Executive Order 13508: Chesapeake Bay Protection and Restoration
President: Barack Obama
Made Chesapeake Bay restoration a federal priority and required a coordinated strategy milestones and annual accountability.
Status: In effect.
Is Executive Order 13508 still in effect? Yes. Active federal coordination framework still cited in 2026 Chesapeake restoration planning.
What does Executive Order 13508 do?
EO 13508 created a Federal Leadership Committee chaired by EPA, directed agencies to prepare reports and a watershed strategy, and called for measurable goals, two-year milestones and annual progress reporting. It works alongside the Clean Water Act, the Chesapeake Bay TMDL and interstate partnership rather than replacing them.
Before and after
Before the order
Federal restoration work existed but lacked this unified executive accountability structure.
After the order
Agencies adopted a joint strategy and recurring milestones linked to watershed pollution plans.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Leadership Committee | Coordinate and report | Continuing |
| EPA and partner agencies | Set milestones and implement programs | Continuing |
| Federal land managers | Apply watershed protection guidance | Continuing |
What happened next
EO 13508 signed.
Federal strategy released.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
Clean Water Act authorities, state implementation plans and funding statutes supply enforceable program tools. The order itself creates no private right.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- EPA — federal restoration strategy (opens in a new tab) Official record
- EPA — Chesapeake Bay TMDL (opens in a new tab) Official record
- EPA — 2026–2027 milestones (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 15, 2026. How we research →