Much of the progress to restore the rivers and streams feeding the Chesapeake Bay happens at the local and state level. To effectively coordinate and support the Coalition's member organizations in their work locally, the Coalition works closely with a lead in each Bay state—Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, New York, and Delaware—to share information about local issues and engagement opportunities. And this year, there were significant wins for clean water throughout the watershed.

In the Keystone State, Pennsylvania members of the Choose Clean Water Coalition and the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed released the third edition of the "Pennsylvania Clean Water Legislative Briefing Book," a comprehensive resource which outlines a range of policy solutions designed to restore and preserve water quality across the Commonwealth. One of the major goals highlighted in the Briefing Book was achieved in July when the Clean Streams Fund received an annual allocation of $50 million in the 2024-25 Commonwealth Budget. This substantial and ongoing investment in clean water initiatives represents a major victory for the Coalition's efforts, the health of Pennsylvania's waterways, and ultimately the well-being of the Bay itself.

Moving south to Maryland, the General Assembly responded to the findings of a recent scientific report on the Bay restoration effort by enacting the Whole Watershed Act. This legislation establishes a pilot program to coordinate diffuse efforts in water quality and conservation, focusing on upland habitats and accelerating progress at the local watershed scale. Maryland also implemented the Green Space Equity program, a grant program launched this year to support the acquisition and stewardship of green space in underserved and overburdened communities across the state.

Continuing our journey south to the Old Dominion, Virginia realized many victories for clean water in its 2024-25 budget. This banner year for clean water funding passed with strong bipartisan support. Highlighted among the wins is $231 million for the Virginia Agricultural Cost Share Program, which helps farmers implement conservation projects that reduce polluted runoff entering rivers and the Bay such as fencing cattle out of streams and planting riparian buffers. Other wins include $20 million for a pilot "Pay for Outcomes" program to fund verified and effective pollution reduction projects, $400 million in bonds to upgrade the capability of wastewater treatment plants to remove pollutants, and $1 million over two years to establish the Office of Commonwealth Resilience.

Next door in West Virginia, the West Virginia Rivers Coalition partnered with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) to initiate the development of PFAS Action Plans to "forever chemicals" in West Virginia waters. Utilizing funds from EPA's Environmental Justice Government to Government grant, WV Rivers, WVDEP, and more than 20 other organizations are building a collaborative, community-based process. The work will continue in 2025 with community meetings and engagement, and ultimately the first published PFAS Action Plans.

In other headwaters states, New York had several victories including legislation to support green infrastructure and construction commencing for several clean energy projects. In Delaware, major investments were made for drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater system improvements. The First State also made progress advancing environmental justice and strengthening infrastructure.

The Coalition's success supporting these wins is only possible thanks to our amazing Coalition Leads. Each Lead helps identify emerging issues and opportunities, while also helping to organize and coordinate advocacy and communications strategy. But since our inception, one critical jurisdiction at the heart of the watershed was unrepresented in our Leads program.

The District of Columbia presents unique challenges and opportunities to advance clean water goals. In efforts to address the Coalition's central priority of growing and mobilizing a more inclusive movement of clean water champions, our 2022-2026 Strategic Plan set the goal to add a Coalition Lead for DC.

As we began pursuing a DC Lead, we first wanted to hear from the organizations and partners working on clean water issues in the District. Through listening sessions with more than twenty nonprofit organizations, agencies, and funders, the results were identical across the board—DC organizations desire improved coordination on local clean water issues. These conversations also helped reveal the role a DC Lead could play with specific opportunities to advance clean water goals and coordinate policy in our Nation's Capital. Opportunities include improved coordination on land use issues, flooding mitigation, subsistence fishing, public access, the impact of environmental projects on gentrification, and building stronger relationships with federal agencies, since they own much of the land in DC.

With generous support from The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Choose Clean Water Coalition was thrilled to welcome Nature Forward as the Coalition's first Lead for the District of Columbia in our fifteen-year history. Efforts are already off and running, with Jamoni Overby representing Nature Forward at the helm. We are building partnerships with DC representatives and outlining priorities for 2025, which include pursuing a bottle bill to reduce plastics, working to improve public access to green spaces, and cultivating relationships with partners working on local water policy in both the Anacostia and Potomac River watersheds.

Whether in the headwaters of the Chesapeake, the states touching the mainstem of the Bay, or in DC, we are excited to harness the collective power of our more than 300 member organizations working for clean water throughout the watershed. And with our Coalition Leads spearheading local and state efforts, we will continue to earn wins that help leave a legacy of clean rivers and streams to future generations.