Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee - All Meetings

The November 2026 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 10th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The September 2026 STAC Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 15th, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. This is a hybrid meeting with in-person meeting space TBD.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The June 2026 STAC Meeting will be held in-person on Monday, June 15th through Wednesday, June 17th at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Due to limited space, this meeting is invite-only. If you are interested in attending, please contact STAC Staff.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host an in-person workshop in May 2026 to assess the state of the science of salinization in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, gain a better understanding of long-term trends and the magnitude and frequency of extreme salinity events, and identify effective ways to anticipate and manage changes in salinization. The workshop will result in a comprehensive document that describes the state of the science of salinization risks in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and guidance for monitoring, modeling, and management from headwaters to coastal waters.

More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.

The April 2026 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 7th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host an in-person workshop in March 2026 to convene federal, state, local, and academic partners to synthesize the state of the science on applied coupled human and natural system (CHANS) approaches, recognize opportunities for collaboration, identify achievable solutions, and articulate key research needs. The workshop will be highly collaborative and application-focused, with activities designed to engage participants in structured breakout sessions to achieve four primary objectives:

1. Synthesize the current state of applied CHANS science and its relevance to addressing challenges in the CBW ecosystem.
2. Map feedbacks and identify gaps.
3. Assess CHANS applications.
4. Develop recommendations.

More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.

The February 2026 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, February 10th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host an in-person workshop in February 2026 to integrate insights from scientific research, expert testimony, and case studies to build a comprehensive framework of monitoring programs, adaptive management strategies, collaborative efforts, and other measures for achieving meaningful conservation outcomes. The main objectives of this workshop are:

• Identify major stressors to forest health and resilience in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including from changing environmental conditions, land use change, non-native species, pests, diseases, and other stressors.
• Evaluate whether and the extent to which the major stressors identified (and interactions between multiple stressors) may lead to declines in forest health through impairment of forest ecology.
• Evaluate how impairments to forest ecology may impact the ability of forests to improve water quality, how these impairments may lead to forest loss, and the implications of these for meeting the Bay Program’s goals.
• Develop actionable recommendations for improving forest health and resilience to enhance conservation outcomes through silvicultural practices, invasive species management, policy, community engagement, and other incentives, in addition to traditional conservation.

More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.

The November 2025 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, November 18th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.

Updates will be posted to the STAC site.

The September 2025 STAC Meeting will be held hybrid format on Tuesday, September 16th, from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The in-person meeting space is at the Chesapeake Bay Program Office, in the Blue Crab and Oyster Room.

Please fill out the RSVP form for both in-person and virtual attendance; all RSVPs will receive a Zoom invitation one week prior to the meeting. You may resubmit this form at any time to update your attendance.

RSPV (Google Form)

Updates for this meeting will be posted on the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host a 2-day workshop to identify key knowledge gaps and provide actionable guidance for implementing market-based approaches to achieve Chesapeake Bay goals. This workshop will focus on corporate sustainability programs and pay-for-outcomes programs to accelerate the speed and scale of implementation of agricultural conservation practices. Discussion will examine synergies and frictions among incentives and frameworks governing the decisions of private-sector and public-sector partners across the food supply chain. 

Updates will be posted to the STAC workshop webpage.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee's (STAC) will convene Monday, June 16-Wednesday, June 18 at the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC). At this meeting, "Setting the Science Agenda for 2026," STAC will engage in strategic planning for the next year, discussing how STAC's expertise can best support the Bay Program.

A session open to the public will take place June 18, 1:00PM-3:00PM. The link to access this session will be posted  on the STAC website at the time of the session.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host two separate one-day workshops for the purpose of strategizing implementation of priority best management practices to successfully recolonize, recover or repatriate brook trout populations. This workshop will convene experts from Chesapeake Bay Program Goal Implementation Teams and Workgroups, conservation organizations, regional coordinators, funding program administrators, and other relevant organizations in Baltimore, Carroll, and Garrett Counties in Maryland (May/June 2025) and Potter and Clearfield Counties in Pennsylvania (May/June 2025). Workshop participants will identify and synthesize the science needed, and local considerations and needs, to develop an actionable large-scale restoration plan to increase brook trout occupancy, abundance and resiliency within and among stronghold and/or persistent patches in priority geographies.

Updates will be posted to the STAC workshop webpage.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host two separate one-day workshops for the purpose of strategizing implementation of priority best management practices to successfully recolonize, recover or repatriate brook trout populations. This workshop will convene experts from Chesapeake Bay Program Goal Implementation Teams and Workgroups, conservation organizations, regional coordinators, funding program administrators, and other relevant organizations in Baltimore, Carroll, and Garrett Counties in Maryland (May/June 2025) and Potter and Clearfield Counties in Pennsylvania (May/June 2025). Workshop participants will identify and synthesize the science needed, and local considerations and needs, to develop an actionable large-scale restoration plan to increase brook trout occupancy, abundance and resiliency within and among stronghold and/or persistent patches in priority geographies.

Updates will be posted to the STAC workshop webpage.

The March 2025 STAC meeting will be held March 4-5, 2025. For more information, visit the STAC March 2025 Quarterly Meeting page.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a 2-day workshop in February 2025 for the purpose of bringing together federal, state, and academic partners to delve into the opportunities artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offer for analyzing large-scale environmental data, identifying research needs, and improving coordination within the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. The aim of this collaborative workshop was to enhance data-driven approaches to support Chesapeake Bay restoration goals, ensuring more effective and informed management practices.

