Latest news with #ChesapeakeBayProgram
Axios
23-05-2025
- General
- Axios
Chesapeake Bay blue crab population plunges near record low
The Chesapeake Bay's blue crab population has dropped to record, "distressing" lows, according to the annual Winter Dredge Survey. Why it matters: The yearly "crab count" measures the abundance and health of the population — and by virtue, the Bay — and this year's report is among the most dire in decades. The results can inform fishing regulations, such as catch limitations and shortened harvesting seasons, which can also impact market price and availability. State of play: After years of decline, the 2025 crab population hit an estimated 238 million — the second lowest count since the surveys began in 1990, according to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and Maryland Department of Natural Resources, which jointly conduct the survey. The crab population hit an estimated all-time low in 2022, with 226 million crabs. That year, Maryland limited its commercial catch for the first time ever to address the decline, while harvests were also restricted in Virginia. Threat level: The survey shows declines in all segments of the crab population, from adult males (about 26 million) to females (108 million) and juveniles (103 million). The numbers in all groups are significantly lower than last year, when officials told Axios, "we have little reason for any type of alarm." A plethora of causes can contribute to decline, from overfishing to habitat loss (e.g. underwater grasses), predation — especially by invasive species like blue catfish — and run-off pollution. The big picture: The dire crab-cast comes at a critical time for the Chesapeake. Decades of cleanup efforts have brought the nation's largest estuary back from the brink in the '70s, when dead zones were rampant, species threatened, and "Save the Bay" became a regional mantra. Environmental groups like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) have been warning of the potentially disastrous impact of the Trump administration's cuts on the EPA and NOAA, and funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program, which Trump repeatedly threatened to slash in his first administration. Protection efforts are particularly tricky given the Bay's massive watershed, which spans six states and the District, and the tangle of local and federal regulatory bodies that can contradict. Just last year, Virginia officials voted to lift a prohibition on winter crab harvesting for the first time in nearly 15 years — which Maryland opposed. The decision was ultimately reversed. Zoom in: After years of negative dredge survey results, the CBF is urging Virginia and Maryland fisheries and state regulators to reduce crab harvests and strengthen protections for female crabs. They're also calling on the federal government to keep funding organizations that support Bay health and protections. "The red flags are flying for blue crabs," Allison Colden, CBF's Maryland director, says in a statement. "It is clear that changing conditions in the Bay are undermining the current management of this important species." Between the lines: The dredge survey is a "snapshot" taken annually, where scientists and commercial watermen dredge up crabs "hibernating" on the Bay's bottom in cold winter months, assess them, and return them safely.
CBS News
16-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Progress in teaching environmental literacy improves around Chesapeake Bay area after COVID-19 learning loss
Progress in teaching environmental education in Maryland has rebounded after a slight decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program. The program's Environmental Literacy Planning Outcome is based on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, a motion signed in 2014 that establishes goals for the restoration of the bay and the surrounding area. The agreement lays out 10 goals to advance the restoration of the bay, including boosting environmental literacy to ensure students know how to protect their local watersheds. A 2024 survey of 302 schools in the Chesapeake Bay region – including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Virginia – documented the increased progress toward environmental education goals. The survey gathers information about how prepared school districts are to support environmental literacy for students and tracks the availability of environmental education programs. Survey shows increase in environmental literacy programs The bi-annual survey asks school districts if they have environmental education programs, program leaders, methods for training teachers and other environmental literacy elements. About 57% of school districts said they were "somewhat prepared" to launch an environmental education program, while 19% said they were "well prepared," according to the Chesapeake Bay Program. Nearly 25% of respondents said they were not prepared. The percentage of those who said they were well prepared in the 2024 survey increased by 2% from 2022, almost reaching pre-pandemic levels. According to the Chesapeake Bay Program, some of the goals outlined in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement will be updated in 2025. Federal funding cuts could impact Chesapeake Bay restoration plans The push to increase education about the environment comes as some in Maryland are concerned about the Trump administration's federal budget cuts and how it could impact Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. In April, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) said the proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could jeopardize restoration efforts. The proposed cuts would decrease NOAA's budget from $6.1 billion to $4.5 billion, according to the CBF. The cuts could reduce the financial support that NOAA provides for restoration programs. Declining water quality in Baltimore waterways A report from nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore found that water quality in the Inner Harbor and other Baltimore-area watersheds has declined over the past decade. According to the report, water quality in 2024 was extremely poor in most of the region, and all the waterways have shown declining ecological health since 2023. "The long-term data trends are telling us that these problems are getting worse over time," Blue Water Baltimore said. The non-profit recommends increasing investments in environmentally friendly stormwater infrastructure and sewer infrastructure to improve water quality in the region.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Moore signs Chesapeake Bay bill as federal cuts loom large
