Press Statement

Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger announced today that she has nominated Virginia Delegate David Bulova to be the state’s next Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources.  

Del. Bulova currently represents parts of Fairfax County and Fairfax City in the Virginia General Assembly. As a leader on environmental issues, he has worked closely with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) throughout his tenure. In 2019, CBF named him Virginia Legislator of the Year.   

He recently served as the Chairman of the Chesapeake Bay Commission, where he helped lead all states in the Bay watershed through the renegotiated Bay Agreement. This experience will assist Delegate Bulova in being a sound advisor and decision-maker on environmental issues facing the Spanberger Administration. His position must next be confirmed by the General Assembly this upcoming legislative session. 

CBF Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford issued the following statement.  

“As Virginia welcomes a new gubernatorial Administration and an updated Chesapeake Bay Agreement, strong leadership, fruitful partnerships, and innovative approaches will be more important than ever.  

“We congratulate Delegate Bulova and look forward to working closely with him and the Spanberger Administration to ensure a Chesapeake Bay that can be enjoyed by all. Their leadership and experience will be invaluable to the Commonwealth.” 

The House of Representatives today passed legislation that would unravel Clean Water Act protections that safeguard people’s health, protect our waters from pollution, and play a central role in restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. 

The Promoting Efficient Review for Modern Infrastructure Today (PERMIT) Act passed by a vote of 221-205. Billed as a measure to cut red tape, streamline the permitting process, and provide business with regulatory certainty, the PERMIT Act instead would: 

• Cripple states’ and tribes’ authority to protect critical water bodies from pollution from federally permitted projects such as construction of oil and gas pipelines. 
• Allow polluters to knowingly dump “forever chemicals” like PFAS and other emerging contaminants into our waters without accountability. 
• Weaken the Army Corps of Engineers’ already lax nationwide permitting program, which is supposed to prevent and mitigate damage caused by construction projects that fill in water bodies and wetlands. 
• Enshrine in the Clean Water Act exemptions from the law’s protections for streams that don’t flow year-round, groundwater, wastewater treatment systems, and certain agricultural lands, making it impossible for future administrations to fix these loopholes without Congress amending the law. 
• Give the Army Corps of Engineers blanket authority to exclude any kind of water body from Clean Water Act protections with no input from EPA. 

If the PERMIT Act became law, the Bay region would lose remaining protections not already gutted in the Trump administration’s destructive rollback of the Clean Water Act’s safeguards for wetlands. Wetlands provide wildlife habitat, help protect communities from storm surges and flooding, and act as natural filters that improve water quality in the Bay and its rivers and streams across the region. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek released the following statement:

“This dangerous bill would increase water pollution, accelerate wetlands destruction, give polluters a free pass, and threaten to reverse states’ hard-won gains restoring the Bay and its rivers and streams. The harm it could do is staggering. 

“The families, communities, and businesses of the Bay region depend on clean water for everything from drinking and cooking to making a living and enjoying time outdoors. Clean water is essential for iconic Bay species like blue crabs, oysters, and osprey.

 “Congress should be strengthening the Clean Water Act, not undermining it. House members from the Bay region and everyone who values clean water and holding polluters accountable must reject this destructive legislation.” 

Dead Zone Report Issued as Leaders Recommit to Restored Bay

Just as the region’s leaders commit to a Chesapeake Bay restoration plan, a new report shows the Chesapeake Bay’s “dead zone” remained at average levels in 2025. Every year, this low-oxygen area threatens to smother underwater life like fish, crabs, and oysters that are essential to the region’s culture and economy.  

The Chesapeake Bay Dead Zone Report Card was released last week by the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources.  

Dead zones form every summer in parts of the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers, creating areas where oxygen levels in the water drop so low that aquatic life can’t survive. The main cause is out-of-control algae growth fed by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution. Agal blooms cloud the water and deplete oxygen levels when they die and decompose. 

