Chesapeake Executive Council Publications

At the 2016 Chesapeake Executive Council meeting, members of the council adopted a resolution to support and collaborate with local governments and noted the signs of resiliency that are beginning to be seen throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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At the 2017 meeting of the Executive Council, representatives from the six Chesapeake Bay watershed states, the District of Columbia and the Chesapeake Bay Commission signed a resolution in support of the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership. The resolution calls upon the President and United States Congress to continue the current level of federal support for the Chesapeake Bay Program, including the coordinating role of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program. It also calls for science, monitoring, modeling and restoration to continue with the full participation of local, state and federal agencies and private sector partners as appropriate. Because of advocacy statements contained within the resolution, federal law and practice prohibited the EPA from signing.

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Nutrient losses from all contributing activities on developed lands account for about one quarter of the excess phosphorus and one eighth of the excess nitrogen loads entering the Chesapeake. Members of the Lawn Care Product Manufacturing Industry, represented by the The Scotts company LLC, have been working diligently with the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Land Grant Universities of the watershed to develop a scientifically based, environmentally beneficial and economically viable Stewardship Program to reduce nutrient losses from homeowner fertilized lawns.

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These action items were developed to further guide program initiatives between the DoD and EPA and reflect current Chesapeake Bay program strategies including the 1992 Amendments to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. These action items may be revised periodically.

This Memorandum of Agreement provides for enhanced cooperation between the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Pennsylvania Field Office (PAFO) in State College, Pennsylvania, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (Alliance) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as partners in the Chesapeake Bay Program.

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The Chesapeake Executive Council issued the Directive: Leading the Nation in Development of a Sustainable Next-Generation Biofuels Industry (08-1). This directive adopts the findings of the Report: Next Generation Biofuels -- Taking the Policy Lead for the Nation through the following actions: 1. Implementation of the Biofuel Action Plans which address the state and regional recommendations as presented in the Report; 2. In 2009, the jurisdictions will develop a regional next-generation Biofuels production goal that includes a plan for market and facility development along with best management practices implementation necessary to support an environmentally sustainable biofuels feedstock; 3. Reconvening of the Biofuels Advisory Panel during 2009.

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An agreement that approves expedited method for handling changes in fishery management plans as warranted.

The MOU establishes policies, administrative procedures and provides for a cooperative working relationship between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in support of common goals, interests and statutory requirements as they relate to the Chesapeake Bay.

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In December 2003, the Executive Council directed the Chesapeake Bay Program to establish and convene a Chesapeake Bay Watershed Blue ribbon panel to consider funding sources to implement the tributary strategies basin-wide and to make recommendations regarding other actions at the federal, state and local level to the Executive council.

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Retaining and expanding forests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is critical to our success in restoring the Chesapeake Bay. Forests are the most beneficial land use for protecting water quality, due to their ability to capture, filter and retain water, as well as absorb pollution from the air. In Chesapeake 2000, we committed to Permanently preserve from development 20 percent of the land area in the watershed by 2010 and conserve existing forests along all streams and shorelines.

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