Chesapeake WATERS Act

Summary#

This bill reauthorizes and updates the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Chesapeake Bay Office. It makes the NOAA Administrator responsible for the Office and says the Office should be the Administration's primary representative in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Office will be led by a Director with Chesapeake Bay research or resource management experience. The bill authorizes programs for regional coastal observing and monitoring (including a Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System), education and training with grants and internships, and a Coastal Living Resources Management and Habitat Program focused on oysters, blue crabs, submerged aquatic vegetation, and important fish species. The Director must coordinate with the Chesapeake Executive Council and other Federal and State partners, use peer review for projects, delegate necessary staff and authority, and submit biennial reports and 2-year action plans to Congress.

What it means for you#

• Residents, educators, students, and local organizations in the Chesapeake Bay watershed could see more local monitoring data, educational programs, and internship or grant opportunities.
• The bill supports technologies like buoys and other observing systems that produce weather, ecological, and habitat condition information.
• Grants could fund classroom materials, field experiences, teacher professional development, and local restoration projects.
• Restoration and management activities covered include oyster research and restoration, permitted aquaculture, submerged aquatic vegetation work, habitat mapping, and fish and shellfish research.
• The Office will report to Congress every two years and will coordinate with the Chesapeake Executive Council to align activities with Chesapeake Bay Agreement goals.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total costs or specific appropriations is included in the bill text. The bill authorizes the Director to award grants and enter into contracts and cooperative agreements, but it does not specify funding amounts.

Proponents' View#

Supporters would say the bill clarifies and strengthens NOAA's role in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, improves coordination with the Chesapeake Executive Council and other partners, expands monitoring and observing systems, and creates or continues education, training, and habitat restoration programs to support living marine resources and public education.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.