Chesapeake Bay Watershed Region Lawmakers Push for New Bay Agreement That Will Tackle Pollution, Preserve the Bay

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) - along with 22 bipartisan Members of Congress representing the Chesapeake Bay watershed region - called for a new Chesapeake Bay agreement that sets ambitious, measurable, and achievable targets, especially for water quality improvement and pollution reduction, in order to restore and protect the Bay. The lawmakers' letter comes as the Chesapeake Executive Council (CEC) seeks public feedback on its "Beyond 2025" Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement Revision Draft. In their letter to the CEC, the lawmakers emphasize their commitment to continuing strong federal funding for Bay restoration while stressing that a robust agreement among the states in the watershed is needed to maximize the use of those resources to address the many factors putting strain on the health of the Bay.

Rep. McClellan was joined on this letter by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Mark Warner (D-Va.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), and Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), Jen Kiggans (R-Va.), Sarah Elfreth (D-Md.), Sarah McBride (D-Del.), April McClain Delaney (D-Md.), Johnny Olszewski (D-Md.), Suhas Subramanyam (D-Va.), and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.).

The lawmakers wrote, "As federal representatives for the Bay region, we are working hard to ensure that we maintain strong funding for the Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program as well as the other critical federal programs that support ecosystem restoration in the Bay watershed. While federal resources will continue to play an essential role in achieving our vision of a healthy Bay, we know that we cannot arrive at our many goals through such funding alone. A robust Watershed Agreement that sets measurable targets that are both ambitious and achievable is key to unlocking the full potential of federal support for the Bay and its watershed. Therefore, we are closely monitoring the PSC's work to update the agreement to meet current and future challenges."

They also expressed appreciation that the draft revised agreement proposes a "holistic" approach to the many challenges to the Bay's health, writing, "Today, the Bay and its watershed face numerous interrelated and pressing challenges, including falling populations of key fish and wildlife species, emerging pollutants of concern, agricultural land and forest depletion, shifting environmental dynamics, and the prevalence of invasive species. We appreciate that the draft revised Watershed Agreement addresses these issues in a holistic manner, maintaining strong water quality and habitat restoration goals at its core, while also pursuing outcomes to deliver healthy landscapes, vibrant living resources, and engaged communities throughout the Bay."

The lawmakers go on to urge the Principals' Staff Committee (PSC) to set new restoration goals with clear targets and timelines, linked to the legally mandated total daily maximum load (TMDL) requirements; regularly engage the public to promote transparency and accountability for carrying out the agreement; and retain flexibility to adapt to evolving science and Bay conditions.

"The PSC should also seek to ensure that the final Watershed Agreement lays out clear timelines for meeting its recommended targets, particularly in relation to its water quality and pollution reduction goals. Improving water quality by reducing excess nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, as well as other emerging contaminants, is essential to revitalizing the Bay's living resources and supporting local economies and recreation opportunities. […] Additionally, we urge the PSC to clearly express the relationship between these deadlines, implementation plans, and the legally mandated Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements in the finalized agreement to maintain public confidence in our shared commitments to meet our water quality goals," they wrote.

"Improving the health of the Bay will require continued cooperation from all of us at the federal, state, and local levels of government, in partnership with tribal communities, non-governmental organizations, private businesses, landowners, academic experts, and the public. As we continue our work to deliver the federal resources for the Bay necessary to achieve our goals, we encourage the PSC to put forward a bold updated Watershed Agreement that will maximize the impact of these funds and demonstrate to our constituents the importance of our collective efforts," the lawmakers closed.

Text of the letter can be viewed hereand below.