Planning for 2025 and Beyond

When the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was signed in 2014, many of its goals and outcomes had a target deadline of 2025. As this date draws near, the Chesapeake Bay Program is determining how best to meet these goals and outcomes, integrate new science and restoration strategies into our work, and strengthen our partnership into the future. A steering committee was formed to chart a course forward for the partnership and Bay restoration. The Beyond 2025 Steering Committee’s work will be presented to the Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee in October 2024 to inform their recommendations to the Chesapeake Executive Council.

Beyond 2025 Report

What is the Beyond 2025 Report?

At their October 2022 meeting, the Chesapeake Executive Council, the body responsible for setting the policy direction for the Chesapeake Bay Program, issued a charge to the partnership. The charge directed the Principals’ Staff Committee, the group responsible for implementing the policy actions set by the Executive Council, to prepare recommendations that prioritize and outline the next steps for meeting the goals and outcomes of the Watershed Agreement beyond 2025, determine how best to address and integrate new science and restoration strategies, and plan for the future of the partnership.

A draft report including these recommendations was completed on July 1, 2024. It will undergo a public feedback period through August. A final report will be provided to the Principals’ Staff Committee in October that will inform their recommendations to the Chesapeake Executive Council in December.

Who contributed to the report?

Over the last year and a half, a steering committee consisting of representatives from each of the six watershed states (Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia), District of Columbia, federal agencies participating in the Chesapeake Bay Program, Goal Implementation Teams, advisory committees and non-profit organizations worked alongside subject matter experts in a variety of disciplines to create the Beyond 2025 Draft Report.

The report’s recommendations were informed by an independent evaluation of the partnership conducted by an outside contractor and one-page proposals developed by five small groups reflecting critical topic areas: Clean Water, Climate Change, Healthy Watersheds, People and Shallow Water Habitats.

What’s in the report?

At a high level, the Beyond 2025 Draft Report makes the following recommendations:

• The Chesapeake Executive Council should affirm its continued commitment to meeting the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and direct the Principals’ Staff Committee to propose the necessary amendments to effectively implement the Watershed Agreement.

• The Chesapeake Bay Program should be strengthened by identifying ways to simplify and streamline the partnership’s structure and processes, including potential changes to the partnership’s Governance and Management Framework to ensure that commitments can be met.

The report also identifies several additional recommendations for improving the Chesapeake Bay Program's efforts in the areas of science, conservation and restoration, and partnership.

Public Comment On the Beyond 2025 Report

The Beyond 2025 Draft Report is currently available for public comment. Feedback will be accepted via email to comments@chesapeakebay.net through 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, August 30, 2024.

A list of frequently asked questions regarding public comments is available for reference. To help ensure feedback is reviewed in the most efficient and effective way possible, comments should pertain to these five categories:

• Science.

• Restoration and Conservation.

• Partnership.

• Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.

• Miscellaneous.

After the public comment period ends, all comments will be published on this website.