Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement– What's Changing and Why it Matters

The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was originally signed in 2014 by leadership from the Bay States and DC. The Agreement established goals and outcomes to guide restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and the tributaries and lands that surround them. The Chesapeake Bay Program has recently undertaken revising the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, with a goal of reevaluating set goals and streamlining the structure. The new proposed Agreement has consolidated, reduced, updated, removed, replaced, or revised the original 10 goals and 31 outcomes of the 2014 Agreement to now four goals and 21 outcomes presented in the draft 2025 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

This draft agreement is currently open for public feedback until September 1, 2025. Arundel Rivers is signing on to a number of partner organization comments, including Choose Clean Water Coalition and Waterkeepers Chesapeake comments. Additionally, we encourage you to consider submitting comments as well. 

Our take on the draft? We appreciate the organization and holistic approach to the revised agreement. The draft took good steps towards adding value to conservation in addition to just restoration. To continue to strengthen the outlined goals and outcomes, we have made the following suggestions in our comments and with our partners: 

• Set one standard timeline for the entire Agreement. Multiple timelines, dates, or goals without set dates or measurable targets results in a lack of direction and urgency needed to meet these goals and outcomes. We have suggested a goal date of 2035. 

• Specifically, for water quality goals, reference the pollution limits set through the Total Maximum Daily Load, or TMDL. These pollution "diet plans" often serve as the foundation for water quality management strategies to reduce pollutant loading and they should absolutely be a part of the Agreement. 

• Increase wetland targets. This current draft undermines the value of wetlands by setting drastically lower goals. Given the threat of rising sea level, habitat loss, and increasing stormwater pollution in the face of development, wetland conservation and restoration is critical to restoring the Bay. 

Our vision at Arundel Rivers is healthy waterways for all and we have work to do together to meet that vision. Raise your voice and submit your own comments by emailing comments@chesapeakebay.net by September 1, 2025.