Press Statement

Continued Progress is Under Threat by Proposed Legislation and Budget Cuts

Juvenile oysters, called spat, have reached their second highest numbers in Maryland since 1985, according to the results of the Department of Natural Resources’ 2025 Fall Oyster Survey released today. This is the sixth consecutive year oyster reproduction has been above average in the state.

This success comes just as Maryland legislators debate potential cuts to oyster restoration funding and a proposed bill that would threaten thriving oyster sanctuaries.

The survey, which measures oysters’ reproductive success and potential population growth, recorded approximately 250 oyster spat per bushel across a wide range of sampled oyster reefs. This successful reproduction comes after years of targeted investment and strategic restoration in Maryland’s oyster sanctuaries. According to the latest assessment, the number of adult oysters in Maryland has increased three-fold, with the greatest increases in sanctuaries that were targeting for restoration under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Protected sanctuary reefs provide abundant fish habitat and offer great opportunities for recreational angling. They also allow larger oyster growth, which increases reproduction both in sanctuaries and in areas open to harvest. Before this year’s oyster market collapse, harvests over the past five years rivaled numbers not seen since the late 1980s.

But despite proven success, oyster sanctuaries and restoration in Maryland are at risk this General Assembly session. Governor Moore’s proposed budget includes a 41% reduction for oyster restoration in DNR’s capital budget, which funds reef construction and oyster plantings in sanctuary areas.

Legislators are also considering a bill (HB1388/SB0875) that could open more than 56,000 acres of protected oyster sanctuaries to harvest. Destructive harvesting techniques like dredging have been shown to damage oyster reef habitat. This bill would counteract long-time investments in oyster reefs and strip sanctuaries of their protected status at a time when Maryland recently recommitted to an additional 1,100 acres of reef restoration in the new 2025 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Maryland Coastal Resource Scientist Julie Luecke issued the following statement:

“Oyster restoration in the Bay is working, and these strong survey results show it.

“Maryland cannot backslide on decades of progress and investment. Legislators must reject destructive proposals to dredge sanctuary oyster reefs and cut the oyster restoration budget. When Maryland leaders protect oysters, they also protect clean water, coastal communities, and local economies. Not doing so would undermine decades of progress and investment.”

On Friday, Maryland’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review delayed striped bass regulation changes that could better protect the struggling species.

The Committee, which has been reviewing the Maryland Department of Natural Resource (DNR)’s proposed striped bass seasonal adjustment, has delayed implementation of the new regulations to conduct additional research.

The Committee can enforce its delay until May 1, placing the proposed April changes at risk. Maryland’s striped bass seasons are a complex patchwork of fishing days, no harvest days, and no target days. DNR’s proposed adjustment would simplify that. A delay will only further angler confusion and challenge proper enforcement in the coming months.

The proposed adjustment would also establish a no target fishing closure for the entire month of August. This closure would protect striped bass in the hottest part of the summer when they experience the highest rates of catch-and-release mortality.

At the same time, Maryland legislators are considering a proposed bill (SB0755) that would counteract DNR’s authority to update striped bass fishing regulations. It’s vital that legislators reject this bill and move forward with DNR’s seasonal adjustment as proposed, which over 250 Chesapeake Bay Foundation members supported.

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

“Maryland’s decision to delay striped bass protections is disappointing, especially while lawmakers consider troublesome legislation that would strip away DNR’s authority to implement striped bass protections.

“We know this species has been struggling for years. Young striped bass aren’t surviving early life, and mature fish are dying at high rates during the hot summer months. Maryland must address these challenges before it’s too late. That’s why we urge legislators to reject SB0755 and adopt DNR’s seasonal adjustments to give striped bass a fighting chance.”

A large number of dead menhaden washed up along the Chesapeake Bay shore in Virginia Beach this week—once again highlighting the need for Virginia lawmakers to approve funding this month to better understand the menhaden population in the Chesapeake Bay.

