In Maryland waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, updated regulations for yellow perch will be in effect for the 2026 fishing season. In response to six years of low recruitment, Maryland reduced the limit for yellow perch caught in tidal … Continued
An array of grants from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will go towards Chesapeake Bay cleanup, water quality improvement efforts, watershed restoration, and stream stewardship. More than $1.5 million in 2025 Chesapeake Bay Program grants are being … Continued
In December, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded $17.7 million in 2026 Countywide Action Plan (CAP) Coordinator and Implementation Grants to county teams across Pennsylvania’s portion of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed to support the Commonwealth’s shared progress in … Continued
In December, during its annual meeting at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Executive Council approved the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. The agreement includes goals that will improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, increase access … Continued
This fall, the largest female sturgeon in the Atlantic sturgeon gillnetting survey’s history was captured by Maryland DNR biologists. The fish was netted along Marshyhope Creek, a tributary of the Nanticoke River. Nicknamed Chessie, the large female measured just under … Continued
Recent surveys of juvenile striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay watershed found slightly improved numbers of fish for 2025. Conducted by biologists in Maryland and Virginia, the surveys included counts of juvenile striped bass and other species in waters of … Continued
In October, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, issued an updated notice urging boaters in the Chesapeake Bay to steer clear of ongoing construction activities near the Mid-Bay Island Project, located adjacent to the islands of James … Continued
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will distribute more than $12 million in grant funding from the National Park Service’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for state and local projects to enhance outdoor recreation. Funds will be used … Continued
On October 2, 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a new agreement with Constellation Energy to fund and implement operational improvements and environmental projects at the Conowingo Dam. Valued at more than $340 million and negotiated in partnership with Waterkeepers … Continued
In August 2025, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved up to $11 million in funding for a major flood protection and habitat restoration project in South Baltimore, supporting local jobs, reducing flood risks, and restoring vital tidal wetlands. The … Continued