Recent Releases

August 18, 2020

Chesapeake Executive Council adopts diversity statement

Representatives from the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states, the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) met today for the annual meeting of the Chesapeake Executive Council.

Established 37 years ago, the Chesapeake Executive Council, is responsible for guiding the policy agenda and setting conservation and restoration goals for the Chesapeake Bay Program, a regional watershed partnership. Members include the governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the EPA on behalf of the federal government.

In what has become the new norm, members met virtually for the first time to discuss the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon their respective jurisdictions and how the continued investment in Bay restoration can be used to help the economy and public health of the region.

“As our country works to overcome a pandemic and a legacy of racial injustice, we need to have safe and accessible public spaces to recreate; places to interact with nature; sustainable, locally-produced food; clean air and water,” said Chesapeake Bay Commission Chair Gene Yaw.  “When our local communities have clean water, the Chesapeake Bay will also have clean water, at no additional cost.”

However, the defining moment of this annual meeting was the adoption by the Executive Council of a historic statement re-affirming the commitment of the partnership in embracing diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all forms, which was first included as an outcome in the most recent Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The Statement in Support of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice commits the Chesapeake Bay Program to strengthen and improve diversity, equity, inclusion and justice in all areas of the partnership, recruit and retain staff and volunteers that reflect the diversity of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, foster a culture of inclusion and respect across all partner organizations and ensure the benefits of our science, restoration and partnership programs are distributed equitably without disproportionate impacts on vulnerable populations.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan reflected on his past three years as chair of the Executive Council before symbolically handing over the reins to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, who was unanimously elected by the other members to succeed him.

“In my past three years as chair, we have worked together to implement real, bipartisan, common sense solutions to the challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay, and the results speak for themselves,” stated Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “Maryland remains fully committed to this partnership as we continue making strides to preserve this national treasure.”  

The Chesapeake Bay Program is governed by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which was signed by the Executive Council in 2014. It envisions fostering an environmentally and economically sustainable watershed with clean water, abundant life, conserved lands and access to the water, a vibrant cultural heritage, and a diversity of engaged citizens and stakeholders.

“I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay, and I am excited to take on the role of Chair of the Executive Council as we continue our critical restoration work,” said Virginia Governor Ralph Northam. “As my first official act as Chair, I call on the Council’s principal staff to immediately begin work on the diversity, equity, inclusion and justice goals adopted today. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues to build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable Bay.”  

Read more >>

August 10, 2020

Chesapeake Bay Program reports overall decline in nitrogen, sediment pollution reaching the Bay

Today, the Chesapeake Bay Program announced that the amount of nitrogen and sediment pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay continued to decrease, while phosphorus pollution slightly increased from the previous assessment period. Each year, the seven watershed jurisdictions--Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia--report the practices they have implemented to decrease the amount of pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay.

The modeling team at the Chesapeake Bay Program runs this information through a sophisticated suite of modeling tools that generate estimates of how far our partners have come toward meeting their individual pollutant reduction goals as outlined in the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL).

According to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Model, pollution controls put in place between 2009 and 2019 are estimated to have lowered overall nitrogen loads 11%, phosphorus loads 10% and sediment loads 4%. Experts attribute the decreases in estimated nitrogen and phosphorus loads to upgrades to wastewater treatment facilities, while reductions in sediment loads are due primarily to the implementation of best management practices in the agricultural sector.

Through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, the Chesapeake Bay Program has committed to having in place 100% of the practices that would achieve all of the nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment reductions necessary to meet the goals outlined in the Bay TMDL in place by 2025. As of 2019, practices are currently in place to achieve 39% of the Bay TMDL nitrogen reductions, 49% of the Bay TMDL phosphorus reductions and 100% of the Bay TMDL sediment reductions.

To learn more about our progress toward having practices and controls in place to achieve a healthy Bay by 2025, visit ChesapeakeProgress.com.

Read more >>

July 08, 2020

Chesapeake Bay Program reports decline in underwater grass abundance

 In 2019, an estimated 66,387 acres of underwater grasses were mapped in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries, achieving 36% of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s ultimate restoration goal of 185,000 acres.