The size and duration of the dead zone changes from year to year, often due to weather. Heavy rain washes more pollution into the Bay and combined with hot summer temperatures create the perfect conditions for explosive algae growth.  Rising temperatures due to climate change makes the problem worse because warm water holds less oxygen. The best way to reduce dead zones is to prevent excess nitrogen and phosphorus from flowing into the Bay. 

The dead zone report comes just after federal and state leaders last week met in person and agreed to a Chesapeake Bay restoration plan for the next 15 years. This update to the Chesapeake Bay agreement reaffirmed commitments by the states and federal government to meet legally binding commitments to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. 

At last week’s meeting, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, and Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser all emphasized their support for a healthier Chesapeake Bay.   

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Vice President for Programs Alison Hooper Prost issued the following statement: 

“The dead zone is an existential threat to life in the Chesapeake Bay. With climate change intensifying, now is the time to ramp up work to stop pollution from flowing into rivers and the Bay.  

“Fortunately, governors from across the region just agreed to a 15-year Bay restoration plan. This agreement reinforces legal commitments to reduce the nitrogen and phosphorus pollution that feeds life-smothering dead zones. Backed by decades of experience and the latest science as a guide, there’s real hope for a restored Bay. 

“The next step is clear. Now the states, the District of Columbia, and federal government must deliver the policies and investments needed to reduce pollution, restore habitats, and leave a healthier Chesapeake Bay for future generations.”  

Yesterday, Maryland Delegate Adrienne Jones announced she will be stepping down from her leadership role as House Speaker prior to the 2026 General Assembly Session. Jones has served as a member of the House of Delegates since 1997 and as Speaker since 2019. During that time, Maryland has made notable progress towards a healthier Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) thanks Speaker Jones for her leadership and decades of service to Maryland and the Bay. 

CBF Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement: 

“House Speaker Jones is a true champion for Maryland and we are grateful for her years of leadership service. Under her watch, we’ve seen tremendous improvements for our environment, including updating the state’s Forest Conservation Act, addressing the threats of industrial sludge, advancing targeted restoration through a Whole Watershed approach, and prioritizing environmental agencies and programs through unprecedented fiscal challenges. We wish her well during this transition.” 

City Wants to Delay Repairs 16 Years, Threatening Community Health and Clean Water

To help prevent additional sewage overflows and pollution in Baltimore, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and Blue Water Baltimore this week urged the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW), Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete critical sewer line upgrades by 2030. 

Just last month, a failing pipe caused over 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage to leak into Jones Falls. These events can expose residents to harmful pollution, devastate wildlife, and degrade the Chesapeake Bay. 

A 2002 consent decree between Baltimore City, MDE, EPA, and Blue Water Baltimore required the city to upgrade its old and failing sewer infrastructure. Many upgrades have already been made that are expected to decrease sewage overflows by 94%, according to DPW. However, Phase II of the plan, which includes some of the city’s most challenging and expensive work, is severely lacking. 

The original agreement had a construction deadline of 2030. Yet after two failed attempts at revising the plan, DPW is now suggesting a 2046 timeline. Delaying necessary improvements, such as relining pipes and replacing manholes, will significantly increase the risks of additional sewage overflows, sewage backups in people’s basements, and would likely lead to even more expensive repairs and cleanup efforts in the future. 

The city cites funding concerns for the delay, rightfully not wanting to raise rates for the community members most affected by these systems. But delaying improvements won’t make them less expensive and can put Maryland residents at risk. There are various funding sources offered by EPA and other federal agencies that Baltimore has not yet explored to fund this critical work. 

This is DPW’s third attempt to finalize Phase II of the modified consent decree. The two initial drafts were deemed insufficient by MDE and EPA.  

In separate letters to Baltimore City, CBF and BWB urged the involved agencies to diligently review Phase II and to enforce the initial deadline. While great progress has been made reducing wastewater pollution in the Bay, the issues that remain are some of the most threatening to people, wildlife, and clean water. 

