Chesapeake Bay Advocates Unify at Conference, Honor Clean Water Champions
(HARRISONBURG, VA)—At a turbulent time in the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort, more than 280 individuals from local, state, and national nonprofits, elected officials, government agencies, and businesses are gathering for the 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference. With federal investments and protections in clean water under assault, the Conference is providing a platform to discuss ways these different sectors can work together toward our collective goal of clean water in the Bay region.
"We are thrilled to gather our passionate community of advocates for the 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference," said Kristin Reilly, Director of the Choose Clean Water Coalition. "In the face of unprecedented challenges, it is more important than ever for us to convene and learn from one another. Despite these headwinds, I am inspired by the tremendous progress spearheaded by our community. Our Conference showcases all we can accomplish when we work together to reach our collective clean water goals."
The Conference began with an afternoon seminar yesterday which focused on the widespread growth of data centers throughout the Chesapeake Bay region and the threats they pose to local rivers and streams. The seminar featured several presentations and a panel discussion including community activists and Delegate Josh Thomas. The Conference continued today with Virginia Department of Natural and Historic Resources Secretary Stefanie Taillon delivering a keynote address. Secretary Taillon discussed efforts throughout Virginia to protect and restore local water quality. "Under Governor Youngkin's leadership, Virginia remains fully committed to our Chesapeake Bay efforts and continues to accelerate progress towards meeting our targets" said Secretary Taillon. "By operating under realistic strategies, focusing on voluntary incentive-based solutions, and exploring innovative ideas, we can have cleaner water, support our farmers, and sustain the Bay's living resources, including oysters and blue crabs, which are vital to Virginia's economy."
This evening, the Choose Clean Water Coalition honored Senator Emmett Hanger and Chris Miller with the Coalition's Clean Water Champion Award, which is presented annually to individuals who exemplify the values of the Coalition and are a true champion for clean water. Serving in the Virginia legislature for more than 40 years, Hanger was a leader in securing countless wins for Virginia's rivers and streams throughout his tenure. This includes helping farmers implement more conservation practices on their land, supporting localities to install projects that reduce polluted runoff and flooding, and passing laws to protect more than one million acres of land in Virginia. Said Hanger, "Clean water is essential to our health, economy, and way of life here in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and Chesapeake Bay region. I am proud of my efforts to protect and restore our precious waterways and am honored to be named a 2025 Clean Water Champion. I want to thank the Choose Clean Water Coalition and its member organizations for this recognition and I look forward to continuing this critical work."
The Coalition also honored Chris Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC). Miller, who has served as PEC's President for nearly 30 years, is a founding member of the Choose Clean Water Coalition's Steering Committee. Under his leadership, PEC is a leader in land conservation, sustainable agriculture, and smart growth.
"I am honored and humbled by this recognition from the Coalition today, but we don't do this work alone. The core tenant of PEC's work has always been to engage, on the ground, with the people in our communities, and to give them, we hope, the information and knowledge they need to feel empowered to take action toward positive outcomes," said Miller. "We are grateful to the many organizations of the Choose Clean Water Coalition that help us in this work across the watershed. The burgeoning threats of data centers and related infrastructure has the potential to undermine all we've accomplished together and we as a coalition and as individual organizations must press onward to address these threats. Our water resources provide many well-known and also many less obvious public benefits, from ecosystem to agricultural to economic to climate to human health and quality of life. The Chesapeake Bay Watershed is a better place because we have all been steadfast and relentless in our efforts over time."
"Senator Hanger and Chris are incredibly deserving of this recognition. Both have made lasting impacts on clean water throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia," said Reilly. "Throughout their careers, Senator Hanger and Chris have served as unifying forces, gathering and empowering local stakeholders to raise their voices for their rivers and streams. As we work to leave a legacy of clean water to future generations, we would be well-served to follow in their footsteps."
The annual Choose Clean Water Conference provides a three-day forum for attendees to learn about the most important and up-to-date Chesapeake restoration issues, network with fellow Chesapeake Bay supporters and activists, develop strategies to advance federal, regional and local restoration goals, and learn from successes. Gathering in Virginia for the first time since 2022, the 15th annual Choose Clean Water Conference concludes tomorrow.
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Media Contact:
Drew Robinson
Choose Clean Water Coalition
443-927-8049
RobinsonAQ@nwf.org