The cause of the most recent incident was not immediately known, but it underscores the need to better understand why they occur and what the long-term effects on the menhaden population in the Bay could be. It also once again raises the question on whether today’s Chesapeake Bay can continue supporting a major industrial fishery.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation supports investing in much-needed research into the menhaden population in the Bay that could go a long way in helping explain these types of events and other population dynamics.

The Virginia House-passed version of the two-year budget that starts July 1 currently includes $2 million for these efforts. Lawmakers are expected to approve a new budget before they’re scheduled to adjourn on March 14.

Menhaden are foundational to a healthy Chesapeake Bay. They serve as highly nutritious food to some of the most iconic and important species in the Bay, including striped bass, osprey, red drum, and marine mammals.

Menhaden travel in large schools, so they are prone to mortality events like these even if natural factors, like a sudden temperature change, drop in tide, or predators, are possible causes.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Forage Campaign Manager Will Poston issued the following statement:

“This incident, which is still unfolding, illustrates how important it is to get a better understanding of our Chesapeake Bay menhaden population. Unfortunately, this effort has been needlessly delayed by Omega Protein and their McGuireWoods lobbyists in Richmond.

“Continuing the delay of this important research only raises more questions about the health of the Bay’s menhaden population.

“This is happening just as the General Assembly is considering funding research that would help us understand menhaden in the Bay, how natural kills happen, and whether the Bay can support a major industrial fishery.

“We urge lawmakers to include that money in the coming two-year budget. We will continue to monitor this situation.”

Major Potomac River Spill Brought National Attention to Region’s Wastewater Shortfalls, But Many Maryland Communities Endure Pollution Threats Daily

Multiple Maryland communities have experienced harmful wastewater overflows in recent weeks, right on the tail of a historic sewage spill in the Potomac River that made national headlines.

In February, wastewater and stormwater overflows affected the Patapsco River in Linthicum Heights and the Choptank River in Cambridge. While smaller in scale, many of these spills are chronic incidents that occur regularly due to aging infrastructure, which can be exacerbated by heavier rainfall from climate change. These spills lead to pollution, algal blooms, and fish kills in the Chesapeake Bay. They also pose a major health risk to people, particularly in communities that rely on local fish for food.

Since the Bay’s Clean Water Blueprint was implemented in 2009, Maryland has made major improvements to reduce pollution from wastewater treatment plants. Those initial improvements have contributed more than 50% to Maryland’s overall pollution reduction to date. But the pipes that carry sewage to the plants remain vulnerable.

Recurring overflows undermine the progress that’s been made. Without sustained investment in pipes, maintenance, and workforce training, Maryland risks losing ground.

Maryland legislators are currently working hard to develop next year’s state budget. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation urges lawmakers to support wastewater infrastructure upgrades and maintenance, not just this year but for the long haul. For example, the Bay Restoration Fund, which has paid for many initial wastewater treatment upgrades, is set to see major rollbacks in 2030. Maryland cannot adequately protect its people and clean water if these programs are not fully funded.

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

“Sewage spills have become commonplace and it’s unacceptable. Maryland needs a long-term solution to this problem, and the funding to back it up.

“We recognize Maryland legislators are battling federal uncertainty and a looming $1.4 billion budget deficit. But the longer Maryland waits to upgrade this infrastructure, the higher constructions costs will become, and the higher the risks for communities will be.”

Amid challenging weather conditions and steep market competition, Governor Wes Moore and Maryland’s Congressional Delegation requested federal disaster relief funding for Maryland’s oyster fishery late last week.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Fishery Resource Disaster Assistance program can aid local fishing communities that have experienced unexpected losses. Maryland oystermen have battled an exceptionally challenging season due to extreme cold, icy conditions, and market competition. These issues have been compounded by the recent Potomac River sewage spill and consumer concerns, although oysters remain safe to eat in parts of the Bay open to harvest.

These challenges have severely limited oyster harvests despite a robust oyster population, as estimated by Maryland’s 2025 oyster stock assessment. Prior to 2025, oyster harvests had been steadily on the rise, reaching levels in 2024 not seen since the 1980s.