Nia Nyamweya, founder of Beauty Bloom Farms in Montgomery County, presents Gov. Wes Moore (D) a basket of greens from her farm for the signing of the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, one of 171 bills signed into law Tuesday. (Photo by Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters) Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed what he called 'the most comprehensive piece of Chesapeake Bay legislation that Maryland has seen in years,' at a time when federal cuts threaten environmental programs for the estuary. The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act was signed Tuesday, one of 171 bills signed into law if the fourth and next to last bill signing ceremony following the 2025 legislative session. The wide-ranging Legacy Act allots 'up to $900,000 per year' to a new certification program for farmers who use sustainable practices that decrease runoff into the bay, establishes a water quality monitoring program to unify current testing efforts and aims to streamline oyster aquaculture leasing, among other provisions. 'At a time when we see how our federal administration has stepped back from protecting our air and our water, Maryland is stepping up,' Moore said. The governor also signed an abortion grant program that will help fund abortion services for uninsured and underinsured individuals, and a bill allowing individuals with autism and other nonapparent conditions to add an identifying symbol to their state IDs. That, and Tuesday saw the approval of a new state mineral, chromite, and a new state cocktail, the Orange Crush. President Donald Trump (R) and his Department of Government Efficiency have already cut positions at the Chesapeake Bay Program, which administers the bay cleanup, as well as at agencies whose work touches the bay, such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. DOGE also threw environmental grant programs into chaos by freezing funds, some of which were later unlocked. But advocates say Trump's proposed 'skinny' budget for fiscal 2026 would go considerably further, and 'devastate' efforts to clean up the estuary, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. A 'chrometastic' finish for one state symbol bill The bill would hack $5 billion from the EPA, including $2.46 billion in cuts that would 'cripple' programs that help sewage treatment plants reduce pollution into waterways like the bay, according to CBF. Trump's proposal would also slash $1.3 billion in grants and research programs at NOAA and $564 million at the U.S. Geological Survey, eliminating climate-related work to 'focus on achieving dominance in energy and critical minerals.' Allison Colden, the bay foundation's Maryland executive director, said the federal losses make Maryland's Bay Legacy law even more important. 'With federal cuts and rollbacks looming heavily on our state, Maryland's environmental leadership is more important than ever,' Colden said in a statement. 'This Act will help maintain forward momentum and ensure that investments in clean air, clean water, habitats, and local economies are secured.' The new law came in a challenging budget year, during which lawmakers had to correct a multibillion-dollar deficit by cutting programs and raising fees. As drafted, the bill would have allocated $2 million to the Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming, or LEEF, program, but budget-conscious lawmakers cut that to 'up to $900,000' a year. The budget reconciliation process further reduced the sum to $500,000 for next fiscal year, with some of that money contingent on the Maryland Department of Agriculture submitting a plan for program spending. 'Unfortunately, we saw less coming out of the state budget for that program than maybe we would have liked to see,' Colden said. 'But the point is, we have that program established. They have some initial seed funding.' With funding and other incentives, Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks said the LEEF program will encourage farmers not only to pursue environmentally friendly practices, but to engage the community and share information about the practices with others. 'It incentivizes them in a way that we believe farmers and the community will rally behind and will make extra progress,' Atticks said. As he signed the bill, Moore was backed by Nia Nyamweya, who brought a basket of leafy greens harvested from her Beauty Bloom Farms in Montgomery County. The produce and flower farm aims to regenerate the soils, formerly used for corn and soybean farming, with organic practices and cover cropping, according to its website. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Nyamweya leases her farm land from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Moore said. The bill codifies the practice in state law. 'That kind of partnership is rare, but the Bay Legacy Act will make these kinds of lease agreements easier,' Moore said. The bill drew some early concerns for its massive scope, touching on everything from agricultural practices to a Japanese fish processing technique called ikejime. Delmarva Fisheries Association Chairman Robert Newberry called it 'an ag bill with a side salad of fishery management and aquaculture.' He initially balked at a provision that would have removed DNR's obligation to produce its own fishery management plans for a variety of species, from white perch and blue crabs to croakers and horseshoe crabs, deferring to plans created by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The final law requires DNR to keep producing state-level plans for blue crabs, oysters, white and yellow perch, and a few other species, but it lifts the requirement for others, such as menhaden, spot and black sea bass. In the end, Newberry supported the Bay Legacy bill. In particular, he appreciated an amendment that added specificity to an existing law preventing discrimination against groups of fishermen, adding fishing guides and charter boat captains. Newberry has been among a group of fisherman fighting rules from the Atlantic States Commission limiting charters to one rockfish per person, beginning last year. 'I wanted to have the fisheries specifically defined,' Newberry said. 'So that protects us.' Maryland will also have a new grant program that will help fund abortion services for uninsured and underinsured individuals using a stockpile of unused premium surcharges, now that Moore signed House Bill 930 and Senate Bill 848 into law. State officials, advocates fear impact of expected Medicaid cuts in House bill 'Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access,' Moore said. The legislation prompts the Department of Health to tap into about $25 million in premium surcharges that were required as part of the federal Affordable Care Act but have not yet been spent down. That money is the $1-a-month fee that insurers in the ACA marketplace are required to collect on every policy to fund abortion services for their policyholders. But that fund has been growing by about $3 million annually as collections have outpaced need. Moore said the legislation builds off previous efforts to expand abortion access in the state, calling it the 'next chapter in our work to protect and defend basic health care rights.' Moore also signed legislation known as 'Eric's ID Law' that will let people with nonapparent disabilities, including autism, have a butterfly icon added to their driver's licenses, to alert police officers and other officials that they are interacting with someone with a disability that may not be immediately visible. Lt. Gov Aruna Miller noted that the 'thoughtful and compassionate initiative' was inspired by Eric Carpenter-Grantham, a 20-year-old Montgomery County resident with autism, one of the nonapparent disabilities identified in House Bill 707 and Senate Bill 618. Eric's Law has been in the works for several years, in collaboration with members of the disability community, finally receiving House and Senate approval this past session, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) noted.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Could planned federal funding cuts jeopardize Maryland's Chesapeake Bay restoration plans?
