(The Center Square) — A bipartisan group of U.S. House members has relaunched the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, which aims to strengthen efforts to restore the bay’s health.
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., announced the task force’s revival this week alongside co-chairs Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., Rep. Sarah Elfreth, D-Md., and Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. The coalition will unite lawmakers from Bay watershed states to coordinate federal policy, funding and oversight for Chesapeake Bay conservation.
Wittman, a former marine scientist, emphasized the Bay’s economic and environmental importance to the area.
“The Bay is an economic engine for coastal Virginia, and it’s integral to our way of life in the Commonwealth. As co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I will continue to work to conserve our natural resources and encourage responsible stewardship of our land, water, and wildlife,” Wittman said.
Scott highlighted the task force’s history of securing federal funding, while Harris stressed his commitment to “commonsense, multi-state solutions” to preserve the Bay.
The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the U.S., spans 64,000 square miles across six states and Washington, D.C. It also supports more than 3,600 species of plants and animals and contributes billions to the region’s economy through its fisheries, tourism and recreation.
Urban development, agriculture and stormwater runoff pollution have long threatened the Bay’s health. Despite decades of restoration efforts, the challenges have persisted; algae blooms, declining underwater grasses and “dead zones” have remained major concerns. Some main improvements are the resurgence of blue crabs and oyster reefs, but scientists warn that the bay isn’t on track to meet its 2025 pollution reduction targets.
The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force will focus on developing federal strategies to improve water quality and conservation, keeping Congress informed on progress, holding stakeholders accountable and securing federal investments for Bay restoration programs.
Ensuring continued federal funding remains a top priority. The EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program receives around $90 million annually. Previous task force efforts led to securing the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act, which extends Bay cleanup funding through 2030.
According to reports, several Bay states are falling short of pollution control goals despite federal commitments. Pennsylvania, which contributes the most nitrogen runoff into the Bay, has struggled to meet reduction targets, raising concerns about enforcement.
The relaunch announcement points to renewed congressional focus on the Chesapeake. Lawmakers say they will work to ensure federal and state agencies remain accountable for progress.
“We can’t restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams without federal investment,” Keisha Sedlacek, the foundation’s federal director, said in a statement. “These federal grants support farmers, state and local government programs, and community projects that benefit people, the economy, and the environment.”
