New Agreement "Chesapeake 2000" to protect the Chesapeke Bay

Abstract

On June 28, 2000, Maryland Governor Panis N. Glendening, three-term Chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, along with state and federal representatives of neighboring watershed jurisdictions, signed the new Chesapeake 2000 Agreement which is divided into five sections that contain commitments to protect and restore water quality, living resources, and vital habitats, while also promoting sound land use, stewardship, and community involvement. Nicknamed "C2K" , the new Bay Agreement continues the cooperative approach from 1983 and the goals and due dates from 1987 as a foundation for new commitments. Those new commitments go further than those of the previous Agreements, setting new goals for the next decade. In addition, the Chesapeake 2000 Agreement has as a theme the concept of personal responsibility -the idea that individuals are responsible and can make a difference. The new Chesapeake Bay Agreement clearly puts the responsibility for a clean Bay and healthy tributaries on all citizens of the watershed.

This report introduces the outline of Chesapeake 2000 Agreement through the materials that EMECS Center obtain from Maryland and other resources.