The Trump administration's plans to propose budget cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) could jeopardize efforts to restore the health of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) According to the CBF, the administration plans to propose a budget cut that would slash NOAA's total budget by $1.7 billion, from $6.1 billion to $4.5 billion. It would also reduce funding for the National Marine Fisheries Service by approximately 30 percent. How would the cuts affect the Chesapeake Bay? The proposed budget plan would significantly reduce NOAA's financial support and scientific leadership for Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Under the plan, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), which currently operates with a budget of $1.1 billion, would be reduced to $789.3 million in fiscal year 2026 under the planned budget. The NMFS houses NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office, which leads science initiatives across the region and works closely with the EPA's Chesapeake Bay Program on restoration efforts, according to the CBF. How does the NOAA serve bay restoration efforts? According to the CBF, the NOAA's Bay Office provides the science and technology needed to protect oysters, blue crabs, striped bass, and their habitats. The NOAA's research also helps to protect homes and businesses from flooding and storms due to climate change, the CBF said. "NOAA's science is critical for restoring oyster reefs, managing commercially important fisheries like blue crabs, and protecting our region's homes and businesses from climate change," Alison Prost, Senior Vice President for Programs at the CBF said. The NOAA's Bay Office also administers the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) environmental literacy program, the CBF noted. The program provides funding for locally relevant environmental education projects for K-12 audiences, per the NOAA. "NOAA has helped connect countless students with the world around them, from paddling a canoe to walking through the marsh or using state-of-the-art scientific tools to measure local water quality," Prost said. "These programs help prepare students to solve the complex problems of tomorrow. Environmental education is a smart investment for the future, not just a line item to delete from the budget." According to state leaders, the Chesapeake Bay has a major impact on Maryland's economy. The state's shellfish aquaculture has an estimated economic impact of more than $13 million annually, according to the Department of Natural Resources.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Progress made in Chesapeake Bay restoration, but uncertainty remains in tackling challenges ahead
Though environmental leaders acknowledged that progress has been made in restoring the Chesapeake Bay, some challenges and uncertainty remain as they plan for the future. At a Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee briefing this week, top environmental officials reflected on the work accomplished under the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and emphasized the need to focus on bipartisan collaboration to make that continue. Some of the headway made since the 2014 agreement, which outlines goals to clean up the bay, includes the smallest dead zone on record observed in the bay in 2023, three consecutive years of increases in underwater grasses, large-scale oyster restoration and land conservation, according to Anna Killius, executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. But while there has been 'meaningful progress,' Killius said, it's not all good news. The watershed agreement outlined 31 goals to aim for in restoration efforts by 2025, but 13 are off course, prompting the question of what comes next. Plenty of work remains to restore the bay, including reducing pollution through improvements to wastewater treatment plants, updated stormwater regulations and reduced nutrient applications in certain areas. In December, the Chesapeake Bay Program's executive council issued a directive for the agreement to be revised by the end of 2025, which could mean new deadlines or goals to replace the ones already achieved. 'For outcomes that we are on track [for] or have already met … we need to ask, is there a new target that we're aiming for?' Killius said. 'For outcomes that we haven't met, like the Watershed Implementation Plan, we need to decide: is there a new deadline, or do we need to fundamentally rethink how we are aiming to meet these targets?' But looking forward, evolving science is allowing state officials to make better management decisions in real time and helping to focus on where interventions should be targeted, said Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources Josh Kurtz. Protecting the 'fragile' progress that's already been made will be key in future restoration efforts, said Allison Colden, the Maryland executive director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 'The investments that we've made thus far need to be protected to ensure that we don't backslide, making our efforts moving forward even more difficult,' she said. However, uncertainty could be on the horizon under President Donald Trump. Widespread confusion ensued across the state when the Trump administration ordered a freeze on federal grants Monday and rescinded it Wednesday. State officials said Tuesday that the freeze would have affected Maryland's environmental departments, but Kurtz said some preparations were already underway. 'We've been doing a deep level of analysis for the past year in terms of looking at each one of these fund sources, what they're funding internally at our departments, to come up with plans — if these funding freezes become permanent — how we would be able to reallocate internal assets to make sure that we're still getting the progress done,' he said at the briefing. It's too soon to know how the new federal administration could impact individual progress across any goals outlined in the watershed agreement, Killius said. 'We do know kind of what we were working with under the previous Trump administration when it came to the Bay Program,' she said. 'I think we're kind of refreshing our playbook from that administration to work with them again.' ____
