ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On Friday, December 23, Congress approved the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY 23) omnibus appropriations package to fund government agencies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year. The annual funding package supported many programs related to conservation and environmental restoration in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and increased funding for several key programs.
Chesapeake Conservancy External Affairs Manager Reed Perry applauded the FY23 federal omnibus bill, stating:
“The FY23 federal appropriations package contains many big wins for the Chesapeake Bay and for conservation. The federal funding bill directly supports many vital agency partners and programs that advances environmental conservation in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
“The FY 23 Omnibus will increase funding for the Chesapeake Bay program by $4 million to a historic funding level of $92 million in FY 23. We are at a pivotal time in the ‘Chesapeake Bay restoration effort where all partners must work tirelessly and collaboratively to achieve as close as possible to the agreed goals of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. central to the region’s watershed restoration effort, the Chesapeake Bay Program plays an essential role, and this funding will allow the Bay Program Partnership to maximize the impact of its work.
“The FY23 Omnibus also increases funding by $2 million for USGS activities in the Chesapeake Bay, for a total of more than $17 million in FY23. The “USGS is a critical partner in science and monitoring efforts in our watershed, and when data drives much of our watershed restoration decision-making, this additional funding will help partners make decisions.” better informed to guide conservation efforts and accelerate progress.
“This bill also provides $8 million to the Chesapeake WILD program, a new program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service established by Congress in 2020. This represents a $4 million increase over funding levels in the ’22 that will greatly increase the impact of this vital conservation program. Chesapeake WILD is a dedicated conservation program in the Chesapeake Bay and supports on-the-ground efforts throughout the watershed, such as conservation of species and the restoration of wetlands.
“The FY23 Omnibus increases funding for the Department of Defense’s Environmental Readiness and Protection (REPI) program by $25 million, for a total of $175 million. This national conservation program advances national security through conservation and has led to the conservation of 32,000 or more acres in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.Increased REPI funding will allow the Bay Watershed to continue to benefit from this program.
“Thank you to the senators and members of Congress who worked to advance and pass this important legislation, and we especially thank our members of Congress from the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for their strong support of conservation and the Chesapeake Bay.”
Highlights for Chesapeake Bay conservation and restoration in the FY23 omnibus appropriations bill include:
· $92 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program, an increase of $4 million over FY22 appropriations. The Chesapeake Bay Program is a regional partnership of federal agencies, states, governments local, university and non-governmental organizations working together to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay.
· $8 million for Chesapeake WILD, an increase of $4 million over FY22 allocations. Chesapeake WILD is a new program of the US Fish and Wildlife Service specifically focused on conservation and restoration of habitats in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
· $3 million for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails program. The Gateways Program is led by the Chesapeake Bay Office of the National Park Service and provides financial and technical support to communities and organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed for public access, educational programming, and the interpretation of the natural, cultural and historical resources of the bay.
· $17.49 million for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Chesapeake Bay activities, an increase of $2 million over FY 22 appropriations. The USGS is a core federal partner in the Chesapeake Bay Program that contributes scientific research and monitoring to various aspects of watershed restoration, including land use and wildlife habitat.
· $175 million for the Department of Defense’s Environmental Readiness and Protection (REPI) program. The REPI program supports collaborations between branches of the U.S. military, local conservation groups, and local and state governments to conserve land near military installations in order to protect the continued and future operation of military installations. REPI has supported the conservation of more than 32,000 acres in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.