While Chesapeake Bay health declined in 2024 compared to the previous year, the Bay’s health remains on a long-term upward trend, according to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES)’s 2025 Chesapeake Bay and Watershed Report Card released today.
UMCES identified extreme weather from drought and heavy storms in 2024 as one possible reason for the decline. Intense rainfall on hard, dry soil leads to runoff that washes pollution into streams, rivers, and the Bay. Climate change is intensifying extreme weather in the region, leading to both stronger storms and more severe droughts.
The release of the report card comes as the Trump administration rolls back climate change work and proposes slashing funding to federal agencies and programs that support Chesapeake Bay restoration and are instrumental in monitoring progress. Those include the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
This year is also pivotal as leaders around the region work to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which since the 1980s has guided federal-state efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay.
For more than two decades, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and UMCES have each independently produced two of the most respected reports on the health of the Chesapeake Bay. In future years, the two organizations plan to collaborate more closely on this mission.
CBF President and CEO Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement.
“The health of the Chesapeake Bay isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s a quality-of-life issue for nearly 19 million people. This report card reflects the progress we’ve made, and the serious challenges that remain. This is the moment to push forward—not pull back.
“The Bay has long inspired bipartisan leadership. Congress must stand up to reckless rollbacks and fully fund the coordinated efforts across federal agencies to clean up the Bay. At the same time, state leaders must rise to the moment by recommitting to clean water goals with bold and urgent action.
“For more than 40 years, science and partnership have been fundamental to Bay restoration success. But the system remains out of balance and the federal/state Chesapeake Bay partnership is under threat. The choices we make today will determine whether our communities and economies thrive tomorrow.
“The extreme weather of 2024 is not an anomaly—it’s a warning. Climate change is accelerating, and with it comes more flooding, pollution, and ecological stress. The Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts threaten the world-class science and partnership at the heart of the effort.
“Science has always been the backbone of Chesapeake Bay restoration. The latest report card highlights not only improvements, but also where the Bay is struggling. New research, including the Comprehensive Evaluation of Systems Response (CESR), show us that targeting efforts where they’re most needed will make Bay cleanup more effective and efficient.
“There is tremendous value in our academic and scientific communities, which is why CBF is proud to be deepening our partnership with UMCES. We must support our scientists.”