Although the 66,387 acres mapped in 2019 are a 70% increase from the 38,958 acres observed during the first survey in 1984, it is a 17% decrease from the preceding 10-year average of 79,738 acres and a 38% decrease from 2018 when it was estimated that the Bay may have supported up to 108,078 acres of underwater grasses. Many factors prevented complete mapping of underwater grass acres in 2018 which resulted in an estimate calculated by combining mapped acreage with 2017 data for the region that was not mapped to estimate the acreage in the Bay.

In 2019, the largest decline in terms of total area—an estimated 34,986 acres—was observed in moderately salty waters, particularly in the Tangier Sound area, which experienced a 18,452-acre decline. Experts attribute the losses largely to a decline in widgeon grass. Widgeon grass fluctuates from year-to-year as the species responds rapidly to impacts from extreme weather or changes in water quality. The decline in widgeon grass that we saw in 2019 mirrors a similar situation that occurred in 2001-2003, where a rapid increase in widgeon grass in 2001 and 2002 was followed by a 50% decline in 2003. Though the precise cause for the decline in 2019 is unknown, higher than average river flows may have contributed by reducing water clarity and blocking sunlight from reaching the grasses.

Underwater grass abundance can vary from species to species and river to river. In 2019, local highlights included:

  • Northeast Maryland: Underwater grass abundance in the Sassafras River increased from 162 acres in 2018 to 405 acres in 2019.
  • Central Maryland: Underwater grass abundance in the Severn River increased from 224 acres in 2018 to 404 acres in 2019; in the neighboring Magothy River it increased from 36 acres in 2018 to 183 acres 2019.
  • Southeast Virginia: Underwater grass abundance in the middle and upper Rappahannock River increased from 1,007 acres in 2018 to 1,453 acres in 2019. In the upper tidal fresh portion of the James River, underwater grass abundance increased from 402 acres in 2018 to 536 acres in 2019, while in the Chickahominy River it increased from 711 acres in 2018 to 1,059 acres in 2019.
  • Lower central Chesapeake Bay: In the Maryland portion of the lower central Chesapeake Bay, underwater grass abundance declined from 2,669 acres in 2018 to 901 acres in 2019. Underwater grass abundance in the Virginia portion of the lower central Chesapeake Bay declined from 2,719 acres in 2018 to 583 acres in 2019.

The Chesapeake Bay Program recently brought together experts specializing in underwater grasses, water quality, and land-use research and management to develop a series of fact sheets that examines the role that a growing human population—and its associated impacts—plays on the Bay’s grass beds. Each fact sheet gives a close-up view of what’s happening in each of the rivers across the Bay in order to provide a summary of information to guide local planning decisions and implementation of best management practices that encourage underwater grass recovery. These facts sheets can be found at https://gis.chesapeakebay.net/sav/.

To learn more about our progress toward achieving and sustaining 185,000 acres of underwater grasses Bay-wide, visit ChesapeakeProgress. 

Read more >>

July 01, 2020

2020 Blue Crab Advisory Report Released

The annual Blue Crab Advisory Report, released by the Chesapeake Bay Program and developed by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee, finds that the overall Chesapeake Bay blue crab population is not being overfished and is not depleted. The blue crab population in the Bay—which varies naturally from year to year—decreased from 594 million in 2019 to 405 million in 2020. 

The report includes expert analysis of data from the annual Bay-wide winter dredge survey (released earlier this year by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Institute of Marine Science) and harvest estimates from recent years to provide an in-depth picture of the Chesapeake’s blue crab population and to make suggestions for any needed changes to regulations.

In the Chesapeake Bay, the blue crab fishery is managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Each jurisdiction sets its own regulations. Decision makers and resource managers in each area refer to the Blue Crab Advisory Report as they make any changes to regulations.

To ensure continued resiliency of the population, resource managers focus on maintaining a robust stock of female crabs. The estimated population of 141 million female blue crabs in 2020 was a decrease from 191 million in 2019. This number is above 70 million, which is the minimum acceptable level for female blue crabs in the Bay, but lower than the target of 215 million. In the 2019 blue crab fishing season, 17% of all female crabs were harvested—safely below both the target (25.5%) and threshold (34%) levels for the twelfth consecutive year.

