Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Bay Program

Chesapeake Watershed Forum

We are excited to announce the 20th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum  scheduled for November 7-9, 2025.

The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s 20th Annual Chesapeake Watershed Forum, which will be held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, WV, is a watershed-wide event reaching over 400 restoration and protection practitioners to inspire and empower local action towards clean water. We share successful tools and techniques, offer lessons and learnings from on-the-ground work, build capacities of local organizations, foster partnerships, educate on new initiatives and emerging practices, network with others, and celebrate our successes. We look forward to seeing you in November!

 

Our 2025 theme is “Shaping the Future of Conservation with Human-Centered Approaches.”

For two decades, the Chesapeake Watershed Forum has brought together partners to collaborate, innovate, and drive meaningful progress in restoring and protecting the shared waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. As we mark this milestone 20th anniversary, we have an opportunity to reflect on the successes and challenges that have shaped our work and the lessons that will guide us forward.

2025 is a pivotal year – both a moment to celebrate how far we have come and a chance to plan for what’s ahead. Planning for 2025 and Beyond efforts led by the Chesapeake Bay Program challenge us to think critically about the future of conservation and restoration efforts. While uncertainties exist, by embracing a mindset of resilience and adaptability, we can continue building a strong foundation for the next generation of conservationists in our region.

This year’s theme centers on human-centered approaches – ensuring that the needs, well-being, and aspirations of people remain at the core of our work. By prioritizing trust and collaborative decision-making, we create impactful solutions and longstanding outcomes. Our ability to navigate change isn’t just about responding to external forces; it’s about proactively shaping a future that meets the needs and collective futures for all of us.

Request for Proposals for Sessions

The Alliance and our Forum Planning Committee seek proposals for 60, 90, and 180 minute sessions and workshops for the 2025 Chesapeake Watershed Forum. Proposals are due on Sunday, June 1 at 11:59 PM.

More Information and Application

Sponsor the Forum

Drawing in over 400 professionals, a Forum sponsorship places your brand or organization front and center as an action-oriented advocate for clean water and resilient lands in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Your sponsorship directly supports the convening of this important watershed-wide event.

Sponsorship Information

Session Request for Proposals

Request for Session Proposals opens on April 7.

In-Person and Virtual Registration

We are currently planning the 2025 Forum. General Registration will open toward the end of August. We look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

Scholarships

We are currently planning the 2025 Forum.  Limited scholarships will be available to offset registration fees for the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.  You are required to register first to receive a scholarship application. Registration will open at the end of August.

Poster Session

The goal of the poster session is to provide the opportunity for individual presenters to share their work and/or research findings in a visual format with conference attendees. This is a juried event, with awards for the best poster in the new professional and professional categories.

We are currently planning the 2025 Forum. Requests for Posters will open in July. We look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

Important dates

We are currently planning the 2025 Forum. Below are dates to be aware of. We will be continuously updating as we move closer to the Forum. 

  • April 7:  Request for Session Proposals opens
  • June 1:  Session Proposals due
  • July: Poster Session Request for Proposals opens
  • August 18:  Early Bird Registration for Speakers Opens
  • August 25: General Registration Opens. Registration will open at 9:00 AM and remain open until a specific number of spots have been filled. We will then close registration for the day while we work our forum magic getting rooms assigned. Registration will reopen on Wednesday, August 27, at 9:00 AM, remaining open until we meet our daily capacity. If room is still available, we will have a third opportunity to register on Friday, August 29.

Thank you to our 2025 Watershed Forum Sponsors!


Redbud Sponsors

 

Want to get involved?

Contact Jenny McGarvey to find out more about the Chesapeake Watershed Forum.

Email Jenny