June 16, 2014 — A new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was signed Monday, breaking ground on two fronts: For the first time, all seven bay watershed jurisdictions pledged to work on goals beyond water quality, and climate change is included as a critical environmental challenge.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe vowed that protecting water quality and restoring the bay remain "key elements" of his natural resources agenda, and that Virginia would continue as a "full and active partner" in bay restoration.
"There is more to do, not only for water quality but for land conservation, habitat restoration, fisheries management and the rest of the issues embodied in the goals of this new agreement," McAuliffe said in a statement.
Along with McAuliffe, the governors of Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania and the mayor of D.C. signed onto the agreement at a meeting in Annapolis of the Chesapeake Executive Council. This is the first time West Virginia, Delaware and New York pledged to work on a full slate of restoration goals.
Also signing was Gina McCarthy, administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the head of the Chesapeake Bay Commission.
Virginia conservationists praised the new agreement, which goes beyond water quality and land use issues that were staples of previous agreements and now includes 10 goals and 29 measurable outcomes to restore the watershed, incorporating updated science, federal regulations and emerging issues such as environmental literacy, toxic contaminants and citizen stewardship.
Read the full story from The Daily Press