CBF Maryland Staff Scientist Gussie Maguire issued the following statement: 

“Baltimore’s aging sewage infrastructure breaks down even under ideal conditions and is no match for climate change and the intense weather we’re experiencing on a regular basis. Last month’s 1.7 million gallon overflow in the Jones Falls happened during a dry spell—no stormwater to blame. Baltimore can no longer let failing systems go unchecked, and delaying repairs to 2046 would be simply unacceptable. 

“The further Baltimore City kicks the can on sewage repairs, the more polluted overflows that communities will endure and the more expensive future repairs will be. CBF urges Baltimore to make the necessary investments now rather than risk further degradation of our waterways and communities.” 

Blue Water Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper Alice Volpitta said:  

“We are calling on all parties involved to create a plan that doesn’t just push problems down the road, and that uses the best available data to prioritize urgent investments. Our residents deserve a plan that protects their right to clean water, not delays that drag on indefinitely.” 

The new wetlands definition the Trump administration proposed today would further gut federal protections for wetlands and other waters essential for a healthy Chesapeake Bay.

The Bay region’s roughly 1.5 million acres of wetlands trap and filter pollution, absorb storm surges, and provide valuable habitat for the region’s fish and wildlife. They protect low-lying communities from flooding and erosion. Wetlands also fight climate change by storing carbon. 

The proposed rule would codify the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Sackett v. EPA, which dramatically limited the scope of Clean Water Act safeguards for wetlands not directly connected to a nearby waterway and wetlands that don’t flow all year round. 

This Bay region is home to thousands of isolated wetlands, called Delmarva Bays and pocosins, and more than 118,000 linear miles of streams that flow intermittently or only during certain seasons. Without federal protection, only state regulations would be left to prevent development or destruction of these valuable natural resources.  

Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the District of Columbia have their own wetlands rules. However, loopholes, waivers, and limited enforcement would leave many of these ecologically important wetlands at risk.  

But Delaware, where Delmarva Bays are plentiful, and West Virginia, where the mountainous terrain can accelerate flooding, both rely solely on the federal definition to protect wetlands and intermittent and seasonal streams in their jurisdiction. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement: 

“EPA’s plan to further strip wetlands protections would deal a serious blow to Bay restoration. 

“Wetlands, including those isolated from other waters, and streams that don’t flow continuously all year are critical to clean water in the Bay and its local rivers and streams.

“They also provide habitat and spawning grounds for fish, waterfowl, and wildlife important to our region’s seafood and outdoor recreation industries. And they’re invaluable for softening the blow of extreme weather on low-lying communities like Annapolis and Norfolk. 

“Absent robust federal protections, the Bay states and D.C. must fill the gaps or risk losing wetlands and streams that help save the Bay to short-sighted and irresponsible development and destruction.” 

With legislation to end the government shutdown and fund the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) through fiscal year 2026, government agencies and employees key to saving the Bay can finally get back to work.  

The record-breaking six-week shutdown forced them to set aside important efforts like monitoring pollution levels, conducting research on challenges to Bay restoration, and funding conservation projects that promote clean water, healthy soil, and restore fish and wildlife habitat. 

USDA is among a handful of agencies that will get final spending plans for fiscal 2026, which began October 1. That means experts with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can now get back in the field helping farmers implement projects that reduce pollution to rivers and streams that flow into the Chesapeake Bay.  

But they’ll have a smaller budget than last year. The bill cuts funding for NRCS work by $65 million to $850 million from $915 million. But it does provide $2 million in grant funds to processors of invasive wild-caught blue catfish. These voracious predators are wreaking havoc on native species like blue crabs and striped bass. Grants to process them for commercial sale can help reduce their numbers and the damage they’re doing to the Bay ecosystem. 

The shutdown-ending bill will continue to fund the rest of the government agencies, including EPA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Fish and Wildlife Service, at fiscal 2025 levels through January 30.  

