Governors from three states around the Chesapeake Bay watershed pledged that by the end of 2025 they would update the multi-state agreement to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro met with federal, state, and local leaders to plan the next phase of the Bay’s restoration, approving a document called “Charting the Course Beyond 2025.” The new document includes a pledge to update the 2014 Chesapeake Bay watershed agreement by the end of 2025.
The three states are expected to miss original 2025 deadlines to reduce pollution to the Chesapeake, according to a Chesapeake Bay Foundation press release on the matter. Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia have made significant progress on work to reduce pollution, especially in the form of wastewater treatment plants, but they are still lagging in their efforts to curb polluted runoff from developed areas and farms. Even so, they are required to meet the pollution reduction goals for 2025.
New science, however, shows that major changes are needed to meet those 2025 goals, some of which were first set forth in a document written in 2010 called the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint. These goals included reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution to the Bay.
In 2014, additional Bay restoration goals were added in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which also included the goals set forth in the Clean Water Blueprint. The cleaning and restoration efforts met serious challenges, however, due to climate change, population growth, and development over the last 14 years.
The Chesapeake Executive Council, which joins state and federal leaders to work towards the common goal of cleaner rivers and streams and a healthier Chesapeake Bay, met in Annapolis on Tuesday. The three governors were joined by representative from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies, Washington, D.C., Delaware, New York, West Virginia, and the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
“Charting the Course Beyond 2025” includes revisions that:
- Update goals and outcomes, ensuring that they are “measured and timebound,” and accomplished “as quickly as possible,” in particular for nutrient and sediment pollution;
- Incorporate the latest science;
- Engage all people living in the Bay watershed;
- Address reducing pollution as well as benefits to plants, animals, and habitats, known as “living resources.”
The Executive Council also named Moore as chair of the council for a second term. He announced plans for a set of new bills next state legislative sessions that would advance Bay restoration in Maryland.
Last week, Youngkin issued a directive that contained a general outline for Virginia initiatives for the next phase of Bay restorations. Shapiro pledged $24 million in investments to clean up Pennsylvania rivers and streams that flow to the Chesapeake Bay.
The Executive Council also committed to establishing an Agricultural Advisory Committee to work with farmers in reducing pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.
“The Chesapeake Bay has always been our region’s greatest unifier, and we just saw that bipartisan support for the Bay is alive and well,” said Hilary Harp Falk, Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) president and CEO. “It’s a really big deal when three governors and leaders from around the region meet to stack hands and reaffirm commitments to clean water. This kind of local and state leadership is more critical than ever.”
“By this time next year, we expect to see an updated Agreement that follows the latest science with equal priority toward achieving water quality and living resource goals,” she continued. “Milestones that measure progress and provide accountability should also be updated to include a combination of scientific modeling and real-world monitoring. Demonstrating visible success in people’s local rivers and streams is critical to the longer-term goal of reduced pollution and improved oxygen in the Bay’s deepest waters.”
“The legislation announced by Governor Moore turns promises into progress for a healthier Chesapeake Bay and stronger Maryland,” said Allison Coldon, Maryland Executive Director for CBF. “We look forward to working closely with the Moore Administration and Maryland legislators to advance Bay restoration this upcoming legislative session. Governor Moore’s leadership has been critical during this key time for the Chesapeake Bay. We congratulate him on being chosen to lead the Chesapeake Executive Council for another term as chair.”
