Publications
Access hundreds of Bay Program publications, from scientific reports to factsheets to memorandums.
Chesapeake Bay Watershed 2022 Environmental Literacy Report - District of Columbia
Published on April 10, 2023 in Report2023 Bay Barometer
Published on January 24, 2024 in ReportThe 2023 Bay Barometer report provides an update on 18 outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, including those related to blue crabs, oysters, forest buffers and protected lands.
View detailsForage Status and Trends Report for the Chesapeake Bay
Published in ReportPublished by the Forage Action Team in November 2023, this report summarizes the status of different forage species found within the Chesapeake Bay. It is a culmination of research conducted from 2014 to 2023, and can be used to assess whether key predator populations have enough food. It also identifies remaining knowledge gaps and a path forward for the development of forage indicators.
View detailsCultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders
Published on August 25, 2023 in ReportThe "Cultivating and Strengthening Partnerships with Underrepresented Stakeholders" project was funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT) Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Funding Program. The project, proposed by the Chesapeake Bay Program Stewardship Goal Implementation Team (GIT 5) and their Diversity Workgroup, aimed to understand the needs, barriers, and priorities of organizations serving historically underrepresented and underserved communities. Chesapeake Conservancy was contracted to complete the project, which began in spring 2021 and ended in summer 2022. The project involved conversations with community leaders and Chesapeake Bay Program staff to identify barriers and opportunities for engagement. A Leadership Workshop was conducted to define meaningful community engagement, and a Community Forum in July 2022 brought together community members and Bay Program leadership to build trust and develop engagement strategies. Recommendations for next steps were compiled based on input from participants, and a community engagement guide was developed. The project's outcomes will help the Chesapeake Bay Program develop long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with organizations serving communities of color and other underrepresented communities.
View detailsCharting a Course to 2025
Published on January 17, 2024 in ReportIn October 2022, the Chesapeake Executive Council charged the Principals’ Staff Committee with recommending a critical path forward that prioritizes and outlines the next steps for meeting the goals and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement leading up to and beyond 2025. The Executive Council Charge to the Principals’ Staff Committee: Charting a Course to 2025 and Beyond asked the Principals' Staff Committee to report back to the Executive Council at their 2023 annual meeting with recommendations on how to best address and integrate new science and restoration strategies leading up to 2025.
View details2023 Blue Crab Advisory Report
Published on June 27, 2023 in ReportAnnual report published by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee that summarizes the results of the Winter Dredge Survey and harvest information, and provides management advice for the jurisdictions based on stock status.
View details2022 Chesapeake Bay Oyster Restoration Update
Published in ReportThis document includes details on large-scale oyster restoration, including acres of reef constructed and number of spat-on-shell planted, in Maryland and Virginia tributaries for calendar year 2022.
View details2022 Blue Crab Science Workshop Report
Published in ReportThis report summarizes discussions held at the Blue Crab Science Workshop in September 2022. Workshop discussions were focused on blue crab population drivers and stock assessment modeling to better understand the recent population declines and to prepare for the upcoming benchmark stock assessment.
View details2021 Outcome Attainability Documents
Published on December 13, 2021 in ReportOver the past year, the Chesapeake Bay Program assessed each outcome in its ability to attain its target. This assessment found that 11 outcomes are fully on track to meet their targets by 2025. On the other hand, several challenges were identified in meeting some outcomes (e.g., forest buffers, wetlands, 2025 Watershed Implementation Plans, tree canopy). These issues are now being discussed to determine the appropriate solutions that will accelerate progress. These documents include the original outcome language, current status, background information in how the outcome came to be included in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the baseline (if available) and data source. Information is updated as of November 18, 2021.
View detailsUnderstanding Chesapeake Bay Modeling Tools
Published in ReportThe Chesapeake Bay Program uses state-of-the art science and monitoring data to replicate conditions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This information is then used by decision-makers at the federal, state and local levels to determine how best to restore and protect local waterways, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. By combining advanced modeling tools and real-world monitoring data, we gain a comprehensive view of the Chesapeake ecosystem—from the depths of the Bay to the upper reaches of the watershed.
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