Provide Your Input on Plans to Improve the Water Quality of the Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay is considered a natural resource of regional and national significance. Recreation, fish, wildlife and many businesses depend on the resources of the Bay, and reducing pollution is important to the states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including Virginia. In fact, about 43 square miles of the watershed lie within the city limits of Virginia Beach.

Chesapeake Bay TMDL

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) established a requirement called the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) to measure and reduce polluting nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen from entering the Bay. The draft TMDL Action Plan details activities the City proposes to take over the next five years to meet the DEQ’s requirements and reduce pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.

The City previously updated the Action Plan in January 2025 to address the required 40% and 100% pollutant reductions. The updates proposed in August 2026 include:   

• Adding location information for water quality projects 
• Updating the status of projects that have been completed 

Provide Your Input

Community members have the opportunity to review the plan and share their thoughts. Your feedback will help guide the City in finalizing the plan and implementing the projects. For more information and to provide input through Aug. 17, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/Stormwater-Regulations. 

• Provide Input