Our Mission
Save the Bay and its waterways by educating, uniting, and inspiring people to take action.
Our Vision
A healthy and resilient Chesapeake Bay ecosystem where people, plants, and animals thrive together.
Our Core Values
Connected: More than 18 million people are connected to the Bay through lived experience, family legacies, and personal connections that fuel our passion to work together to restore our lands and waters.
Credible: Through education, advocacy, and leadership—all backed by science, research, and lived experiences—CBF continues to fight for clean water, clean air, and healthy communities.
Courageous: For more than 50 years, CBF has been a vigilant “watchdog” for the Bay by holding government, businesses, and each other accountable. As we enter a new era, we seek innovative and creative approaches that build on the past while more fully centering people and equity in efforts to improve the Chesapeake Bay, its waterways, and communities.
Our Strategic Plan
Since 1966, we have tirelessly worked to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. What began as a movement recognizing the Bay’s declining health has grown into a remarkable science-based collaborative effort considered a global model for ecosystem restoration. With support across communities, ideologies, and political parties, considerable progress has been made.
Even as the region’s population has increased by nearly fifty percent, pollution has been significantly reduced. Fish and crab populations are generally improving, and underwater dead zones are shrinking over time. The Bay and its waterways are proving resilient, responding to land-based pollution reduction efforts.
We need to be clear-eyed about the ongoing challenges and threats. Too much pollution continues to enter the Bay. Climate change is adding more stress to the ecosystem and our communities. Environmental injustices and toxic legacy pollution must also be addressed.
Creating a vibrant Chesapeake Bay ecosystem for future generations requires us to evolve in our approaches and expectations. Together, we must build on what has worked, learn from what hasn’t, incorporate the latest science, and inspire a renewed movement where humans and nature thrive together. With the support of CBF members and partners, we will breathe new life into efforts that reduce pollution and improve the lives of the people who call the Bay region home. Our shared efforts will shape the future—a future with clean water, strong economies, and vibrant communities for the next generation. This is our moment. And this is our plan.
1. Drive the necessary policy and accountability actions
Advocate: Advance policies and regulations that improve the health and resiliency of the Chesapeake Bay, its people, and its fisheries.
Litigate: Hold polluters, regulators, and decision-makers accountable to ensure clean water for all.
Innovate: Advance holistic solutions that target pollution hot spots in our communities, towns and on farms.
2. Build the next generation of environmental leaders
Educate: Through hands-on experiences, teach and inspire students throughout the region to take action to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Connect: Engage and equip emerging and diverse leaders to increase participation in advocacy.
Scale: Support systemic integration of environmental and climate literacy programming and curriculum.
3. Advance restoration of the Bay’s natural infrastructure
Target: Implement projects that reduce pollution and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate change.
Lead: Champion ambitious goals for oysters and critical habitats to rebuild the Bay’s natural infrastructure.
Partner: Align with key restoration partners and communities to advance collective clean water and climate goals.
Across all our efforts, we will activate, build, and empower a diverse, equitable, and inclusive movement through powerful storytelling, active listening, and strategic partnerships.