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

“Despite a growing oyster population, Maryland’s watermen are feeling the pinch of extreme weather and market competition. We urge NOAA to approve these relief funds that will support working waterfront communities and invest in the future of clean water in the Chesapeake Bay.

“Between the public fishery and a growing aquaculture industry, people can enjoy Maryland oysters year-round. Oyster lovers should keep eating local and recycle your oyster shells—which we use to grow more oysters and restore the Bay.”

Virginia lawmakers on Sunday rolled out competing proposals for the Commonwealth’s two-year budget starting July 1 that shortchange key investments in wastewater facilities and programs aimed at cutting water pollution at a time when the region can least afford it.

Local leaders are still grappling with the fallout just over a month after approximately 243 million gallons of sewage spilled into the Potomac River following a pipeline breach, underscoring risks from aging sewage systems across the region.

The proposals approved by the House and Senate money committees, respectively, fall short of the state’s own assessments of what is needed to cut pollution in Virginia waters and provide residents with the resources to develop climate-smart initiatives and programs that would help shore up the health of the Chesapeake Bay.

Wastewater Facilities

Investments in wastewater plants and combined sewage systems help update aging infrastructure, preventing spills like the recent one in the Potomac River and other pollution.

House lawmakers added almost $189 million in wastewater funding to take investments up to $329.5 million for the state share of wastewater treatment plant improvements. The Senate version proposed an additional $200 million for wastewater treatment facilities. Unfortunately, both proposals fall short of the funding needed to fully upgrade our wastewater systems. The ongoing modernization of these plants has greatly helped cut pollution to the Bay.

The House and Senate versions also include $50 million for the city of Richmond’s combined sewer overflow project aimed at cutting pollution into the James River. Delegate Betsy Carr had offered a budget amendment that would have provided $200 million over the next two years for that effort.

Pollution

The House budget plan reduces funding for the Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program, which helps farmers install projects that reduce pollution to local waterways.

The House and Senate budget proposals do not include language for the Pay-for-Outcomes program, which incentivizes innovation in restoration efforts by paying only for verified pollution reductions. CBF has called on lawmakers to fully fund the program and make it permanent.

House lawmakers included $2 million and Senate legislators $8 million for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program, which helps private property owners and community groups install nature-based projects that cut stormwater pollution. CBF had advocated to increase funding for the program to at least $8 million over the biennium.

Climate Resilience

The House and Senate are both pushing budget language to get Virginia back in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state program the Commonwealth withdrew from in 2023 that cuts carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

House and Senate lawmakers included $43.5 million for the Stormwater Local Assistance Fund, which provides grants for stormwater design with an eye toward cutting water pollution. CBF had advocated for $50 million.

Menhaden

House Appropriations Committee lawmakers included $2 million to fund menhaden research in the Bay, which would help fill critical data gaps into research as timing for federally supported research remains uncertain. Del. Carr has championed this effort as a way to get much-needed science on the health of the menhaden population in the Bay.

Atlantic menhaden, a critical forage fish in the Bay, serve as a food source for striped bass, redfish, humpback whales, and birds like osprey and bald eagles. Their abundance directly affects commercial and recreational fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities.

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

“The budget proposals legislators unveiled this week fall short of the commitment Virginia just made in December under the revised Bay Agreement. The Commonwealth’s own assessments call for more robust clean water investments in Virginia farmers and wastewater infrastructure.

“At a time when everybody is rightfully concerned about the ongoing aftermath of the Potomac River spill, we should be focused on investing in clean water programs. This budget comes up short.

“We are grateful to lawmakers of both houses for reinstating the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program and for investing the staffing and resources needed to begin addressing PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, in the Commonwealth.

“Given the lack of action on much-needed menhaden legislation thus far, we are grateful that the needed science funding is proposed in the House budget. The long-overdue effort is the only way we can ensure not only a robust ecosystem but also a healthy economic outlook for all of those that depend on a thriving population of menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay for their livelihood.

