Indicator: Local Officials' Knowledge and Capacity (2022-2024)

<p><strong>Access the Indicator Materials:</strong><br />- <a target="_blank" href="https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakeprogress/chart-assets/local-officials-average-uncertainty-by-time-in-office/Analysis-and-Methods_2024_Local-Leadership_FINAL-CLEAN_10.01.24.docx">Analysis &amp; Methods</a><br />- <a target="_blank" href="https://d18lev1ok5leia.cloudfront.net/chesapeakeprogress/chart-assets/local-officials-average-uncertainty-by-time-in-office/Local-Leadership_2024-Update_FINAL-Data_8.28.24.xlsx">Data File</a></p><p>The Indicator is based on an online survey of local elected officials in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The survey was used to help the Chesapeake Bay Program better understand how to support local leaders in making policy decisions related to water resources and the Bay. The survey supports two components for the outcome: local officials’ knowledge of federal regulations and their self-reported actions. The survey summarizes the share of local officials who reported uncertainty around federal water resource regulations and their water-quality-related actions in the past three years, including adopting local rules or ordinances, implementing or enforcing local rules or ordinances, carrying out on-the-ground projects to improve water quality or water resources, and applying for grants or funding to support such projects.</p><p><strong>Note: This Indicator supported progress tracking toward the Local Leadership Outcome in the original Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, adopted in 2014. The Watershed Agreement and Local Government Leadership Outcome were revised in 2025.</strong></p>