Recent Releases

June 28, 2022

Chesapeake Bay "dead zone" predicted to be 13% lower than average

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 predicting this summer’s dead zone to be smaller than the long-term average taken between 1985 and 2021. This is due to the below average amount of water entering the Bay from the watershed’s tributaries this past spring, as well as decreased nutrient and sediment pollution from jurisdictions within the watershed.

Areas of low oxygen, also known as hypoxic regions, are often considered to have dissolved oxygen concentrations less than 2 mg/L (milligrams per liter) and are primarily caused by excess nutrient pollution flowing into the Bay. These regions can result in the loss of habitat for various types of marine life, including fish, blue crabs, oysters and underwater grasses.

Compared to the previous 36 years, this year’s Chesapeake Bay hypoxic volume, or “dead zone”, is predicted to be 13% lower than average. This is similar to last year, when the hypoxic volume was predicted to be 14% lower than the average. For the past three years, the dead zone has been forecasted to be lower than the long-term average—and in all cases, the forecasts proved accurate when compared to data collected throughout the summer.

In 2022, summer hypoxia also began later than it had in several previous years. In 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2017, hypoxic conditions began in mid to late May, but in 2022, hypoxia was not apparent in the Bay until early June. This late start is largely due to cooler temperatures in May when compared to other years.

The levels of pollution reaching the Chesapeake Bay each year vary due to the amount of spring rainfall impacting river flows, which flushes excess nutrients and sediment into the water, as well as conservation practices implemented by jurisdictions to reduce and manage those pollutants.

Although different types of nutrients contribute to the annual dead zone, it is the amount of nitrogen that enters the Bay during spring that is a key driver in how hypoxic conditions can vary from year-to-year. The amount of nitrogen pollution entering the Bay during spring 2022 was 22% lower than the long-term average and included 102 million pounds of nitrogen recorded at nine river input monitoring stations and 5.7 million pounds from treated wastewater. There was 5% less water flowing into the Bay when compared to the long-term average.

A Bay-wide assessment of the 2022 dead zone will be available this fall.

Read more >>

June 22, 2022

Bay Program model shows decline in nutrient, sediment pollution entering the Chesapeake

Today, the Chesapeake Bay Program announced that the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay in 2021 decreased 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.

Water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries is heavily influenced by nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment pollution delivered from the watershed and can vary year-to-year due to numerous factors including best management practices, land use, fertilizer and manure use, wastewater and septic discharges, and river flow.

Computer simulations show that between 2009—the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL) baseline—and 2021:

  • Overall nitrogen decreased 14%, from 297.8 million pounds in 2009 to 257.53 million pounds in 2021, meeting 49% of the goal to reduce nitrogen by 2025.
  • Overall phosphorus decreased 14%, from 17.2 million pounds in 2009 to 14.7 million pounds in 2021, meeting 64% of the goal to reduce phosphorus by 2025.
  • Overall sediment decreased 4%, from 18.9 billion pounds in 2009 to 18.1 billion pounds in 2021, meeting 100% of the goal to reduce sediment by 2025.

Over the past year, it was determined that 77% of nitrogen reductions came from the agricultural sector. Declines in phosphorus and sediment pollution came primarily from the natural (forests, scrub and brush, stream beds and banks, wetlands and shorelines) and agricultural sectors. While historically, nitrogen and phosphorus reductions have come from the wastewater sector, in 2021, nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Bay actually increased in the wastewater sector, mainly due to permit violations at select Maryland wastewater facilities.

Read more >>

June 02, 2022

Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week celebrates restoration projects across the watershed

The seventh annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week will take place from June 4-12, 2022. While this week has been officially designated in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, events will take place throughout the entire watershed to raise awareness about this valuable economic and environmental resource—a national treasure that directly connects over 18 million residents.

In 2022, Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week will celebrate restoration projects that have taken place throughout the region. Celebratory events spanning the watershed from Virginia to New York can be found on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Attend an Event calendar. Organizations may also submit their own events to be added to the calendar. Check out some of the notable activities that will be held during the nine-day celebration:

● Clean the Bay Day: Join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation on June 4 at a true Virginian tradition! This annual opportunity affords families, businesses and civic or church groups the chance to give back to local waterways by cleaning up shorelines.

