Photo provided by the Chesapeake Bay Program.

‘Beyond 2025’ refers to the effort being undertaken by the Chesapeake Bay Program to determine next steps in restoring and serving the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Chesapeake Bay Program released a draft revised version of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement on July 1st, 2025. The agreement will serve as a roadmap for a restored Chesapeake Bay watershed. You can get involved with their public comment period that’s currently underway!

From July 1 – September 1, the public is invited to provide written feedback on the proposed revisions to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Feedback will be accepted via email to comments@chesapeakebay.net. Once received, this feedback will be reviewed by a team of subject matter experts within the partnership to inform the next version of the revised Watershed Agreement, which will be presented to the Management Board in October 2025.

 The 2014 Chesapeake Watershed Agreement was the most recent plan to restore the Chesapeake Bay. It included 10 goals and 31 outcomes for restoration and protection with a 2025 deadline to meet those goals. While the Chesapeake Bay’s health saw significant improvements over the past 10 years, some goals were not fully met.

The revised agreement simplifies the previous 10 goals into 4 “buckets” to make it easier to communicate and understand: 

• Healthy Landscapes: Conserve, restore, and enhance landscapes of ecological, economic, and cultural value to maintain water quality, provide habitat for wildlife, and increase resilience
• Clean Water: Reduce pollutants entering the Bay and its rivers to achieve the water quality necessary to support our aquatic wildlife and protect human health
• Thriving Habitats and Wildlife: Protect, restore, and sustain fisheries and wildlife as well as the network of land and water habitats they depend on, to promote a balanced and resilient ecosystem and support local economies and recreational opportunities.
• Engaged Communities: Engage and grow a community of local stewards and leaders through education, recreation, and professional opportunities.

Join the Beyond 2025 Webinar Series with the Chesapeake Bay Program for an in-depth look at the Beyond 2025 process and the revised goals of the 2014 Watershed Agreement:

• July 2: Beyond 2025: Reimagining the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement
• July 8: Thriving Habitats and Wildlife: A Deep Dive into the Revised Goal
• July 15: Clean Water for a Healthy Bay: Exploring the Revised Goal
• July 24: Healthy Landscapes: Understanding the Revised Goal
• July 30: Engaged Communities: A Closer Look at the Proposed Goal