Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was elected chair of the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council and will lead the collaboration this year for restoring the Chesapeake Bay. The council met yesterday at its annual meeting to approve updates that will guide the next phase of the Chesapeake Bay cleanup effort. The council includes Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the EPA Administrator, and serves as the primary policy and leadership body for restoring the Chesapeake Bay.  

The members approved a revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, (signed in 2014 by Governor Tom Corbett) which has high-level goals for restoring the watershed, including Thriving Habitats, Fisheries and Wildlife; Clean Water; Healthy Landscapes (which includes a land use planning component); and Engaged Communities (including local government leadership), with 21 desired outcomes that the council agrees to accomplish by 2040. PSATS has been invited to continue participation in the Local Government Leadership Work Group LGLW).   

“Pennsylvania’s success in cleaning up our local waters and improving the Chesapeake Bay is the result of the strong alliances we’ve built,” said DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley. “Our achievements reflect the collaboration of farmers, businesses, federal, county, and local governments, and dedicated non-profit organizations. The investments Pennsylvania has made will continue to benefit communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed for years to come.” 

Shapiro highlighted the progress that Pennsylvania has made to improve the health of the Upper Chesapeake Bay over the last 20 years, including financial investments, restoration of 139 miles of streams, reduction of nitrogen over the last five years, and planting of 945 miles of streamside buffers in the last two years.