The juvenile blue crab population—crabs that will grow to harvestable size this fall—was estimated to be 185 million, down from 324 million in 2019 and below the long-term average of 224 million. The number of crabs that die in between fall and spring (often due to cold and/or freezing water temperatures)—the overwintering mortality—was 0.36%, likely due to the warm 2019-20 winter. This is the lowest overwintering mortality rate observed since 1996; the average is 4.53%. 

The 2020 Advisory Report recommends:

  • Substantial changes in management are not necessary; working to maintain a robust spawning stock should remain the goal.
  • Jurisdictions should implement ways to more accurately track commercial and recreational harvests, such as electronic reporting and harvest validation. This would support even more precise management. 
  • To improve scientific knowledge, the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee would like to develop a spatially explicit blue crab population simulation model to help evaluate management performance under different hypothetical situations.

The Blue Crab Advisory Report is developed by the Chesapeake Bay Stock Assessment Committee, a group of experts from state and federal agencies and academic institutions that is organized under the Chesapeake Bay Program Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team.

Read more >>

June 16, 2020

Slightly smaller-than-average dead zone predicted for Chesapeake Bay

Researchers from the Chesapeake Bay Program, the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, University of Michigan and U.S. Geological Survey announced today that they are forecasting a slightly smaller than average Chesapeake Bay “dead zone” this year, due to reduced rainfall and less nutrient-rich runoff flowing into the Bay from the watershed this spring.  

Hypoxic and anoxic regions, areas of low and no oxygen, respectively, are caused by excess nutrient pollution flowing into the Bay. Compared to the past 34 years, this year’s Chesapeake Bay hypoxic volume, or “dead zone”, is expected to be nine percent lower than average, while the volume of water with no oxygen is predicted to be four percent lower than average. The predicted volumes are smaller than the dead zone in 2019, a year with exceptionally high freshwater flows and nutrient pollutants entering the Bay.

Although different types of nutrients contribute to the annual dead zone, it is the amount of nitrogen that enters the Bay from January-May that is a key driver in how hypoxic conditions can vary from year-to-year.  In spring 2020, the Bay received a slightly below-average amount of nitrogen pollution (17%) compared to the long-term average.  Overall, nitrogen loads entering the Bay included 111 million pounds recorded at nine river input monitoring stations and 7.3 million pounds from treated wastewater.

Throughout the year, researchers measure oxygen and nutrient levels as part of the Chesapeake Bay Monitoring Program, a Bay-wide cooperative effort involving watershed jurisdictions, several federal agencies, 10 academic institutions and over 30 scientists. Among these institutions, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality conduct 8-10 cruises between May – October, depending on weather conditions, to track summer hypoxia in the Bay. Results from each monitoring cruise can be accessed through the Eyes on the Bay website for the Maryland portion of the Bay and the VECOS website for the Virginia portion. Estimates of river flow and nutrients entering the Bay can be accessed on the U.S. Geological Survey’s website. A Bay-wide assessment of the 2020 dead zone will be available this fall.

Read more >>

Media Advisories

September 09, 2020

Citizens Advisory Committee to Host Environmental Quality and Public Health Webinar

On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Citizens Advisory Committee will host “Bridging the Gaps Between Environmental Quality and Public Health”, a live webinar that seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the connections between the two fields. This virtual session is free and open to all.

This expert panel will aid professionals and stakeholders in both fields by helping them to discover the opportunities that exist to bridge gaps and inform efforts for positive change. The webinar will explore questions related to policy, health care, environmental justice, food security, climate change and climate justice.

The Citizens Advisory Committee is a group of residents throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who are appointed by their respective governors and the mayor of Washington, D.C., to advise the Chesapeake Executive Council on all aspects of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort.

Who

  • Julie Lawson, vice-chair, Citizens Advisory Committee and director, Mayor’s Office of the Clean City, District of Columbia. (moderator)
  • Surili Patel, director, Center for Climate Change, Health and Equity, American Public Health Association (moderator)
  • Doug Farquhar, director of government affairs, National Environmental Health Association
  • Adrienne Hollis, senior climate justice and health scientist, Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Liz Perera, climate policy director, Sierra Club
  • Dr. Sacoby Wilson, associate professor, University of Maryland
  • Nsedu Obott Witherspoon, executive director, Children’s Environmental Health Network

When   

Wednesday, September 16, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET

Where

Virtual—please register by 12:00 p.m. ET on September 16, 2020 at www.allianceforthebay.org/webinar. Once you register, you will be emailed instructions on how to access the webinar.

