Latest news with #ChesapeakeBayWatershedAgreement
Miami Herald
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Federal cuts to NOAA could be an ‘incredible blow' for Chesapeake Bay, storm reporting
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - As summer and hurricane season nears, weather and environmental officials say federal cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will negatively impact climate research, education and storm reporting. The Trump administration reportedly plans to cut NOAA's roughly $6.1 billion budget by 27% to $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2026. According to an internal administration document obtained by ProPublica, the proposed cuts would close the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, which could end support for NOAA's hurricane hunter missions, and cut funding to the office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research by nearly 75%. Environmentalists on the Chesapeake Bay are worried about how cuts could affect its ecosystem and restoration. The budget for the National Marine Fisheries Service, the agency that manages fisheries and marine ecosystems under NOAA, would be cut roughly 30%, from $1.1 billion to $789.3 million in fiscal 2026, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The plan also would move the National Marine Fisheries Service and its Chesapeake Bay Office under the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. Alison Prost, senior vice president for programs at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the move would be an "incredible blow" to its ecosystem and restoration in Virginia. Last year, the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's largest estuary, received its highest grade since 2002, but bay researchers say more work needs to be done. "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," Prost said. "This attack on NOAA jeopardizes what we know works best for restoration - world-class science, innovation and a strong partnership between the states and federal government." As of Friday, NOAA officials have not commented publicly about the planned cuts. The proposed changes come at a time where programs and department budgets across the federal government have been slashed, which federal officials have said saves money and makes the government more efficient. Cuts are also coming to NOAA's Office of Education. In the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, signed by governors of all states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, public and private school students are required to participate in "meaningful watershed educational experiences" at least once during each level of instruction - in elementary, middle and high school. Many of these experiences are funded through NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training grant program, which awards $50,000 to $150,000 to each grantee annually for up to three years for K-12 learning opportunities. Awards in the past have gone to local governments, universities, school systems and nonprofits. "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," said Tom Ackerman, the foundation's vice president for education. "These programs help prepare students to solve the complex problems of tomorrow." The cuts could also negatively affect forecasters' ability to issue alerts and warnings for severe storms, cautioned the American Meteorological Society. With the upcoming cuts, the National Weather Service's models and products will stagnate, observational data collection will be reduced and public outreach will decrease, the society said. Basically, the "scientific backbone" and workforce needed to keep weather forecasts, alerts, and warnings accurate and effective will be drastically undercut, the AMS added. Although effects are unknown, the AMS said it is "almost certainly disastrous" for public safety and economic health. The society points to the national Doppler radar network and the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircrafts as success stories from years of the administration's research. "Imagine what will happen to tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings if we don't have a robust national weather radar network," an AMS statement said. "What will happen to reservoir management when critical information on rainfall and runoff goes missing? What will happen when Hurricane Hunter aircraft are delayed or data from their instruments are not available to improve hurricane track and landfall forecasts? NOAA research affects the lives of American taxpayers every day." Last year, severe weather cost Virginia more than $500 million. With climate change making weather disasters more frequent and severe, the meteorological society said NOAA research is becoming more important. More accurate forecasting saves money. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that greater accuracy of hurricane forecasts in 2020 relative to 2007 saved about $5 billion in emergency funds and damages. The AMS released its own research last year on savings, which found NOAA's weather forecasts generate more than $73 in savings for every dollar invested. In addition to forecasting cuts, NOAA data are on the chopping block. The administration announced that several datasets are slated for "retirement," including the coastal water temperature guide and the marine environmental buoy database. Others are being consolidated or renamed, and while some datasets will continue to exist on NOAA's websites, the administration will no longer support the maps created from that data. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal cuts to NOAA could be an ‘incredible blow' for Chesapeake Bay, storm reporting
As summer and hurricane season nears, weather and environmental officials say federal cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will negatively impact climate research, education and storm reporting. The Trump administration reportedly plans to cut NOAA's roughly $6.1 billion budget by 27% to $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2026. According to an internal administration document obtained by ProPublica, the proposed cuts would close the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, which could end support for NOAA's hurricane hunter missions, and cut funding to the office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research by nearly 75%. Environmentalists on the Chesapeake Bay are worried about how cuts could affect its ecosystem and restoration. The budget for the National Marine Fisheries Service, the agency that manages fisheries and marine ecosystems under NOAA, would be cut roughly 30%, from $1.1 billion to $789.3 million in fiscal 2026, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. The plan also would move the National Marine Fisheries Service and its Chesapeake Bay Office under the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. Alison Prost, senior vice president for programs at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the move would be an 'incredible blow' to its ecosystem and restoration in Virginia. Last year, the overall health of the Chesapeake Bay, the nation's largest estuary, received its highest grade since 2002, but bay researchers say more work needs to be done. '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,' Prost said. 