Chesapeake Assessment Scenario Tool

CAST Newsletter: June 2025

Tips and information to facilitate environmental restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay watershed

Did You Know?

Did you know the Trends Over Time tools have been updated to include 2024 progress data? Now you can explore the latest graphs and maps that track both jurisdictional and Bay-wide progress across multiple years. Visit the Trends Over Time section to see how efforts are evolving and where progress is being made toward Chesapeake Bay restoration goals.

CAST Webinars and Training

Upcoming Webinars

We are taking a summer break and will resume CAST webinars in September.

In-person trainings are available upon request.

Available Training Videos

May's CAST webinar focused on urban BMPs and rising temperatures. As communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed face rising air and water temperatures, urban areas are especially vulnerable to the combined impacts of heat, flooding, and pollution. This webinar explores how urban BMPs--such as tree planting, rain gardens, and infiltration practices--can support both climate resilience and water quality goals. We highlight findings from the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee's (STAC) Rising Temperatures workshop report, including how temperature affects watershed health and which BMPs offer key co-benefits for cooling and stormwater management. We also demonstrate how to identify these climate-smart practices in CAST and estimate their nutrient and sediment reduction potential, helping planners integrate climate and water quality solutions more effectively.

This, and other past training videos on topics ranging from buffers to targeting nutrient reductions, are available in the Learning section of CAST under 'Free Training Videos'. Amongst the variety of training content available, there are also short videos on topics like 'Where do I start,' under CAST 101 - Getting Started.

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Success Story

Saving 72-Acre Forest Along Kittatinny Ridge: Carbon County, PA, and Natural Lands announced completion of the first conservation project to come to fruition through the county's new Open Space Grant Program. Read more about this success story on the Natural Lands website.

Does your organization have a Chesapeake Bay Watershed success story you'd like to share? If you have a story you would like to see in the next CAST Newsletter, submit an article using the 'Contact Us' feature from any page of the CAST website.

Chesapeake Bay Program Deadlines

Progress toward the Bay TMDL

The Chesapeake Bay Deadlines refer to the major jurisdictions' annual reporting of new BMPs implemented, and existing BMPs verified as functioning in the watershed. BMP implementation information is used to create annual progress scenarios using CAST and to make assessments and report out the estimated impacts of restoration efforts.

• June 3, 2025: 2024 Progress finalized and released on CAST.
• NEW: The 2025 Progress Schedule is now available!
  View the timeline of key deadlines and milestones here:
  2025 Progress Reporting Schedule

Updates to CAST

New features:

The official 2024 Progress scenario is now available on CAST. This scenario reflects best management practices (BMPs) that were implemented and functioning during the reporting year July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024, as reported by jurisdictions to the Chesapeake Bay Program, and verified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

A full list of changes is available on CAST's Upgrade History. The new CAST version is Phase 6 - 7.14.2.

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