● Lancaster Water Week: Celebrate the unique waterways of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and learn about its challenges and opportunities with events running from June 3 to June 12.

● Living Shoreline Restoration at Chesterwood Park: Join the National Aquarium on June 10 to plant native grasses at Chesterwood Park.

● Patuxent River Wade-In: Celebrate the legacy of Maryland State Senator Bernie Fowler on June 12 at the 35th Patuxent River Wade-In! Mr. Fowler started the “white sneaker” test as a means of checking water clarity.

This year’s theme highlights the many ways that communities, businesses, nonprofits and government agencies are working to restore the health of their local ecosystems. Each day will focus on different types of restoration including tree canopy, green infrastructure, oysters, freshwater mussels, wetlands, agricultural projects and stream restoration. Participating groups and individuals can promote their interests and offerings as well as how they rely on clean water over social media. To make it easier for these audiences to join in on the fun, the Chesapeake Bay Program has developed a social media tool kit that includes graphics, photos and sample social media posts for each of the nine days.

Follow #BayAwarenessWeek on social media during June 4-12 to join us in celebrating the incredible work being done to restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Read more >>

May 17, 2022

Innovative Technology continues to advance Chesapeake Bay restoration

The Chesapeake Bay Program, in collaboration with the Chesapeake Conservancy, U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Vermont, is pleased to announce the release of the Very High-Resolution Land Use/Land Cover and Change Data. These data update the 2013-14 High-Resolution Land Cover and Land Use Data Project, provide new land use and land cover data captured in 2017-18 and include a new data product that describes the changes in land use and land cover throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed from 2013-14 to 2017-18.

In 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency entered into a six-year cooperative agreement with the Chesapeake Conservancy to produce land use, land cover and land change data for the watershed. This effort was intended to build upon the release of the initial one-meter data products in 2016 and 2017 that were the first and largest high-resolution land use/land cover datasets ever developed for the Chesapeake Bay watershed. When these products were released in 2016 and 2017, they provided more precise information showing small tracts of woods and individual trees in urban areas.

The new 2017-18 dataset includes a more detailed land use/land cover classification with enhanced technical and scientific information that was not previously available for the 2013-14 data products. Experts have now updated the 2013-14 datasets with this new information and are releasing a brand-new 2017-18 product. The new 2017-18 and revised 2013-14 datasets contain 54 land use/land cover classes that are grouped into a general 18 class schema. This new release includes 38 more land use/land cover classes than the original 2013-14 data product.

These data cover 99,000 square miles–an area comprising 206 counties that intersect or are adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They will inform Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load planning efforts that will help watershed jurisdictions make progress toward meeting their pollutant reduction goals. In addition, the 1-meter data support the goals and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by helping partners of the Chesapeake Bay Program improve their ability to measure and focus environmental, community and economic benefits, such as determining improvements in air quality, reducing flooding risks, energy savings, carbon sequestration, advancements in environmental justice and enhancements in stormwater management.

To complement these updated and new datasets, change data are being offered for the very first time. This is the first such product to map change at this large scale. The change data will inform powerful insights about how our watershed is transforming. It will help guide actions and decisions to make progress toward meeting land management goals, including monitoring changes in tree canopy, determining how much carbon is stored in forests, and mapping wildlife habitat, ecologically sensitive lands and areas where environmental restoration can provide the most benefit. Additionally, these data can track how lands transition into being developed or used for agricultural production, as well as other changes that impact water quality and the environment as a whole.

