Chesapeake Bay Earns High Marks in Report, but Trouble Spots Persist

While the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay is at its highest point in decades, trouble spots persist around the watershed, according to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) 2026 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card released today.

The Chesapeake Bay overall earned a grade of C+, the highest score ever in the 40 years UMCES has issued a report card.

Over the past four decades, state, federal, and local leaders around the region have worked together to meet goals to restore the Bay. Today’s report provides “strong evidence that restoration efforts are working,” according to Dr. Heath Kelsey, Director of UMCES Integration and Application Network.

In addition to detailing the health of the Bay, the report also offers snapshots of rivers and watersheds throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. For example, Virginia’s lower Chesapeake Bay recorded the highest ever score. Just over half of the 15 regions assessed show improving health trends.

But a closer look also reveals trouble spots:

• In Maryland, the Patapsco and Back rivers, Lower Western Shore, and Patuxent River, all received “D” scores. On the watershed level, lower Eastern Shore water quality is getting worse over time.
• In Virginia, the York and Elizabeth rivers received “D” scores. In the lower James River watershed, water quality is getting worse over time.
• In Pennsylvania, the Lower Susquehanna watershed received a “D+” score and its health is not improving over time.

Overall, the report highlights promising improvements like more underwater grasses and less nitrogen and phosphorus pollution—notable achievements given growing challenges from climate change, development, and population growth.

However, some aspects are declining. Waters are becoming cloudier overall. Harmful algal blooms, measured in Chlorophyll a, are trending worse.

The report’s results are vital to policymakers working towards commitments in the newly revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which includes goals to reduce pollution and restore waterways by a 2040 deadline.

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

“This encouraging high score reflects decades of science, investment, and hard work to restore the Chesapeake Bay. Favorable weather conditions also contributed to the latest results. This offers a glimpse of what a healthier Chesapeake can look like when less pollution reaches our waters.

“But a C+ is not a final grade. Too many local rivers and streams continue to struggle, and too many communities face threats from pollution, flooding, and a changing climate. One good report card doesn’t mean the job is finished. Together, we still have a lot of work to do.

“Now is the time to build on this progress. State and federal leaders have made commitments to restore the Chesapeake Bay, and we expect them to keep those promises. So, let’s roll up our sleeves, sharpen our pencils, and finish the job.”

CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden issued the following statement:

“Our collective efforts to improve the health of the Bay are working, but the job is not done. We’re still lacking uniform progress across Maryland’s tributaries.

“Rivers like the Patapsco, Patuxent, and Choptank continue to be overburdened by pollution, which is driven by increased development, more intense rainfall, and climate change. While we celebrate progress made, we urge state leaders to maintain support for the programs and funding that keeps Bay health trending in the right direction.”

CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement:

“Documented improvements to Chesapeake Bay health are welcome, and the report shows some promising signs for Virginia’s portion of the Bay. However, the York and Elizabeth Rivers received poor marks and the lower James River showed evidence of declining health.

“Virginia must continue to invest in priorities like agricultural programs that help reduce nutrient pollution if we hope to truly restore and protect the Bay, along with the local rivers and streams that feed it.”

CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Julia Krall issued the following statement:

“We are proud of the efforts of local farmers, volunteers, partners, local communities, state agencies and municipal leaders to address pollution in the Susquehanna River.

“However, we have a lot more work ahead to reach Pennsylvania’s clean water goals. We will continue to work with landowners to make farms in Pennsylvania more resilient, ensure stormwater policy and practices are effective for communities, and call on decision makers at all levels to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our communities and waterways.”