'This attack on NOAA jeopardizes what we know works best for restoration — world-class science, innovation and a strong partnership between the states and federal government.' Have you seen the traffic monsters? Norfolk project promotes work-zone safety Environmental groups fear Trump's order to speed deep-sea mining will harm ecosystems Rep. Jen Kiggans talks clean energy with Hampton Roads industry leaders Virginia flood insurance cost 'dramatically' rising, as is flood risk Green energy supporters pushed for faster permitting. Trump is doing it, but not for solar or wind As of Friday, NOAA officials have not commented publicly about the planned cuts. The proposed changes come at a time where programs and department budgets across the federal government have been slashed, which federal officials have said saves money and makes the government more efficient. Cuts are also coming to NOAA's Office of Education. In the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, signed by governors of all states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, public and private school students are required to participate in 'meaningful watershed educational experiences' at least once during each level of instruction — in elementary, middle and high school. Many of these experiences are funded through NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training grant program, which awards $50,000 to $150,000 to each grantee annually for up to three years for K-12 learning opportunities. Awards in the past have gone to local governments, universities, school systems and nonprofits. '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,' said Tom Ackerman, the foundation's vice president for education. 'These programs help prepare students to solve the complex problems of tomorrow.' The cuts could also negatively impact forecasters' ability to issue alerts and warnings for severe storms, cautioned the American Meteorological Society. With the upcoming cuts, the National Weather Service's models and products will stagnate, observational data collection will be reduced and public outreach will decrease, the society said. Basically, the 'scientific backbone' and workforce needed to keep weather forecasts, alerts, and warnings accurate and effective will be drastically undercut, the AMS added. Though effects are unknown, the AMS said it is 'almost certainly disastrous' for public safety and economic health. The society points to the national Doppler radar network and the NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircrafts as success stories from years of the administration's research. 'Imagine what will happen to tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings if we don't have a robust national weather radar network,' an AMS statement said. 'What will happen to reservoir management when critical information on rainfall and runoff goes missing? What will happen when Hurricane Hunter aircraft are delayed or data from their instruments are not available to improve hurricane track and landfall forecasts? NOAA research affects the lives of American taxpayers every day.' Last year, severe weather cost Virginia more than $500 million. With climate change making weather disasters more frequent and severe, the meteorological society said NOAA research is becoming more important. More accurate forecasting saves money. Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that greater accuracy of hurricane forecasts in 2020 relative to 2007 saved about $5 billion in emergency funds and damages. The AMS released its own research last year on savings, which found NOAA's weather forecasts generate more than $73 in savings for every dollar invested. In addition to forecasting cuts, NOAA data is on the chopping block. The administration announced that several datasets are slated for 'retirement,' including the coastal water temperature guide and the marine environmental buoy database. Others are being consolidated or renamed, and while some datasets will continue to exist on NOAA's websites, the administration will no longer support the maps created from that data. Eliza Noe,
CBS News
19-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act set to drive economic growth, protect Maryland's natural resources
The Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act, a bill introduced by the Moore-Miller Administration in February that seeks to improve the Chesapeake Bay's water quality, is one step closer to becoming a reality. The bill was signed into law by Governor Moore earlier this month, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. According to the Moore-Miller Administration, the act supports farmers in developing more efficient farming methods and improves oyster aquaculture. Overall, this will create new sources of income for farmers and uplift Maryland's most crucial industries. "I think a lot of things kind of came together. This was the culmination of years of study, of working with partners to develop this piece of legislation," Josh Kurtz, Maryland's Department of Natural Resources Secretary, said. Kurtz explained that once the bill takes effect, they plan to hit the ground running. "We put together these suites of policies that touch several state agencies that really directly look at improving water quality and driving economic increases across many, many communities in the state of Maryland, and that touch the bay and are not anywhere near the bay," he said. Kurtz also says the bill aligns with the planned updates to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and introduces reforms like the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) program. "Whether it's water quality, best management practice, a conservation practice for wildlife habitat, or an opportunity for bringing people onto the farm to educate them, feeding our local really is a holistic approach to thinking about agriculture in that conservation space," he explained. The act includes provisions for water quality trading credits for oyster restoration and updates to fisheries management. "It gives us the opportunity to really recognize and continue to incentivize our farmers who are doing really good conservation work, and it allows us to kind of identify, evaluate, and give credit for multiple things that these farmers are doing, " Kurtz added. Cleaner waterways support Maryland's tourism economy, which generates $3.2 billion in economic activity around the Chesapeake Bay. Cleaner water and improved habitat also benefit Maryland's seafood industry, which contributes about $600 million annually to the state's economy. As estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency, future water clarity improvements could significantly increase property values in the state. The legislation also expands water quality monitoring programs to help evaluate and speed up restoration efforts. The bill outlines several other changes for Bay restoration, including updates that would: "The focus here is, how we, you know, keep our eye very much on that bigger water quality picture, but get much more into the local benefits that we can, we can really help drive from a centralized program," Kurtz said. These reforms would support an important industry in the state, Maryland's shellfish aquaculture, which has an estimated economic impact of more than $13 million annually. Within the last three years, the state has seen over 90,000 oyster bushels, a record number of aquaculture harvests. Oyster aquaculture proves to be a sustainable industry, providing multiple benefits to water quality as private investment ensures they're replaced soon after they're sold. "This legislation is driving economic growth while protecting our natural resources," MDE Secretary Serena McIlwain affirmed. "From creating hundreds of jobs through innovative aquaculture projects to boosting farm profitability and supporting tourism, these initiatives strengthen our economy and ensure a sustainable future for all Marylanders."
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.' ____