That gives Congress less than 12 weeks to finish the remaining nine appropriations bills. Otherwise, agencies and programs covered by bills Congress fails to pass by the end of January will be forced to shut down again. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Senior Policy Director Keisha Sedlacek released the following statement: 

“Now that this record-breaking shutdown is over, agencies and employees vital to saving the Bay can get back to this important work. 

“The shutdown took a serious toll on Bay recovery efforts that includes six weeks of stalled conservation projects, farmers waiting to be reimbursed, crucial water quality data not being collected, and pollution inspectors sidelined.

“We’re not out of the woods yet. This deal only offers a 12-week reprieve for key Bay restoration agencies like EPA, NOAA, and USGS. There’s no time to waste. Congress must finish its job and negotiate fiscal 2026 budgets for all agencies. 

“More importantly, congressional leaders and the president must break this destructive cycle of government shutdowns before the damage they do to the Bay and its waterways becomes irreversible.” 

Momentum Builds for Clean Water As Climate and Community Resilience Are Left Behind

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is relieved that the months-long impasse over Pennsylvania’s new budget has been resolved and includes funding for conservation, but is also disappointed that it came at the expense of conceding a climate program that would have reduced carbon emissions.

Governor Josh Shapiro signed the Commonwealth’s $50.1 billion General Fund budget for fiscal year 2025-2026 on Wednesday.

The budget was negotiated at the expense of Pennsylvania’s potential for clean air and community investments through the abrogation that ends the Commonwealth’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

The RGGI is a coordinated effort between several Northeastern states that sets a regional limit on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The emissions cap lowers over time, leading to cleaner air and less pollution to waterways while reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.

In other words, RGGI would have reduced pollution in Pennsylvania and brought in billions of dollars to invest in local communities.

More favorably for Pennsylvania’s environment, the new budget includes an over 5.5 percent increase in funding for the Department of Environmental Protection, and a reinvestment of $10 million in the Agricultural Innovation Grant.

Also, the Clean Streams Fund, as part of the Pennsylvania Tax Code, continues to be allocated annually at $50 million, which includes over $35 million to the Agriculture Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP). This sustained allocation to ACAP will put more clean water projects on farms that reduce pollution and improve the health of local rivers and streams.

Julia Krall, CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director, said:

“Negotiating away an important program like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative through the budget sets a bad precedent. Now this action threatens the health of Pennsylvania’s rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.

“Ending Pennsylvania’s participation in the RGGI is a move in the wrong direction. Greenhouse gases continue to pose significant threats to our personal and economic health, the quality of our local rivers and streams, and to climate stability. Carbon dioxide emissions know no boundaries.

“With our changing climate, increasingly common heavy rains, flooding, and overheated runoff will intensify pollution, erode productive farm soils, and destroy habitats vital to wildlife in Pennsylvania, like the eastern hellbender and native brook trout.”

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) congratulates Virginia Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger and will work with the new administration to ensure clean water progress continues across the Commonwealth. 

Governor-elect Spanberger will enter office at a pivotal moment for the environment in Virginia. Storms and flooding fueled by climate change are increasing, development is growing, and states in the region are entering a new phase in efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.  

We are encouraged by Governor-elect Spanberger’s prior work on Bay issues in Congress and we are hopeful she will continue to prioritize Chesapeake Bay restoration as governor. 

As a member of Congress in 2021, Spanberger introduced bipartisan legislation that helps farmers participate in voluntary carbon markets by connecting them with resources. In 2024, she supported significant federal investment in protecting the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. As the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology, Spanberger focused on ensuring that conservation programs are protected and adequately funded, which benefits the Chesapeake Bay. 

During her campaign, she expressed support for returning Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state program that reduced greenhouse gas emissions and supported flooding protection projects across the state.  

