COG’s Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee (CBPC) is reflecting on its work in 2020. Despite the move to meeting in a virtual environment due to COVID-19, members of the group celebrated many accomplishments together in the areas of policy, partnership, promotion, and outreach.

These highlights are detailed in its new annual report and summarized in the video below from CBPC Chair Jon Stehle, City of Fairfax Councilmember.

For example, the CBPC advocated for the Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization Act, which was fully funded for FY 2021, in addition to two successful Virginia General Assembly bills in support of the Clean Energy and Flood Preparedness Act and a plastic bag tax.

The group marked its 15 years of work together and progress on Bay Health, while also looking to the future. The CBPC's first academic paper competition for area high school, college, and graduate students examined real-world sustainability and water resources challenges.

The CBPC’s Food and Agriculture Task Force focused on food chain resiliency, a particularly important challenge given widespread food insecurity due to COVID-19, and supported the creation of a new ad-hoc committee at COG that will be devoted to this work over the next year.

In the year ahead, the CBPC will continue to address water policies, strengthen partnerships, and promote the region’s work to improve the water quality of the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. 

MORE: Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee Annual Report