Chesapeake WATERS Act
Sponsored By: Senator Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Introduced
Summary
Reauthorizes and restructures NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Office to create a Director-led office with broader science, monitoring, education, and habitat-restoration roles. A Director with Chesapeake Bay research or resource management experience would lead the Office and be delegated authority to enter contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements to coordinate with federal, state, local, and tribal partners.
Show full summary
- Resource managers and coastal communities would get a Coastal Living Resources Management and Habitat Program supporting oyster restoration, permitted aquaculture, submerged aquatic vegetation restoration, habitat mapping, and the transfer of research into management actions.
- Scientists, managers, and the public would see stronger monitoring and data through a required Integrated Coastal Observations system for the Bay, expanded Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System support for real-time weather and ecological forecasts, and integration into the national observing network.
- Students, teachers, and the education sector would gain a Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training program with grants, internships, teacher professional development, classroom materials, and outreach to improve understanding of living resources.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Chesapeake Bay Coastal Resources Grants
If enacted, the bill would create a Coastal Living Resources Program at NOAA to support habitat and living-resource work in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. NOAA could award grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and technical help for oyster restoration, aquaculture (only if done under a valid Federal or State permit), submerged aquatic vegetation restoration, habitat mapping, and related applied research. Permit-holders doing aquaculture could be eligible for grant or technical support. The program would target restoration and resource-management activities across the watershed.
Chesapeake Bay Observing System Support
If enacted, the bill would direct NOAA to support a regional coastal observing system for the Chesapeake Bay. NOAA would coordinate monitoring, identify new data needs, and convert Bay data into usable products for managers, scientists, teachers, and the public. The bill would also support the Chesapeake Bay Interpretive Buoy System and feed buoy data into national observing networks. NOAA could provide real-time data and educational interpretation for trail users and classrooms.
New NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office
If enacted, the bill would create a Chesapeake Bay Office inside NOAA led by a Director. The Director would run the office and the NOAA Administrator would give the Director staff and authority to do the work. The office would carry out programs to support the Chesapeake Bay Program and the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. The Director must have Chesapeake Bay research or resource management experience.
Chesapeake Bay Education and Internships
If enacted, the bill would create a Chesapeake Bay watershed education and training program at NOAA. The Director could fund classroom lessons, distance learning, field experiences, teacher professional development, and internships that build career paths related to Bay living resources. Grants could also support educational tools, field-method demonstrations, and school district capacity building. The program would aim to meet goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
VA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Chris Van Hollen
MD • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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