Today, in an exciting step for clean water and the local economies it supports, Governor Wes Moore signed the Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act (HB506) into Maryland law. This legislation, sponsored by the Governor in partnership with Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Department of Agriculture (MDA), and Department of the Environment (MDE), will help improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and promote economic growth across the state.
The Bay Legacy Act will make implementing environmentally friendly practices easier and more appealing for individuals and businesses across Maryland, including farmers, oyster growers, and restoration practitioners.
Some key parts of the Act include:
- Establishing the Maryland Leaders in Environmentally Engaged Farming (LEEF) Program, which will create tiered incentives to prioritize agricultural conservation that maximizes benefits to habitat and biodiversity and reduces pollution reaching the Bay;
- Promoting regenerative agriculture, a suite of on-farm practices that improve soil health, on state-owned land;
- Consolidating state water quality monitoring programs to streamline and improve the quality of data, as well as increase coordination to help quantify progress towards cleaning the Bay’s rivers and streams;
- Simplifying reporting for the aquaculture industry, which greatly benefits water quality and fish habitat in the Bay;
- Securing funds for the Whole Watershed Act, which will implement targeted restoration in five key watersheds across the state.
The Act’s programs and reforms will address key recommendations identified in the Chesapeake Bay Program’s May 2023 Comprehensive Evaluation of System Response (CESR) report.
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) strongly supported this legislation and was honored to join Governor Moore, DNR, MDE, MDA, and other partners at the bill signing ceremony at the State House in Annapolis on May 13.
Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director, issued the following statement:
“Governor Moore’s Chesapeake Bay Legacy Act brings hope for a healthier and more resilient future. This legislation gives farmers, oyster growers, and restoration practitioners the tools they need to succeed, and in turn, will reduce pollution in our rivers and streams.
“With federal cuts and rollbacks looming heavily on our state, Maryland’s environmental leadership is more important than ever. This Act will help maintain forward momentum and ensure that investments in clean air, clean water, habitats, and local economies are secured.
“We appreciate the Moore-Miller administration’s dedication to a healthier Chesapeake Bay and look forward to helping implement these solutions statewide.”
Maryland Communications & Media Relations Manager, CBF
[email protected]
443-482-2023