The Very High-Resolution Land Use/Land Cover change data are currently limited to a 4–5-year span, as these novel data have only been developed for two time periods at this point (2013-14 and 2017-18) for each county in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Because one-by-one meter data has not been produced using imagery prior to 2013, moderate 30-by-30 meter resolution data, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, are used to assess land use/land cover prior to that time. These data will continue to be important in understanding long-term trends in human activities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

This is the largest amount of open data at this scale that has ever been made available and it’s free for anyone to use. The 2017-18 land cover and land use data, as well as the change data can be accessed at  https://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org/conservation-innovation-center/high-resolution-data/lulc-data-project-2022/. A webinar explaining how to access and use the data is available will be held on Tuesday, May 24 from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Please visit this link to register for the webinar. The next iteration of land use/land cover and change data is expected in 2024, representing the 2021-22 timeframe.

Read more >>

April 28, 2022

Chesapeake Bay Program federal agencies announce actions to combat climate change

Federal partners of the regional Chesapeake Bay Program unveiled an initial round of actions today that each plan to take to counter climate change impacts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The actions respond to Directive 21-1 Collective Action for Climate Change (Directive) approved and signed by the Chesapeake Executive Council in October 2021. The Chesapeake Executive Council establishes the policy direction for the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay and is made up of the governors of Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the mayor of the District of Columbia, the chair of the tri-state, legislative Chesapeake Bay Commission and the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on behalf of the federal government.

Federal agencies partners of the Chesapeake Bay Program include the EPA, the Department of Interior (National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Agriculture.

Included among each agency’s actions are efforts to reduce flooding in communities, increase habitat resiliency with stream-side vegetation and shorelines protected by natural materials, and strengthen science and research to help target climate adaptation efforts.

The actions also highlight a commitment from each federal department and agency to advance environmental justice and commit to ongoing partnerships with tribes and underserved communities, to help build their climate adaptive capacity.

The actions are focused on the four major goals of the Directive: to address the threats of climate change in all aspects of the partnership’s work; prioritize communities, working lands (forests, ranches and farms) and most vulnerable habitats; apply the best scientific, modeling, monitoring and planning capabilities; and connect restoration outcomes with emerging opportunities.

A snapshot of some of the commitments include:

  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct pilot studies in Cambridge, Maryland and Williamsport, Pennsylvania, as well as in two tribal communities to prioritize natural resources, wildlife habitats and public infrastructure needs in underserved communities at risk due to climate change.  These pilot studies are part of the partnership’s Targeted Outreach for Green Infrastructure project.
  • The EPA will enhance their understanding through research as to how best management practices respond to the increased intensity, frequency and duration of storms caused by climate change. The agency will also target actions to support local government implementation of climate-adapted practices and build resilience against storms and stormwater using a recently completed web-based tool designed to estimate future precipitation for every county in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
  • The National Park Service (NPS) will conduct climate vulnerability assessments of all coastal park sites in the Chesapeake Bay region to generate recommendations for climate resiliency.  The NPS has also started a dialogue with members of the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom about the impacts that sites face from climate change.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will assess the potential effects of climate and land changes on freshwater streams and fish populations, as well as the vulnerability of coastal areas, to help agencies plan adaption activities.

The specific commitments for each federal agency can be found on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s website at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/documents/Climate_Directive_4.26.22.pdf.

Read more >>

Media Advisories

December 08, 2021

December 2021 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting

On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event where they will hear an update on the activities that have taken place since the signing of the historic diversity, equity, inclusion and justice directive in 2020. Additionally, the council will review the partnership’s progress toward achieving each outcome in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by 2025, and each member or designee will provide remarks. More detailed information can be found on the December 2021 Executive Council meeting website.

The Chesapeake Executive Council was established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983 to set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The council meets on at least an annual basis.

Who

  • The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia (Executive Council Chair)
  • The Honorable David Bulova, Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission
  • The Honorable Janet McCabe, Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
  • The Honorable Shawn Garvin, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State of Delaware
  • The Honorable Ben Grumbles, Secretary, Department of the Environment, State of Maryland
  • The Honorable Basil Seggos, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of New York
  • The Honorable Russell Redding, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • The Honorable Tommy Wells, Director, Department of Energy and Environment, District of Columbia
  • The Honorable Scott Mandirola, Assistant Secretary of External Affairs and Chief Science Officer, Department of Environmental Protection, State of West Virginia             

When   

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 from 12:30 p.m.- 1:30 p.m. EST

Where

In-Person:

East Reading Room—Patrick Henry Building

1111 E Broad Street

Richmond, VA 23219

Virtually:

To access the public meeting and press conference virtually, please register using this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_p6s5M4aOSXmQluzT6ZCNeA

Password: EC2021

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

Media are invited to participate in-person or virtually. Please note that everyone attending the meeting in-person will need to wear a mask at all times. Please RSVP to Rachel Felver at rfelver@chesapeakebay.net by December 13.

