Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee - All Meetings
2026
- Synthesize the current state of applied CHANS science and its relevance to addressing challenges in the CBW ecosystem.
- Map feedbacks and identify gaps.
- Assess CHANS applications.
- Develop recommendations.
- 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.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Topical Meeting - November 2026
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.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Meeting - September 2026
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.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Retreat - June 2026
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.
STAC Workshop: State of the Science of Salinity Risks in the Chesapeake Bay and Its Tributaries: Connecting Monitoring, Modeling and Management
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.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Topical Meeting - April 2026
The April 2026 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, April 30th, from 1:00am to 4:00pm. The theme of this meeting is AI and Machine Learning for Chesapeake Bay Science and Management.
Updates will be posted to the STAC site.
STAC Workshop: Challenges and Opportunities in Operationalizing Coupled Human and Natural Systems Research in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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:
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.
STAC Workshop: Healthy Forests: Proactive Strategies for Managing Threats and Promoting Conservation
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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 were to:
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Topical Meeting - February 2026
The February 2026 STAC Meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, February 20th, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Updates will be posted to the STAC site.
2025
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Topical Meeting - November 2025
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.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Meeting - September 2025
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.
Updates for this meeting will be posted on the STAC site.
STAC Workshop: Advancing Market-Based Approaches in the Agricultural Sector to Support Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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 focused on corporate sustainability programs and pay-for-outcomes programs to accelerate the speed and scale of implementation of agricultural conservation practices. Discussion examined synergies and frictions among incentives and frameworks governing the decisions of private-sector and public-sector partners across the food supply chain.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) Strategic Planning Meeting - June 2025
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.
STAC Workshop: Blueprint for Building Partnerships and Recommendations for Scaling Brook Trout Restoration in Stronghold and Persistent Patches - Maryland
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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 convened 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 identified and synthesized 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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop webpage.
STAC Workshop: Blueprint for Building Partnerships and Recommendations for Scaling Brook Trout Restoration in Stronghold and Persistent Patches - Pennsylvania
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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 convened 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 identified and synthesized 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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop webpage.
STAC Quarterly Meeting - March 2025
The March 2025 STAC meeting will be held March 4-5, 2025. For more information, visit the STAC March 2025 Quarterly Meeting page.
STAC Workshop: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to Advance Chesapeake Bay Research and Management: A review of status, challenges, and opportunities
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.
STAC Workshop: Striped Bass Survey Assessment and Habitat Connections
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.
2024
STAC December 2024 Quarterly Meeting
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.
STAC September 2024 Quarterly Meeting
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.
For updates, visit the STAC September 2024 Quarterly Meeting page.
STAC June 2024 Quarterly Meeting
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.
STAC Workshop: CBP Climate Change Modeling III: Post-2025 decisions - May 2024
The Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) hosted 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 developed recommendations to guide the development and application of CBP Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) models for climate change applications.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop page.
STAC March 2024 Quarterly Meeting
The STAC March 2024 Quarterly meeting was held virtually on March 5-6. For more information, please visit the STAC March 2024 Meeting page.
2023
December 2023 STAC Quarterly Meeting
The December 2023 Quarterly Meeting was held virtually on Tuesday, December 5th and Wednesday, December 6th.
The meeting theme for Day 2 was Maximizing STAC’s Impact Post-CESR, which focused on exploring the implications of major CESR recommendations and the approaches for addressing them over the next 1-2 years. Discussion focused on policy opportunities, as well as the reprioritization of goals and outcomes, potential changes in the monitoring and modeling programs, possible redefinition of GITs, adoption (and funding) of sandboxing efforts, etc.
For more information, please visit the STAC December 2023 Meeting page.
September 2023 STAC Quarterly Meeting
The September 2023 STAC meeting was held in-person on Tuesday, September 12th and Wednesday, September 13th.
For more information, please visit the STAC September 2023 Meeting page.
June 2023 STAC Quarterly Meeting
The June 2023 STAC meeting was held in-person on Tuesday, June 13th and Wednesday, June 14th.
For more information, please visit the STAC June 2023 Meeting page.
STAC Workshop: Using Ecosystem Services to Increase Progress Toward, and Quantify the Benefits of, Multiple CBP Outcomes (Day 2)
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop day webpage.
STAC Workshop: Using Carbon to Achieve Chesapeake Bay (and Watershed) Water Quality Goals and Climate Resiliency: The Science, Gaps, Implementation Activities and Opportunities
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop webpage.
STAC Workshop: Using Ecosystem Services to Increase Progress Toward, and Quantify the Benefits of, Multiple CBP Outcomes (Planning Session)
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop day webpage.
STAC Workshop: Best Management Practices to Minimize Impacts of Solar Farms on Landscape Hydrology and Water Quality
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop webpage.
STAC Workshop: The State of the Science and Practice of Stream Restoration in the Chesapeake: Lessons Learned to Inform Better Implementation, Assessment and Outcomes
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop webpage.
STAC Workshop: Using Ecosystem Services to Increase Progress Toward, and Quantify the Benefits of, Multiple CBP Outcomes (Day 1)
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC workshop day webpage.
March 2023 STAC Quarterly Meeting
The STAC March 2023 Quarterly Meeting was held virtually on March 14th and 15th.
For more information, please visit the STAC March 2023 Meeting page.
STAC Workshop: Using Local Monitoring Results to Inform the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Watershed Model
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.
More information and materials can be found on the STAC site.
2022
STAC Quarterly Meeting December 2022
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
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.
STAC Quarterly Meeting September 2022
This is the STAC Quarterly Meeting. Agenda to come.
STAC Quarterly Meeting March 2022
This is the STAC Quarterly Meeting. Agenda to come.