Legislation Introduced in Senate to Renew Federal Programs for Chesapeake Bay Restoration

WASHINGTON — In a significant move to bolster efforts aimed at restoring the Chesapeake Bay and enhancing public access to its natural beauty, a new legislation introduced in the Senate this week seeks to renew several federal programs integral to these initiatives.

The proposed legislation, part of a larger bill to reauthorize the America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act, underscores bipartisan commitment to conservation efforts. The ACE Reauthorization Act aims to extend and enhance funding for key programs crucial to the health and vitality of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Among the key provisions outlined in the bill are extensions for:

• The EPA Chesapeake Bay Program, which spearheads the federal-state partnership to clean up the Bay and its tributaries. The proposed funding would amount to $100 million annually through fiscal year 2030, up from the current $92 million allocation.
• The Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) matching grant program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The bill proposes an annual funding of $15 million, a significant increase from the current $8 million, to support conservation efforts within the watershed.
• The National Park Service’s Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Water Trails program, which promotes access to a network of historic sites, trails, parks, and wildlife refuges across the watershed. The program would receive continued funding at its current level of $3 million annually for the next five years.
• The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), which provides competitive grants to support local communities’ efforts in cleaning up and restoring waterways and wildlife habitat.

Recent projects funded by these programs highlight the diversity and impact of conservation efforts across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Initiatives include restoring ancestral lands of Virginia’s Upper Mattaponi Indian Tribe, transforming contaminated urban lots into community-friendly gardens, and improving water quality in various watersheds.

The bill, introduced by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper (D-Del.), ranking member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), and Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), underscores bipartisan collaboration and commitment to safeguarding the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem.