Renowned oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle brings global attention to the Bay as a "Hope Spot"
June 3, 2026How will the designation enhance the Chesapeake Bay restoration movement?
Read story
Chesapeake Bay Program
Our regional partnership guides the restoration and protection of the nation’s largest estuary.
Learn more about usFeatured Stories
Catoctin Creek boasts healthy headwaters and relics of American history
June 1, 2026Named after the nearby Catoctin Mountains, Catoctin Creek flows south for 28 miles to the Potomac River.
Read story
Want to enjoy boating without harming the Bay? Follow these 5 tips
May 27, 2026How to boat responsibly on the Bay this summer.
Read story
Goals & Strategy: The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
-
Thriving Habitat, Fisheries & Wildlife
-
Clean Water
-
Healthy Landscapes
-
Engaged Communities
Our partnership is guided by the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement: a collaborative commitment to restore, conserve and protect the Bay, its tributaries and the lands that surround them.
Learn more about the latest agreementLearn More About the Chesapeake Bay
The Watershed
Thousands of creeks, streams and rivers deliver fresh water to the Bay from a region that spans 64,000 square miles.
Learn more
Food Web
A balanced food web supports a productive ecosystem, as energy flows from the Bay's plants to its predators.
Learn more
The Issues
Complex problems face the Bay, its watershed and the plants, animals and people that live here.
Learn more
Bay Facts
From trivia about its geography to facts about its flora and fauna, the Bay has a lot to teach us.
Learn more
Field Guide to the Chesapeake
Explore the Field Guide to learn about more than 300 species of birds, fish, insects, invertebrates, mammals, plants, reptiles and amphibians that live in the Chesapeake Bay region.
Visit the field guideCritter of the month
Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorusThe bobolink is a small, migratory songbird that travels to and from the Chesapeake region from South America each year.
View critter