in people’s local rivers and streams is critical to the longer-term goal of reduced pollution and improved oxygen in the Bay’s deepest waters.
“We have momentum. Water quality is improving. Crabs, grasses, and oysters are starting to recover. That recovery is fragile and facing new challenges like climate change. But as we saw in the Executive Council’s demonstration of leadership, partnership and commitment, the state of the Bay Partnership is stronger than ever.”
CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement:
“The legislation announced by Governor Moore turns promises into progress for a healthier Chesapeake Bay and stronger Maryland. We look forward to working closely with the Moore Administration and Maryland legislators to advance Bay restoration this upcoming legislative session.”
“Governor Moore’s leadership has been critical during this key time for the Chesapeake Bay. We congratulate him on being chosen to lead the Chesapeake Executive Council for another term as chair.”
CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Julia Krall issued the following statement:
“Governor Shapiro’s announcement of new investments demonstrates the Administration’s continued leadership and commitment to revitalizing the Commonwealths’ rivers and streams that flow to the Chesapeake Bay. These investments will not only deliver cleaner waterways but also empower farmers with more fertile soils, mitigate nuisance flooding in our communities, and stimulate local economies.”
CBF urges immediate action; Public comments accepted through Dec. 10
Striped bass fisheries could see stricter regulations in 2025 following a special meeting on Dec. 16 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC)’s Striped Bass Management Board.
The latest assessment of the striped bass population, unveiled in October, showed that striped bass remain overfished. In October, the Board voted to reconvene at a special meeting, now set for Dec. 16, to evaluate potential action for striped bass to increase the probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029.
Short-term projections estimated an increase in fishing mortality in 2025. If no action is taken, the probability of rebuilding the striped bass stock by 2029 is less than 50 percent. The Board determined that a 14 percent reduction in fishing mortality would be necessary to increase the likelihood of rebuilding to greater than 50 percent.
In preparation for the meeting, ASMFC’s Technical Committee prepared rebuilding projections for a number of different mortality scenarios with management options the Board could consider to reduce fishing mortality.
They include potential changes to recreational size limits, seasonal closures, commercial harvest reductions, or a combination of options.
In Chesapeake Bay, seasonal closures, particularly in the warm summer months, could help reduce striped bass mortality both from harvest and catch-and-release. Summer is when the highest levels of fishing effort coincide with warm water temperatures and poor water quality conditions, a deadly combination for striped bass in the Bay.
Even though many anglers practice catch-and-release, an estimated 9 percent of fish still die due to stress, injury, or poor handling.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) urges ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board to consider recent reproductive failures, protect the 2015 and 2018 striped bass year classes, and recommit to rebuilding the population by 2029.
ASMFC held an informational webinar on the striped bass options Dec. 5. A recording of the webinar can be found here. Public comments on proposed management options will be accepted through Dec. 10.
CBF’s Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement:
“For Chesapeake Bay, the future is now. We are already seeing direct effects of poor reproduction on Chesapeake Bay fisheries and those who make their livelihood from them. We’ve also seen what happens when fisheries managers fail to act in time to reverse a declining trend.
“We urge ASMFC to implement seasonal closures for the 2025 fishing season that achieve a 14 percent coastwide reduction in striped bass removals. It’s the only way to give this species a fighting chance.”
CBF’s Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement:
“We cannot leave the future of striped bass up to a flip of the coin. Now is not the time to take risks. We urge ASMFC’s Striped Bass Board to implement greater restrictions on recreational striped bass fishing right now. Environmental conditions from climate change and invasive predators will make it much harder for striped bass to rebound like they have in the past. Now is the time to act.”
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin today issued an executive directive on Chesapeake Bay restoration.
This comes less than a week before Gov. Youngkin is scheduled to discuss Chesapeake Bay issues with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and other federal and state leaders at the Chesapeake Executive Council meeting in Annapolis, Md., on Dec. 10.
The officials are expected to chart a path forward during a pivotal time for the Chesapeake Bay.
States in the Bay watershed are expected to miss 2025 deadlines to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake, and new science shows that changes are needed to ensure a healthier Bay. Leaders must also confront mounting challenges from climate change, population growth, and development.
Next week, Virginia and other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed will consider updating the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Agreement.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement.
“Chesapeake Bay restoration is at a crossroads. Governor Youngkin rightly recognized that, to leave a thriving Chesapeake Bay for future generations, Virginia needs leadership, innovation, and a focus on measurable results. Virginia’s upcoming legislative session is a prime opportunity for the Commonwealth to continue our important investments in cleaner waterways and iconic living resources.
“Over the next year, leaders across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are expected to update the multi-state agreement that guides Bay restoration.
“We’re encouraged that Governor Youngkin’s directive points to the importance of living resources like crabs, oysters, and wetlands, and calls for accelerating the need for monitoring to assess our results, and targeting investments where they will make the biggest difference.
“We thank Governor Youngkin for his recommitment to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement at this critical time.”
The House of Representatives yesterday passed popular bipartisan legislation renewing several key Chesapeake Bay restoration programs that fund conservation and water quality projects in communities across the watershed.
The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Mike Thompson D-Calif.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), cleared the House by an overwhelming vote of 366-21.
The legislation extends the historic ACE Act of 2020, which President Trump signed, another five years, through fiscal year 2030. It reauthorizes EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program at $92 million annually; renews the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) program at $15 million annually; and re-ups the National Park Service’s Chesapeake Gateways and Watertrails program at $3 million a year.
These programs fund competitive grants that finance a variety of local projects to restore the Bay, its rivers and streams, and essential fish and wildlife habitat, and conserve important cultural, recreational, and historic resources in the six Bay states and the District of Columbia.
The ACE Reauthorization Act also extends the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through fiscal 2030. NFWF was created by Congress in 1984 and awards grants for conservation projects across the country. NFWF administers the Bay Program’s two main grant programs and Chesapeake WILD grants.
The Senate passed a version of the bill with higher funding levels in May. The House version keeps spending on all three programs levels constant with current funding. The two chambers must come to an agreement on which version is sent to the President’s desk.
The Senate bill is co-sponsored by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), and Sens. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Chris Van Hollen (D- (D-Md.).
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Federal Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement:
“With the 2025 deadline fast approaching and a new presidential administration about to take office, the Bay restoration effort is at a critical juncture. Renewing the ACE Act will ensure the Bay jurisdictions and their federal partners have the resources and authority they need to tackle coming challenges.
“We’re excited to see the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act nearing the end of the legislative finish line with such strong bipartisan support.
“The 119th Congress is almost over. We urge the House and Senate to quickly reconcile their differences in funding levels and send this important bill to President Biden’s desk.”
Vincent O. Leggett, the founder and president of Blacks of the Chesapeake and longtime advocate for the Bay’s history, culture, and communities, passed away last weekend.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement.
“We are devastated by the loss of Vince Leggett. Vince leaves behind a legacy of a more complete and vivid telling of the history of the Bay and its people.
“We are all better for his leadership in celebrating the region’s rich Black history. We will miss his partnership and friendship. Fair winds and following seas, Admiral.”
CBF Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice Carmera Thomas-Wilhite issued the following statement.
“Vince Leggett was not only a mentor, but a friend. He was always an advocate for the next generation. It was an honor to learn from him. We will celebrate his legacy by continuing to share stories from all communities around the Bay.”
