Russ BaxterDeputy Secretary of Natural Resources for the Chesapeake Bay
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
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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
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