Press Release
October 2, 2025
Conowingo, MD—Chesapeake Legal Alliance (CLA) is proud to announce a major victory for clean water and the Chesapeake Bay. After years of advocacy and litigation, CLA’s clients—the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Waterkeepers Chesapeake—have reached a historic settlement with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and Constellation Energy Group regarding water quality protections at the Conowingo Dam.
Under the agreement, MDE has issued a Revised Water Quality Certification for the dam, ensuring stronger safeguards for the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay. This certification reflects years of public input, scientific review, and persistent legal efforts by CLA and its partners to secure enforceable, long-term protections. The agreement includes operational improvements and environmental projects valued at over $340 million, addressing sediment and nutrient pollution, trash and debris, aquatic life passage, freshwater mussel restoration, dredging, and invasive species management.
“The Chesapeake Bay is the keystone to Maryland’s prosperity,” said Governor Wes Moore. “This agreement will lead to real improvements in water quality in the biggest tributary of the Chesapeake Bay, while securing the future of one of our state’s largest clean energy producers. By bringing everyone to the table, we have struck an agreement that is good for the environment, good for energy production, and good for Marylanders.”
The Conowingo Dam plays a central role in the health of the Bay. As sediment and nutrients accumulate behind the dam, major storms can release harmful pollution downstream. The new certification addresses these challenges by requiring Constellation to:
It also strengthens protections for aquatic life by mandating fish passage improvements, eel restoration, and dissolved oxygen monitoring to safeguard habitat. Oversight and participation by Waterkeepers Chesapeake and the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association will continue throughout the anticipated 50-year license, ensuring the strongest protections are actively pursued and enforced over time.
“Today’s agreement marks a new era for the Conowingo Dam and a new commitment to clean water,” said Robin Broder, Acting Executive Director of Waterkeepers Chesapeake. “The funding for water quality projects, investments in living resources like the freshwater mussel hatchery, and the pathway to dredging are significant steps forward. This is not the end of our efforts, but the beginning of an important new chapter.”
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association echoed this sentiment, highlighting the long-term effort behind the settlement;
“Sixteen years of perseverance by our organization have led to conditions that will protect the Lower Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay for the next 50 years,” said Ted Evgeniadis, Executive Director.
This settlement ensures that the people of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay watershed will have enforceable protections and a seat at the table. It is a milestone for the Bay and a testament to what persistent advocacy can achieve.
Learn more about the settlement’s implications for water quality in the Chesapeake Bay from the Governor’s press release.
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Waterkeepers Chesapeake is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on protecting and restoring the rivers, streams, and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Its mission is to empower local waterkeepers, advocate for strong clean water policies, and foster healthy, resilient communities throughout the Bay region.
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Susquehanna River and its tributaries. Its mission is to safeguard water quality, promote healthy aquatic ecosystems, and engage communities in stewardship to ensure a resilient river for people and wildlife alike.
Chesapeake Legal Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free legal services, with a mission to apply the power of the law to protect and restore clean water and promote healthy, resilient ecosystems for communities across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Robin Border, Acting Executive Director, Waterkeepers Chesapeake, (800) 995-6755
Ted Evgeniadis, Executive Director, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, ted@lowsusriverkeeper.org, (717) 478-1780
Evan Isaacson, Senior Attorney, Chesapeake Legal Alliance, evan@chesapeakelegal.org, (410) 216-9441, ext. 207
