CLEAN RIVERS, CREEKS, AND BAYS
Our Commitment
To support Virginia’s commitment to measurably reduce the amount of pollution delivered to our nation’s largest estuary, Chesapeake Bay.
THE ISSUE
The 2025 deadline of the multi-state cleanup plan for the states draining to Chesapeake Bay will occur during the term of Virginia’s 74th Governor. To significantly reduce the amount of pollution delivered to our nation’s largest estuary, each contributing state’s Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) is designed to accomplish its own set of pollutant reduction goals identified through the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL). Virginia has invested tremendous resources toward meeting its goals. However, in order to continue this progress, we must ensure strong and sustained funding for key local and statewide initiatives.
Clean Water & Flood Resilience Recap: 2026 Bill Outcomes
Virginia Conservation Network advocated for 45 bills this General Assembly session that protect Virginians from flooding impacts, monitor toxic pollution, reduce plastic pollution & waste, and more.
Beyond 2025 for the Chesapeake Bay
The draft revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was published on July 1, 2025 and is undergoing a public feedback period.
Clean Water & Flood Resilience Recap: 2025 Bill Outcomes
Virginia Conservation Network advocated for 25 bills this General Assembly session that protect communities from flooding, reduce toxic pollution in water, reduce plastic litter, and more.
Chesapeake Bay State Governors Recommit to Restoration
Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania governors all attended the Executive Council meeting and recommitted to the collaborative effort to protect and restore the Bay and its rivers and streams.
Opinion: The James is healthier today, but our work isn’t finished
Virginia should boldly recommit to the collaborative, multistate effort and vision of a renewed Chesapeake Bay Agreement. In an Op-Ed, VCN highlights how our beloved local waters depend on the Chesapeake Bay Agreement to improve water quality.
OPINION: State budget delivers for clean water and protected land
Money talks, and our bipartisan state budget reflects the values of the commonwealth. In an Op-Ed, VCN celebrates a bipartisan budget deal that allocates historic levels of funding for clean water.
RESOURCES
Map: VDH Harmful Algal Bloom
The Virginia Department of Health maintains a regularly updated interactive map for tracking algal blooms throughout Virginia.
Map: DC Area Water Quality
The Reservoir Center for Water Resources developed an interactive map for monitoring water quality in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers.
Map: James River Watch
The James River Association provides an updated weekly map identifying various testing sites within the James River watershed and their associated conditions, including bacteria levels, flood risk, and more.
Bay Act Resiliency Guidance
DEQ has updated the Bay Act resiliency guidance along with updated examples. A model ordinance, locality implementation checklist, resiliency assessment template, adaptation measure checklist, and nature-based adaptation measure list are also available.
Federal Funding & Opportunities for the Chesapeake Region
The Campbell Foundation released a resource guide providing an overview of different pathways through which current federal funding is being distributed to the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Chesapeake Bay Commission: Federal Agency Budget Request
The Chesapeake Bay Commission released the Federal Agency Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2024. In this document, the Commission details the federal funding required to continue our progress toward a restored Chesapeake Bay watershed.