Washington, D.C. – On July 23, the Chesapeake Executive Council announced the release of twenty-five management strategies outlining the Chesapeake Bay Program’s plans for achieving the goals and outcomes of the landmark Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, advancing the restoration, conservation and protection of the Bay, its tributaries and the surrounding lands. To further accelerate these efforts the Executive Council also:
– Passed two resolutions: 1) Endorsing the recommendations of the State Riparian Forest Buffer Task Force and committing to collaborative efforts across the watershed that will increase the miles of forests on agricultural lands, where they can filter runoff and send clean freshwater to rivers and streams; and 2) Calling for the Bay Program hold a symposium on innovative financing opportunities for environmental restoration efforts.
– Agreed to two joint letters supporting: 1) Improvements to programs to keep livestock out of watershed streams; and 2) Appropriations of all funding in the President’s 2016 budget for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) monies, which includes more than $33 million going toward the Rivers of the Chesapeake collaborative proposal.