“Governor Spanberger and the legislature have a historic opportunity to set the Commonwealth up for success in the coming years when it comes to protecting our natural resources. As the budget process moves forward, we urge lawmakers to increase their clean water investments.”

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement in response to the passing of Delegate Barry Knight:

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Delegate Barry Knight.

“Delegate Knight was a passionate legislator. We’re grateful for his tireless work raising awareness about the importance of menhaden, advocating for wastewater treatment facility upgrades, promoting land conservation in the Commonwealth, and other policies benefiting the Chesapeake Bay.

“Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. He will be greatly missed.”

Crisis underscores funding need for aging wastewater systems across the region

Concern in the D.C. area continues one month after approximately 243 million gallons of sewage spilled into the Potomac River following a pipeline breach on Jan. 19, underscoring risks from aging sewage systems across the region.

Federal and state elected leaders are expressing growing frustration around efforts to address the spill. This comes as federal funding to fix aging sewage infrastructure remains on the chopping block.

On Friday, Feb. 13, DC Water, the Maryland Department of the Environment, Potomac Riverkeeper Network, and University of Maryland gave an update to Maryland legislators on a House subcommittee about current efforts to contain the overflow and repair the failing pipe.

DC authorities have advised the public to avoid contact with the river. Now that ice has thawed, DC Water and the Maryland Department of the Environment will conduct weekly tests for E. coli bacteria and other threats. Immediate and long-term impacts to the environment are still relatively unknown.

Untreated sewage can contain toxic chemicals, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutrients, viruses, and bacteria. These pollutants can pose health risks to people and animals that come in contact with them. Sewage can also feed algal blooms, especially in warmer weather, which can in turn cause dead zones and fish kills.

Aging sewage infrastructure is an ongoing problem in cities around the Chesapeake Bay region and across the country. While major state and federal investments have dramatically reduced pollution from wastewater treatment plants in recent years, smaller sewage overflows and spills occur regularly in many other cities, including Alexandria, Baltimore, Richmond, and Harrisburg.

For example, in 2018 Baltimore suffered about 250 million gallons of sewage overflows over the course of the year. Combined sewer systems in some Virginia cities release sewage mixed with stormwater into the James and Potomac rivers, with the sewage portion totaling as much as 400 million gallons in 2024. Massive efforts and investment are underway to stem pollution across the region. In September 2024, a ruptured sewer line near Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania spilled nearly a million gallons of untreated sewage into a tributary of the Susquehanna River.

State and federal support for addressing this spill and avoiding future disasters is needed:

• In its Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, the Trump Administration proposed a 90% cut to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which helps cities and states pay for upgrades needed to address aging infrastructure and prevent sewage pollution.
• Funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which has supported wastewater and sewage system upgrades across our region, will expire this year without action from Congress and the Trump Administration.
• The Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for oversight of D.C. Water yet has not stepped up in the response. EPA representatives declined to attend the Feb. 13 meeting with Maryland legislators.
• Virginia and Maryland must continue to invest in wastewater upgrades, especially with ongoing federal uncertainty. That includes continuing payments to the Bay Restoration Fund at the current level, or increasing the fee, after the 2030 fee increase sunset. In Virginia, that includes ongoing state investment in wastewater treatment plant upgrades.
• According to EPA’s 2022 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, Pennsylvania faces $8.21 billion in unmet wastewater infrastructure needs, with more than half (53%) to address failing Combined Sewer Overflow systems. This significant funding gap underscores the urgency of modernizing aging infrastructure to better protect communities and waterways.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) originally issued remarks on Jan. 26 on the spill. On the one-month anniversary, CBF President & CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement:

“This environmental crisis is damaging the Potomac River, threatening our community, and undermining public faith in efforts to clean up the river and Chesapeake Bay.