CBF urges the new administration to prioritize five critical actions to ensure Virginia meets its clean water commitments: 

1. Restore and protect our waterways for fish, wildlife, and people: This includes continuing robust investments in wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural pollution reduction programs and expanding the restoration of wetlands and living shorelines. 
2. Create a safe and climate-resilient Virginia to secure our economy, environment, and communities: The administration must prioritize planning and funding for projects to enhance resilience against sea-level rise and extreme weather events. 
3. Safeguard Virginia’s diverse landscapes for future generations: We urge the Governor to expand the authority of local governments to allow communities to better conserve forests and stream buffers and modernize the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. 
4. Invest in Virginia farmers to both produce our food and keep waterways healthy: The state must maintain strong support for the agricultural cost-share program and focus funding on permanent practices like stream fencing and forested buffers. 
5. Stop toxics at their source, hold polluters accountable, and support our transition to clean energy: The administration must address emerging pollution challenges like PFAS, eliminate loopholes for bad actors, and speed up a strategic transition to clean energy. 

CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement: 

“Healthy waterways are the lifeblood of a healthy economy. Investing in the environment is key to lowering energy bills, cooling cities, and protecting our communities from flooding and extreme weather. 

“Governor-elect Spanberger supported Chesapeake Bay issues during her time in Congress, promoted farm conservation practices that benefit clean water and address climate change, and has picked up litter alongside our volunteers at Clean the Bay Day.  

“We are hopeful that Governor-elect Spanberger and her Administration will take Virginia in the right direction when it comes to climate adaptation and Bay restoration.  

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation stands ready to work with the new Administration and the General Assembly to achieve our shared goal of a fully restored Bay for future generations.” 

The future of the struggling striped bass population is in peril after the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) voted for “status quo” management on Oct. 29, neglecting alarming red flags for the species. 

At its quarterly meeting in Dewey Beach, Delaware, members of ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board did not make any changes for the 2026 fishing season. Notably, the Board voted against a coastwide 12 percent reduction for commercial and recreational fishing removals. This decision makes it clear the striped bass population will not rebuild by 2029—a management plan requirement from when the species was declared overfished in 2019. 

In 2024, ASMFC’s Technical Committee released an updated striped bass stock assessment. The study projected that the striped bass population is unlikely to rebuild to a healthy level without ASMFC action to reduce fishing by at least 12 percent. In response, the Board initiated draft Addendum III, which outlined various recreational and commercial fisheries management options along the Atlantic Coast and within the Chesapeake Bay.  

According to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) annual juvenile survey, striped bass experienced below average spawning success for the seventh consecutive year in 2025. The Chesapeake Bay is a critical nursery for striped bass, where more than 70 percent of striped bass spawn. 

To provide striped bass the best possible chance of recovery, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) urged ASMFC to implement the coastwide 12 percent reduction, as well as reform critical seasonal closures in the Chesapeake Bay.  

However, despite overwhelming red flags, the Board voted to maintain status quo management for striped bass. Out of 16 votes, only Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and North Carolina voted to support the more conservative 12 percent reduction. 

The Board did grant Maryland the opportunity to revisit its recreational fishing seasons through a state-level regulatory process, rather than selecting any of the Maryland fishing season options presented in Addendum III. This action will allow Maryland additional time to find a path forward to define new fishing seasons. The State will choose between maintaining current fishing seasons or instituting the proposed baseline “reset” for 2026. 

CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement: 

“This is a concerning day for striped bass. ASMFC cast aside an important opportunity to meaningfully protect this iconic species. It’s clear the Board has no intention of rebuilding the striped bass population by 2029 and has chosen to deviate from its commitment to the fishery management plan. Now Maryland must step up to fill the gap and set fishing seasons that will best protect this species for future generations.”  

CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement: 

“Our surveys in the Bay all point to a looming disaster, and our fishery in Virginia has all but dried up because there are so few striped bass around. Sadly, ASMFC is not listening to the science or anglers and continues to leave the future of striped bass up to chance.”