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46 The Authority | February 2025 C hesapeake B ay E xecutive C ouncil , I ncluding G overnor S hapiro A nnounce P lans T o R evise W atershed A greement , F orm N ew A gricultural A dvisory C ommittee On December 10, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council gathered in Annapolis, Maryland for what may be considered the most important meeting for the Chesapeake Bay Program since the signing of the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement 10 years ago. The Executive Council, which guides the policy agenda and sets conservation and restoration goals for the regional federal-state partnership, announced plans to revise the existing Watershed Agreement over the next year. “Today we laid the foundation for a new future for Chesapeake Bay restoration and strengthened our commitment to partnership,” said Maryland Governor Wes Moore, who was reelected as Chair of the Council. “We’re going to use the latest science to improve shallow water habitat, bolster wildlife populations and create new economic opportunities for all communities throughout the Bay watershed. We face a monumental task, but thanks to the leaders, scientists, workers and volunteers who worked to improve the Bay’s health for the previous four decades, we know what’s left to do and how to do it. So now we’ll refine the goals we must meet to ensure future generations can enjoy and benefit from this national treasure.” “Today’s actions by the Chesapeake Executive Council show that we remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving a healthy watershed through partnership,” stated Virginia Delegate David Bulova, chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. “Refreshing the voluntary Watershed Agreement that guides our efforts will help make sure that we are science- led and people-driven as we re- dedicate ourselves to delivering clean water, conserved landscapes and thriving living resources for all.” “Today, leaders from across the Chesapeake Bay joined together in the spirit of partnership, progress and potential to discuss the next phase of Bay restoration. EPA, under the Biden-Harris Administration, has worked tirelessly to build strong relationships up and down stream, award funding where it will be most impactful and bring new voices to the table that are driving real change through the watershed. We remain committed to these efforts as we look Beyond 2025," said Michael Regan, Administrator, US EPA. The year 2025 is the target date for many of the 31 outcomes in the Watershed Agreement to have met their goals by. Two years ago, the Executive Council directed the Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee to recommend a path forward to the year 2025 that prioritized and outlined the next steps for meeting the goals and outcomes of the Watershed Agreement and prepare recommendations that continued to address new advances in science and restoration while focusing on the future of the Chesapeake Bay Program beyond 2025. The result is A Critical Path Forward for the Chesapeake Bay Program Beyond 2025, a report developed over the past year-and-a-half by a steering committee consisting of representatives from multiple partnership stakeholders and presented for public feedback in summer 2024. The report outlines two fundamental recommendations for the future of Chesapeake Bay restoration, as well as the partnership. In response to this recommendations report, the Executive Council directed the Principals’ Staff Committee to revise the existing Watershed Agreement by the end of calendar year 2025 and work to streamline the existing partnership for it to be more inclusive of all communities, more manageable for Chesapeake Bay Program staff and supportive of all partners as they work to achieve their commitments. “I was proud to join my fellow Governors and council members today to discuss the progress we’re making and renew our commitment to protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed,” said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. “Pennsylvania’s portion of the