Media RSVP by September 14, 2020

View advisory >>

August 12, 2020

2020 Executive Council Meeting

On Tuesday, August 18, 2020, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event during which they will set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The council, established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983, meets on an annual basis.

During the meeting, the council will announce the adoption of a diversity, equity, inclusion and justice statement for the Chesapeake Bay Program and hear remarks from Dr. Janice Underwood, chief diversity, equity, inclusion and justice officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Additionally, members of the Executive Council will have the opportunity to give remarks about how Bay restoration can be used to address challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. More detailed information can be found on the 2020 Executive Council meeting website.

Who

  • The Honorable Larry J. Hogan, Jr., Governor, State of Maryland (Executive Council Chair)
  • The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
  • The Honorable Gene Yaw, Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission
  • The Honorable Douglas Benevento, Associate Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Honorable Austin Caperton, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of West Virginia
  • The Honorable Shawn Garvin, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State of Delaware 
  • The Honorable Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • The Honorable Basil Seggos, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of New York
  • The Honorable Tommy Wells, Director, Department of Energy and Environment, District of Columbia

When   

Tuesday, August 18, 2020 from 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m. ET

Where

Virtual:

(meeting room will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting)

Media RSVP by August 14, 2020

View advisory >>

August 26, 2019

2019 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting

On Thursday, September 5, 2019, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event during which they will set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The council, established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983, meets on an annual basis.

During the meeting, the council will acknowledge the recent completion of their Phase III Watershed Implementation Plans and recommit to meeting the goals set forth under the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, as well as their local waterways. Each member of the Executive Council will have the opportunity to give remarks and hear updates from citizen, local government and scientific and technical representatives.

For more detailed information as it becomes available, visit the 2019 Executive Council meeting webpage.

WHO:

  • The Honorable Larry J. Hogan, Jr., Governor, State of Maryland (Executive Council Chair)
  • The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
  • The Honorable Tawanna Gaines, Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission
  • The Honorable Andrew Wheeler, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Honorable Austin Caperton, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of West Virginia
  • The Honorable Shawn M. Garvin, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State of Delaware
  • The Honorable Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • The Honorable Jim Tierney, Deputy Commissioner for Water Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of New York
  • The Honorable Rashad Young, City Administrator, District of Columbia
  • The Honorable Richard Fordyce, Administrator, Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture

WHERE:

  • Meeting & Press Event: Oxon Hill Manor
  • Address: 6901 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD 20745

WHEN:

  • Thursday, September 5, 2019
  • Public Poster and Video Session: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
  • Public Meeting and Press Conference: 12:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

DETAILS:

  • All are welcome to attend the public meeting.

PLEASE RSVP BY 8/30/19: Rachel Felver, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net or (410) 267-5740

View advisory >>

March 28, 2019

Annual report continues to show improvements in Bay health

The Chesapeake Bay Program will release its annual, science-based snapshot of the nation’s largest estuary, the Bay Barometer: Health and Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (2017 – 2018) on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. ET.  Subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions regarding the most recent scientific data on the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including its rivers, fisheries and habitats.  

Press release will be available by 10:00 a.m. ET on April 2.
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/presscenter

WHO:

  • Dana Aunkst, Director, Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Jennifer Dopkowski, Acting Coordinator, Climate Resiliency Workgroup, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
  • Brooke Landry, Chair, SAV Workgroup, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
  • Peter Tango, Coordinator, Scientific, Technical Assessment and Reporting Workgroup, U.S. Geological Survey

WHEN:                

  • Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. ET

WHERE:              

  • Call (202) 991-0477; Code: 903-7008

MEDIA RSVP:    

Rachel Felver, Director of Communications, Chesapeake Bay Program

 Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

(410) 267-5740, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net

View advisory >>

July 30, 2018

2018 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting

On Tuesday, August 7, 2018, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event during which they will set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. The council, established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983, meets on an annual basis.

During this meeting, the council is expected to sign a directive in support of agricultural technical assistance and conservation practice implementation. Each member of the Executive Council will have the opportunity to give remarks and hear about the importance of the partnership from citizen, local government and scientific and technical representatives.