More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a two-day workshop to investigate the environmental and ecological factors contributing to the low recruitment of Striped bass. The workshop aimed to review current survey approaches and identify priority science needs, supporting the management of this marquee sportfish, which is vital to both the recreational fishing industry and commercial harvest along the Atlantic Coast. The workshop focused on exploring research needs, sharing insights, and fostering collaboration among participants to support effective management strategies.

More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.

The December 2024 STAC meeting will be held December 3-4. STAC has not yet determined whether this meeting will be in-person with a virtual component or completely virtual. For updates, please visit the STAC December 2024 Quarterly Meeting page.

The September 2024 STAC meeting will be held September 10-11. This meeting will be in-person at The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Howard, PA with a virtual component. To attend in-person or online, please fill out this RSVP.

For updates, visit the STAC September 2024 Quarterly Meeting page.

The June 2024 STAC meeting will be held June 4-5. STAC has not yet determined whether this meeting will be in-person with a virtual component or completely virtual. For updates, please visit the STAC June 2024 Quarterly Meeting page.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) will host a 3-day workshop in May 2024 for the purpose of bringing Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) managers and model developers together with experts in climate change, estuarine, and watershed science. Workshop participants will be asked to develop recommendations to guide the development and application of CBP Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) models for climate change applications.

To see more, visit the workshop page.

The STAC March 2024 Quarterly meeting will be held virtually on March 5-6. The exact meeting times will be determined soon. For updates, please visit the STAC March 2024 Meeting page.

This is a quarterly meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee.

More details on the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted Day 2 of a multi-day workshop for the purpose of developing a strategic plan for the Chesapeake Bay Program to incorporate ecosystem services (ES) into its current decision framework, tools, and engagement with local partners; as well as guidance to help partners apply ES information to increase implementation of restoration and conservation activities. This will enable CBP to take advantage of ongoing efforts and new datasets to better identify, assess, and communicate the multiple benefits of restoration and conservation activities in the Bay watershed.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a 2-day workshop to bring together leading experts to elevate the use of biochar in practice Bay-wide by evaluating and translating current research for integration into current Chesapeake Bay protocols. Concurrent with rapid global research and biochar-focused publications, US research grew with demonstration projects in the Chesapeake Bay region conducted by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, state and federal partners, and non-profits. These projects show significant environmental benefits including water quality improvement (reduction of nutrients/toxics), improved agricultural and urban soil health, and significant increases in soil infiltration capacity and hydrology. They have greatly advanced the empirical evidence supporting biochar protocols, standards, specifications, and crediting which are lacking in the Bay region. The purpose of this workshop was to accelerate the water quality efforts via the benefits biochar provides to more closely meet 2025 requirements and plan forward for water quality policies and carbon negative opportunities considered in the forthcoming 2025-2035 Climate TMDL.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a workshop for the purpose of developing a strategic plan for the Chesapeake Bay Program to incorporate ecosystem services (ES) into its current decision framework, tools, and engagement with local partners; as well as guidance to help partners apply ES information to increase implementation of restoration and conservation activities. This will enable CBP to take advantage of ongoing efforts and new datasets to better identify, assess, and communicate the multiple benefits of restoration and conservation activities in the Bay watershed.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a two-day workshop to explore the potential impact of land use transition renewable energy within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and our ability to meet TMDL goals. Current BMP recommendations are varied across the watershed, with only some states providing solar-specific stormwater management guidance. There is a need to ascertain the state of the science on solar farms and environmental quality that will inform field research and modeling in the Chesapeake Bay region.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a three-day workshop to bring together the scientific and management communities to synthesize our understanding of practices, assessment approaches, and ecosystem outcomes in order to inform and improve stream restoration practices.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted Day 1 of a multi-day workshop for the purpose of developing a strategic plan for the Chesapeake Bay Program to incorporate ecosystem services (ES) into its current decision framework, tools, and engagement with local partners; as well as guidance to help partners apply ES information to increase implementation of restoration and conservation activities. This will enable CBP to take advantage of ongoing efforts and new datasets to better identify, assess, and communicate the multiple benefits of restoration and conservation activities in the Bay watershed.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted a two-day workshop to bring together CBP modelers, local government stakeholders, and scientists who are monitoring and analyzing local water quality data to recommend ways in which local monitoring data can be used to inform the CBWM, identify gaps between modeled and monitored data, and be used to validate model predictions at the local scale.

For more details, visit the STAC site.

This is the STAC Quarterly Meeting. Agenda to come.

Note: When this meeting took place, it was part of the Biennial Strategy Review System's Clean Water cohort. Cohorts are predefined sets of teams that represent a particular group of Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes. In 2023, the Strategy Review System's cohorts changed. As a result, the outcomes that were discussed at this meeting are no longer grouped together. To learn more, visit ChesapeakeDecisions: a tool that promotes transparency and guides teams through the Strategy Review System process.

STAC Science Needs Presentations due

Note: When this meeting took place, it was part of the Biennial Strategy Review System's Clean Water cohort. Cohorts are predefined sets of teams that represent a particular group of Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement outcomes. In 2023, the Strategy Review System's cohorts changed. As a result, the outcomes that were discussed at this meeting are no longer grouped together. To learn more, visit ChesapeakeDecisions: a tool that promotes transparency and guides teams through the Strategy Review System process.

This is the STAC Quarterly Meeting. Agenda to come.

This is the STAC Quarterly Meeting. Agenda to come.