View advisory >>

September 17, 2021

2021 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting

On Friday, October 1, 2021, the Chesapeake Executive Council will hold a public meeting and press event during which the council will announce the adoption of a climate change directive for the Chesapeake Bay Program. Additionally, members of the Executive Council will have the opportunity to give remarks about how climate change is impacting their region and what measures they are taking to address it. Prior to the meeting, council members will be joined by Pamela Northam, First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and subject matter experts from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia for an environmental education experience on the Lynnhaven River. More detailed information will be forthcoming on the 2021 Executive Council meeting website.

The Chesapeake Executive Council was established by the Chesapeake Bay Agreement of 1983 to set goals and provide guidance for the Chesapeake Bay Program. The council meets on at least an annual basis.

Who

The following individuals will participate in the Public Meeting and Press Conference:

  • The Honorable Ralph S. Northam, Governor, Commonwealth of Virginia (Executive Council Chair)
  • The Honorable Larry J. Hogan, Jr., Governor, State of Maryland
  • The Honorable David Bulova, Chair, Chesapeake Bay Commission
  • The Honorable Diana Esher, Acting Regional Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

The following individuals will attend the Public Meeting and Press Conference on behalf of their council principals:

  • The Honorable Russell Redding, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
  • The Honorable Tommy Wells, Director, Department of Energy and Environment, District of Columbia
  • The Honorable Scott Mandirola, Assistant Secretary of External Affairs and Chief Science Office, Department of Environmental Protection, State of West Virginia
  • Jim Tierney, Deputy Commissioner for Water Resources, Department of Environmental Conservation, State of New York (invited)
  • Terry Deputy, Director, Division of Watershed Stewardship, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, State of Delaware

When   

Friday, October 1, 2021 from 12:30 p.m.--1:00 p.m. ET

Where

Media are invited to participate in-person or virtually. Please note that everyone attending the meeting in-person will need to wear a mask at all times and be fully vaccinated. You must register in advance if you plan on attending in-person. Please RSVP to Rachel Felver at rfelver@chesapeakebay.net by September 29.

Brock Environmental Center—meeting to be held on outside deck

  • 3663 Marlin Bay Drive
  • Virginia Beach, VA 23455

The public and media are encouraged to attend virtually—please register using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FlMk0PqgTYmnqUToIU0dlQ

  • Password: EC2021
  • (Meeting room will open 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting)

 

View advisory >>

February 17, 2021

Chesapeake Bay Program Overview: Who We Are, What We Do and How We Can Help You

Members of the media and other interested parties are invited to join Chesapeake Bay Program staff on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. EST to learn more about this regional partnership. This virtual webinar is free and open to all.

Since 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Our many partners include federal, state and local governments, non-profit organizations and academic institutions. We are the premier source for data, information and expertise across the watershed.

This webinar will offer an overview of the partnership and how we work together, discuss what we can offer to you regarding data, access to experts and content (including photos and videos) and make sure you are aware of the other resources we maintain, such as websites to help restore wetlands and tree canopy, and plant forest buffers, among others. Please bring your questions for us and let us know what other resources would be helpful to you that we can consider providing!

When: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 12:00 p.m.—1:00 p.m. EST

Where: Virtual—please register by 10:00 a.m. EST on February 24, 2021. To access the webinar, please visit https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81285573261 or call (301) 715-8592; code: 81285573261#

RSVP by February 24, 2021
Rachel Felver,
Chesapeake Bay Program Communications Director
(410) 387-1914
rfelver@chesapeakebay.net

View advisory >>

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 >>

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

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