For more detailed information as it becomes available, visit the 2018 Executive Council meeting webpage.


WHO:

The Honorable Larry J. Hogan, Jr., Governor, State of Maryland (Executive Council Chair)
The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia
The Honorable John C. Carney, Jr., Governor, State of Delaware
The Honorable Frank Wagner, Chairman, Chesapeake Bay Commission
The Honorable Andrew Wheeler, Acting Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Honorable Kevin Donahue, Deputy Mayor, District of Columbia
The Honorable Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Honorable Austin Caperton, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of West Virginia
The Honorable Jamie Clover Adams, Chief of Staff, Farm Production and Conservation, U.S. Department of Agriculture

 

WHERE: Meeting & Press Event: Douglass – Myers Maritime Park
Address for GPS: 1417 Thames Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21231

 

WHEN: Tuesday, August 7, 2018
Public Poster Session: 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ET
Public Meeting and Press Conference: 12:35 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET

 

DETAILS: The Douglass – Myers Maritime Park is open to the public during this event. All are welcome to attend.

 

PLEASE RSVP BY 8/6/18: Rachel Felver, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net or (410) 267-5740

 

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership that has coordinated and conducted the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay for 30 years, since its formation thirty years ago in 1983. Partners include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, representing the federal government; the states of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia; the District of Columbia; the Chesapeake Bay Commission,a tri-state legislative body; and advisory groups of citizens, scientists and local government officials.
 

View advisory >>

January 02, 2018

Chesapeake Bay Program releases Bay Barometer; resilience noted throughout watershed

The Chesapeake Bay Program will release its annual, science-based snapshot of the nation’s largest estuary, the Bay Barometer: Health and Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (2016 – 2017) on Thursday, January 4, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. ET.  Subject matter experts will be on hand to answer questions regarding the most recent scientific data on the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including its rivers, fisheries and habitats.  

Press release will be available by 9:00 a.m. ET on January 4
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/presscenter

 

WHO:                   Ben Grumbles, Secretary, Maryland Department of the Environment (invited)

                             Jim Edward, Acting Director, Chesapeake Bay Program

                             Kate Fritz, Executive Director, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay 

                             Al Todd, former Chair, Chesapeake Bay Program Stewardship Workgroup

                 

WHEN:                 Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. ET

 

WHERE:               Annapolis Maritime Museum

                             723 2nd Street

                             Annapolis, MD 21403

 

MEDIA RSVP:     Rachel Felver, Chesapeake Bay Program Director of Communications

                            (410) 267-5740

                            rfelver@chesapeakebay.net

View advisory >>

January 30, 2017

Bay Barometer Media Call

The Chesapeake Bay Program will release its annual, science-based snapshot of the nation’s largest estuary, the Bay Barometer: Health and Restoration in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed (2015 – 16) on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Subject matter experts will be on hand to answer any questions regarding the most recent scientific data on the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including its rivers, fisheries and habitats.

The leaders of the Chesapeake Bay Program, Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science will provide statements on the progress toward restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

Press release will be available by 9:00 a.m. ET on February 1

http://www.chesapeakebay.net/presscenter

WHO: Nick DiPasquale, Director, Chesapeake Bay Program
William C. Baker, President, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Dr. Don Boesch, President, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

WHEN: Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. ET

WHERE: Conference call. Dial: 866-299-3188 Enter Code: 4102675731

MEDIA RSVP: Rachel Felver, Chesapeake Bay Program Director of Communications, (410) 267-5740, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net

View advisory >>

September 28, 2016

2016 Chesapeake Executive Council Annual Meeting

On Tuesday, October 4, 2016, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event during which they will set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. The council, established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983, meets on an annual basis.

During this meeting, the council is expected to adopt a resolution to support and collaborate with local governments and will note the signs of resiliency that are beginning to be seen throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Each member of the Executive Council will also publically speak to the challenges facing their jurisdictions in regard to Chesapeake Bay restoration.

For more detailed information as it becomes available, visit the 2016 Executive Council meeting webpage.

