Russ BaxterDeputy Secretary of Natural Resources for the Chesapeake Bay

russ.baxter@governor.virginia.gov1

Planning for Our Future: A new Chesapeake Watershed Agreement

www.chesapeakebay.net

Public comment invited through March 17, 2014

Visit: www.chesapeakebay.net/watershedagreement

Bay Commission

NY DC VA MD PA DE WV

Federal govt

A vast partnership of all the major players in the Chesapeake region, working collaboratively on science, policy and restoration efforts

Chesapeake Bay Program History• 1980 Chesapeake Bay Commission• 1983 Chesapeake Bay Agreement• 1987 Chesapeake Bay Agreement• 1992 Amended to develop Tributary strategies• 2000 Chesapeake Bay 2000• 2005 New Tributary strategies were released• 2009 Executive Order Signed• 2010 Chesapeake Bay TMDL• 2011 “Alignment” process begun

• Common Goals and Shared Effort to Restore the Bay– 6 Bay States and DC– EPA and other federal agencies– Local Governments– Non-profit Organizations– Academic Institutions 4

Why is a new Agreement important?We (the partners) need to:

• Revisit and renew our commitments to work together

& set new goals (nearly 14 years since the last

agreement was signed)

• Provide opportunity for full participation by the

headwater states

• Update science, governance and management

techniques – ie: climate change, adaptive

management

• Improve our coordination, integration & collaboration

among the partners

• Align the EO and TMDL with the Partnership

agreement and governance structures to ensure

proper coordination

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What will it do?

www.chesapeakebay.net

Clarity• Clearer goals and more well

defined outcomes than previous agreements

Flexibility• Allow us to adapt our thinking and

management decisions to adjust to changing conditions and circumstances

Transparency & Accountability• Partners set priorities & commit

resources through management strategies

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How will it work?

GOAL

OUTCOME

OUTCOMEOUTCOME

CBP’s Executive Council (EC) agrees on the

Watershed AgreementGOALS & initial OUTCOMES

Mgmt Strategy

ALL goals, outcomes and strategies derived from the CBP Goal Teams – issue experts & stakeholders from across the jurisdictions / watershed.

CBP’s Principals’ Staff Committee (PSC) tracks OUTCOMES ,

ensuring they are measureable & achievable; adapting as needed

CBP’s Management Board (MB) to manage and track the STRATEGIES,

adapting them as necessary over time for success

Mgmt Strategy Mgmt

Strategy

Management strategies will guide the work and will also allow some flexibility to implement the practices that make the most sense for each portion of the watershed. 7

What are the Goals?

www.chesapeakebay.net

Sustainable Fisheries

Blue Crab Abundance; Blue Crab Management; Oysters, Forage fish; Fish Habitat (spawning, nursery and forage)

Vital Habitats

Wetlands – re-establish tidal and nontidal wetlands, enhance function of degraded wetlands

Black duck habitat; Stream health; Brook trout; Fish passage SAV Forest buffers; Urban tree canopy

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What are the Goals?

www.chesapeakebay.net

Water Quality

Nutrient and Sediment reduction goals and schedules called for in the Chesapeake Bay TMDL

Healthy Watersheds

Protect currently-healthy waters and small watershedsMaintain currently identified “healthy waters”

Land Conservation

Protect additional 2 million acresDevelop methodology for measuring extent and rate of change in impervious landsEvaluate “incentive, resources and tools” to assist local governments in reducing rate of ag and forest land consumption

What are the Goals?

Public AccessAdd 300 public-access sites

Environmental LiteracyIncrease participation of students in watershed

educational experiences; highlight successful environmental educations; develop baseline metrics for environmental literacy

Management Strategies

• Within one year of the Agreement, Goal Implementation Teams will develop management strategies for the outcomes supporting the Agreement goals. These strategies will outline the means for accomplishing the outcome, monitoring, assessing and reporting progress and coordinating actions among partners and stakeholders, as necessary.

Watershed Agreement in Summary Looks ahead to address emerging

challenges

Sets clearer goals for partners to strive toward; and specific outcomes to help us measure our progress

Incorporates latest science and ecosystem management techniques

Better integrates and coordinates between CBP and EO goals for the Bay

Creates greater flexibility and improved accountability for partners’ efforts

Image courtesy Choose Clean Water Coalition

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To offer your comments, visit: www.chesapeakebay.net/watershedagreement