Updated December 19, 2024
Maryland is at a critical point for the Chesapeake Bay and its waterways, seeking to continue moving forward on Bay restoration amid historic budget challenges and an uncertain outlook at the federal level. Despite these challenges, CBF enters 2025 optimistic about Maryland’s continued commitment to Bay restoration and ready to defend the funding and programs that support our progress. This session, CBF will be urging the General Assembly to prioritize restoration efforts that are long-lasting, cost-effective, and targeted to confront climate change, tackle pollution sources, and support the state’s growing aquaculture industry.
Supporting a Bay-Focused Budget
Maryland is facing a potential Fiscal Year 2026 deficit of nearly $3 billion dollars, a number that is expected to grow in the years ahead. Historically, in lean budget times the programs that support clean water have been popular places for governors and legislators to borrow from to bridge temporary shortfalls. Borrowing from or repurposing funds like Program Open Space or the Bay Restoration Fund can help solve short-term crunches, but the longer-term impact on the Bay can be a shortsighted trade.
This session, CBF will be working to defend our Bay-focused programs, educate decision makers on opportunities to stretch our conservation dollars further, and telling the stories about what Maryland’s investment means for the communities and industries that rely on a healthy Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Creating a Shared “Bay Legacy”
At the recent Chesapeake Bay Program Executive Council meeting, Gov. Moore announced that his administration would be introducing legislation to address several key Bay restoration priorities during the 2025 legislative session. These items address some of the most pressing needs and recommendations identified in the May 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report. CBF will be working with the administration and General Assembly to advance several of these initiatives.
Promoting Regenerative Agriculture on Public Lands
Despite significant population growth, agriculture remains the largest land use in Maryland with nearly 2 million acres—roughly 32 percent—of total land area in agricultural use. This means that agricultural runoff remains one of the state’s greatest challenges to improving Bay health but also one of its biggest opportunities. Regenerative agriculture is an approach to farming that not only protects soil from erosion, but helps to rebuild the health of the soil, reduce nutrient inputs, improve biodiversity, and sequester carbon. With the State of Maryland as one of the largest agricultural landowners in the state, instituting more regenerative agriculture practices on state-owned lands has significant potential to generate water quality gains and demonstrate the effectiveness of regenerative agriculture to private landowners.
Creating a 21st Century Monitoring Network
Tracking Bay restoration progress and outcomes is critical to the long-term success of our efforts and to continued improvement in implementing the most effective practices to achieve nutrient and sediment reductions. That’s where on-the-ground monitoring comes in. By creating a statewide monitoring network and data hub, housed in the Department of Natural Resources, Maryland can more effectively track our pollution reduction goals, identify the most impactful practices, and refine state investments to produce the greatest ‘bang for the buck.’
Supporting Maryland’s Aquaculture Industry
Shellfish aquaculture—the cultivation of native oysters and clams—has tremendous potential to improve water quality, bolster fish habitat, and provide sustainable economic opportunities for Marylanders. However, Maryland’s industry has been stifled by long lease application timelines, redundant regulations, and out-of-date reporting structures. Improving these processes will allow the Maryland industry to operate more efficiently, hopefully attracting more private investment.
Being a Trusted Conservation Partner and Leading Through Science
CBF has been a leader in ensuring that Bay restoration efforts follow the best available science. We’ll continue to play that critical role in the 2025 legislative session. In a typical session, CBF reviews and comments on hundreds of bills. Some we are interested include:
- Working with partners at Shore Rivers and the Chesapeake Legal Alliance to introduce and pass the Nearshore Farm & Financing Act. This legislation will increase nutrient application setbacks near sensitive waters and provide additional incentives for farmers to plant trees, shrubs, and other natural filters that keep nutrient runoff out of our waterways;
- Monitoring efforts to amend the landmark Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plan, and finding ways to grow and enhance outdoor education opportunities;
- Working in coalition with other members of the Citizens’ Campaign for the Environment to support legislation focused on energy infrastructure and siting, creating a Maryland bottle deposit program, and giving the Maryland Department of the Environment to more fully incorporate environmental justice considerations into permitting decisions; and
- Being ready to quickly respond to unforeseen challenges and actions that may be taken by the incoming Trump administration.
Getting Involved
Defending clean water requires an “all hands on deck” response, and there are many ways for you to learn more or get involved. Sign up for our Action Network and check out our advocacy tools and resources for more information on how you can advocate for clean water every day.