Who

The Honorable Terence R. McAuliffe, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia (EC Chair)
The Honorable Thomas Wolf, Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Honorable Thomas McLain “Mac” Middleton, Chairman, Chesapeake Bay Commission
The Honorable Gina McCarthy, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
The Honorable Jeannie Haddaway Riccio, Deputy Chief of Staff, State of Maryland

The Honorable Kara Coats, Deputy Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State of Delaware

The Honorable James Tierney, Deputy Commissioner for Water Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of New York
The Honorable Hamid Karimi, Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, Department of Energy and the Environment, District of Columbia

The Honorable Brigadier General William Graham, Commander and Division Engineer, North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The Honorable Robert Bonnie, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Where

Meeting & Press Event – Virginia State Arboretum
Address for GPS: 400 Blandy Farm Lane Boyce, VA 22620

When

Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Public Poster Session and Q&A with Subject Matter Experts: 10:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. ET
Public Meeting and Press Conference: 11:05 a.m.–12:00 p.m. ET

Details

The Virginia State Arboretum is open to the public during this event. All are welcome to attend.

RSVP

Please RSVP by 10/3/16: Rachel Felver, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net or (410) 267-5740

View advisory >>

September 19, 2016

Chesapeake Bay Water Quality Improves in 2015

Join experts from the Chesapeake Bay Program on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. ET as they answer questions and discuss the latest data on the health of the Chesapeake Bay, as measured by monitored nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment pollution loads in rivers and streams, as well as the estimated achievement of water quality standards for measures such as dissolved oxygen, water clarity/underwater grasses and chlorophyll a that help determine how well the Bay can support its living resources.

Press release will be available by 10:00 a.m. ET on September 21 http://www.chesapeakebay.net/presscenter

Who

Nick DiPasquale, Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program, Environmental Protection Agency
Rich Batiuk, Associate Director for Science, Analysis and Implementation, Environmental Protection Agency
Scott Phillips, Chesapeake Bay Coordinator, U.S. Geological Survey

When

Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where

Conference call.  Dial: 866-299-3188   Enter Code: 4102675731

Media RSVP

Rachel Felver, Chesapeake Bay Program Director of Communications, (410) 267-5740, rfelver@chesapeakebay.net

View advisory >>

April 19, 2016

Experts, Decision Makers Focus on Improving Environmental Education

The Leadership Summit on Environmental Literacy will bring together cabinet-level representatives from state government, environmental education experts, and decision makers from around the watershed to explore how states can assist local education agencies in creating and sustaining high-quality environmental literacy programming as part of their ongoing education reforms and to meet commitments under the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Participants will also examine opportunities provided by the environmental education provisions of the recently enacted Every Students Succeeds Act to support state and local environmental literacy programming. The meeting is organized by the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, a partner of the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Media are welcome to join from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. to observe students from Hammond High School in Columbia, Maryland who will participate in hands-on field experiences with summit attendees. The session will also feature Nick DiPasquale, Director of the Chesapeake Bay Program; Tom Ackerman, Vice President of Education at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; and Dr. Renee Foose, Superintendent of Howard County Public Schools as they describe how experiences like this are part of a comprehensive effort to increase Chesapeake Bay stewardship. Members of the media should check in with Rachel Felver, Director of Communications for the Chesapeake Bay Program upon arrival.

What

Leadership Summit on Environmental Literacy

When

Wednesday, April 20, 2016. The summit is a day-long, focused event that will run from 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and includes several closed, working sessions. Media are welcome to join from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Where

Phillip Merrill Environmental Center, 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21403 

Who 

Presenters include:
• Congressman John Sarbanes (Maryland), U.S. House of Representatives
• Mark Belton, Secretary, Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Molly Ward, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources
• Steven Staples, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Dr. Renee Foose, Superintendent, Howard County Public Schools
• Tom Ackerman, Vice President of Education, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

View advisory >>

Media Resources

Background Information: Overview of Chesapeake Bay Program | Chesapeake Bay Facts & Figures | Backgrounders and Fact Sheets | Glossary of Terms

Photos: Images from around the Bay watershed, including crabs, oysters, forest buffers, wetlands and more.

Videos

Logos: Bay Program Logo (.tif, .png, .eps, .svg)

RSS: Feed of recent press releases.

Media Contact

If you have any questions, need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:

Rachel Felver
Director of Communications
(410) 267-5740

Archives