“The Potomac spill draws long overdue attention to aging wastewater infrastructure that every year sends millions of gallons of raw sewage into rivers across our region, from Harrisburg to Baltimore to Washington D.C. to Richmond. Upgrades to many wastewater treatment systems have dramatically cut pollution to the Bay and its rivers. But the Potomac disaster underscores that a one-time investment is not enough. We can’t afford a repeat catastrophe.

“Now is the time to work together. In the near term, everyone must remain laser focused on repairing the pipe along the Potomac and limiting further sewage pollution. More leadership and investment must come from EPA and the Trump Administration.

“The Potomac wake-up call should spark action to fund the major, ongoing investments needed to modernize all wastewater systems across the region. If President Trump is serious about sending federal government support, he can start by directing EPA to get involved. Next, the Trump Administration must abandon efforts to slash funding for aging infrastructure. Congress and the states have shown their support for these investments. It is time the Trump Administration does as well.

“We are immensely grateful for the leadership of local watershed organizations, including the Potomac Conservancy and Potomac Riverkeeper Network. We will continue to work with our partners across the region—nonprofits, governments, and businesses alike—to address threats to the Potomac and the Bay while advocating for ongoing investment in failing wastewater systems. By working together and across the aisle, we can deliver on the promise of clean water.”

A spill at a Huntington Ingalls facility in Newport News sent an estimated 4,722* gallons of jet fuel into the James River on Feb. 13 during refueling for an aircraft carrier.

Fuel odor and sheen were reported over a large area at the mouth of the James River in Newport News and Hampton. Huntington Ingalls and partners worked to contain the spilled fuel using booms, boats, and vacuum trucks.

Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has urged people to avoid parts of the river that smell like fuel. The odor and fumes can cause headaches, nausea, and other health problems.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) works closely with communities across Newport News and Hampton, from restoring oysters in the Hampton River to taking local students and leaders on the water for hands-on learning about waterways.

*This figure has been updated from an earlier estimate provided by DEQ.

Joe Wood, Virginia Senior Scientist at CBF, issued the following statement:

“This major fuel spill is a not only a threat to people, but also a danger to the health of the river. Jet Fuel is acutely toxic and can kill fish, crabs, and oysters and harm underwater grass beds. Fuel spills, even after they are cleaned up, can continue to disrupt wildlife communities for many years.

“We have already heard from watermen who have been directly affected by the incident, and we’re still learning more about the extent of this spill and how much it has impacted the river. Federal, state, and local officials must ensure that the spill is cleaned up quickly, thoroughly, and completely, and hold all parties involved accountable. We will continue to closely monitor the situation moving forward.”

The Trump Administration today announced that it has completed its repeal of the landmark finding that greenhouse gases and climate change pose a threat to the public.

The Obama Administration implemented the endangerment finding in 2009, which has supported regulations that protect the air we breathe, address pollution that dirties waterways, and fight climate change.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) opposed the Trump Administration’s repeal of the endangerment finding, submitting comments in September urging the Administration to withdraw its action.

Extreme heat exacerbated by climate change harms people, plants, and animals across our region. Unpredictable temperatures lead to harsher conditions for the region’s farmers. Sea level rise and flooding from increasingly intense storms threatens homes and businesses in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C.

Climate change also contributes to pollution in the Bay. Heavy storms increase erosion, sewer overflows, flooding, and polluted runoff. This dumps more nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment into rivers and the Bay, contributing to dead zones and algal blooms. Warmer water holds less oxygen, increasing stress to aquatic life.

CBF Senior Vice President for Programs Alison Hooper Prost issued the following statement.

“Climate change not only threatens our health, it also threatens the Chesapeake Bay. We’re already feeling the effects around our region—flooded streets in Annapolis and Norfolk, disappearing wetlands and forests as seas rise, and striped bass and other species under stress from warmer temperatures that lead to lower oxygen. Increasingly intense storms send more pollution to the Bay.

“By abandoning climate change protections, the Trump Administration is washing its hands of our basic rights to clean air and clean water. We urge states across the region to continue to step up and address threats from climate change.”