Aberdeen Proving Ground's Earth Day celebration unveils Army's new Chesapeake Bay plan

ABERDEEN — The United States Army officially implemented its revised conservation and revitalization plan for the Chesapeake Bay as part of Aberdeen Proving Ground’s 2024 Earth Day celebration.

The plan — referred to as the Chesapeake Bay Strategy — is a revision of the Army’s 2009 strategy. Officials stated that because of modernization and numerous partnerships associated with the Chesapeake Bay and environmental conservation, a revised plan was necessary.

“There have been a lot of recovery efforts and partnerships happening to help the bay so it is important that our strategy stays dynamic to meet the current needs of Chesapeake Bay recovery,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment Rachel Jacobson. “This is one of the nation’s most important watersheds.”

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to over 17.5 million people. The Army operates 14 major installations in the area totaling over 211,000 acres — 26,000 of which are covered by the watershed.

APG — the state’s second largest forest land owner — oversees more than 18,000 acres of woodland and a large portion of the Bush and Gunpowder River which ultimately lead to the bay.

“As caretakers of such a vast and critical area, we consistently work to find ways to do better,” said Liz Miranda, Deputy to the Commanding General, Communications and Electronics Command. “The Chesapeake Bay Strategy is part of that effort to continually improve by bringing Army conservation efforts in support of the bay into the Army’s national defense activities.”

The revised plan has four main goals that address bay health which, in turn, officials say will benefit the watershed’s surrounding ecosystem.

The four goals are water quality, living resource restoration and sustainability, strengthening healthy stormwater management practices and generating community awareness.

Each goal is outlined with specific actions such as the implementation of additional shoreline riparian areas to minimize erosion, the study of invasive species, implementation of green technology and even an expansion of wetlands to compensate for rising sea levels.

Officials stated that the strategy is a science-based action agenda that reflects adaptive management principles and contributes to the long-term recovery of the Chesapeake Bay.

After signing the Chesapeake Bay Strategy policy, Jacobson announced a new initiative in honor of this year’s Earth Day theme — Planet Vs. Plastics — with the demand of a 60 percent reduction in the production of plastic by 2040.

The new initiative effectively phases out the Army’s procurement of single-use plastic and styrofoam dishware in all Army dining installations by 2030 — excluding water bottles and packaging.

“The reason is very simple — plastics are the most common form of marine debris,” Jacobson said. “We have demonstrated time and time again that there is nothing incompatible about being good stewards of the environment and cultural resources and being the best Army in the world. We can, and will, do both.”