Chesapeake Bay Program Inclusion of Indigenous Voices Fails

(ANNAPOLIS, MD) —Today, it was announced that after almost two years of communication the Indigenous Conservation Council (ICC), which represents the seven federally recognized tribes in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, will withdraw from discussions and formal engagement with the Chesapeake Bay Program. In 2025, ICC petitioned to become a signatory of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. At the December 2025 Chesapeake Executive Council meeting–attended by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Delaware Governor Matthew Meyer, and District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser–the Executive Council directed the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Principals’ Staff Committee to make a recommendation by June 30, 2026 on ICC’s request.

 At today’s meeting of the Principals’ Staff Committee, the ICC conveyed that conversations over the last several months have demonstrated that the Program is unwilling to give the tribes a seat at the table. In response, Choose Clean Water Coalition Director Kristin Reilly issued the following statement:

“Our conservation efforts in the Chesapeake region are often held up as an example for a successful multijurisdictional restoration effort. Today, we officially fall behind other geographic programs when it comes to recognizing tribal sovereignty and authentically engaging Indigenous communities.

The Indigenous Conservation Council’s decision to pause its engagement with the Chesapeake Bay Program should be understood as a serious signal that a fundamentally different approach is needed for tribal engagement in Chesapeake Bay restoration.

The Choose Clean Water Coalition stands with the Indigenous Conservation Council and the tribes it represents. We respect their decision to determine how and when they engage with the Chesapeake Bay Program, and we recognize that meaningful partnership must be built on trust, respect for tribal sovereignty, and a commitment to shared decision-making.

We remain committed to working alongside the Indigenous Conservation Council, Tribal Nations, and our more than 320 member organizations to build a Chesapeake restoration partnership that is inclusive, collaborative, and represents all of the communities and waters it seeks to protect.”

The Choose Clean Water Coalition is an organization that harnesses the collective power of more than 320 local, state, regional and national groups to advocate for clean rivers and streams in all communities in the Chesapeake region.

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Media Contact:
Drew Robinson
Choose Clean Water Coalition
443-927-8049
RobinsonAQ@nwf.org