Climate Monitoring and Assessment Outcome:Logic & Action Plan

Chesapeake Bay Program partners have committed to taking a series of specific actions to support the management approaches guiding this outcome. These actions directly address the factors that could impact our progress. More information about performance targets and participating partners can be found in the complete Logic & Action Plan.

Download Logic & Action Plan (.pdf)

Completed Actions

2018-2020

  • Developed a Chesapeake Bay Data and Mapping Portal of existing climate data and mapping in support of Chesapeake Bay Program needs.
  • Reviewed recommendations of the 2018 STAC Climate Change Modeling 2.0 workshop and identified and implemented follow-up actions in conjunction with the Water Quality GIT, which included informing climate projections and scenarios for input into future Chesapeake Bay watershed and estuarine modeling processes; briefing the Climate Resiliency Workgroup on the completed Climate Change Modeling 2.0 Workshop report, relevant findings and identified next steps; and pursuing research opportunities to address climate impacts due to precipitation changes to inform the TMDL.
  • Gained a better understanding of past and future impacts of ocean acidification on Chesapeake Bay waters.
  • Undertook targeted research to improve our understanding of climate impacts and fill critical data or research gaps.

2017

  • Cataloged monitoring and modeling gaps for four select management strategies that support the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
  • Developed a plan to fill identified gaps.
  • Identified gap-filling solutions by expanding the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership to include identified ongoing or planned monitoring efforts of climate factors.
  • Conducted a literature review and synthesis of the latest scientific research on past and future climate change impacts on the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Compiled a research agenda to improve our understanding of climate impacts and fill critical data or research gaps.
  • Compiled available data, tools and resources that can be used to support Chesapeake Bay watershed vulnerability assessments.
  • Increased the availability of, and access to, climate monitoring and assessment data.

2016

  • Used Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, National Weather Service and other data sets to assess Chesapeake Bay climate sensitivity.
  • Established guidance for the application of climate change scenarios, projections and realizations for Chesapeake Bay Program assessments.
  • Developed and implemented a methodology to establish climate goals and baselines for individual management strategies that support the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement.
  • Informed the approach to factoring climate considerations into the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (Bay TMDL) 2017 Midpoint Assessment.