This bill establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a new unit of the National Park System spanning Maryland and Virginia, dedicated to preserving and providing public access to the natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas. The Secretary of the Interior will acquire land from willing sellers, donations, and exchanges (but cannot use condemnation) and will prepare a comprehensive management plan within three years, with visitor facilities potentially located in Annapolis and near Fort Monroe. The bill creates a 19-member advisory commission—with equal representation from Maryland and Virginia including youth representatives, commercial fishers, farmers, and Native American tribal representatives—to guide the park's development and recommend additional properties for inclusion. The legislation preserves state authority over fishing and wildlife management, coordinates with existing Chesapeake Bay conservation programs, and provides permanent authorization for funding the Chesapeake Gateways network, though no specific dollar amount is allocated in the bill itself.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.