Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act

This bill establishes the Chesapeake National Recreation Area as a new unit of the National Park System to preserve and promote public access to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It defines the Recreation Area's boundaries using a specific map, creates an Advisory Commission with 19 members representing Maryland, Virginia, tribal interests, and youth, and outlines how land acquisition and management will occur through donations, purchases, or partner agreements. The legislation requires coordination with existing programs like Chesapeake Gateways and the Bay Program, while emphasizing conservation of natural, recreational, historical, and cultural resources. It directly affects communities, conservation organizations, and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed by creating a formal structure for managing and expanding public access to Bay resources. The bill sets requirements for cooperative agreements with partner sites and mandates a management plan to coordinate activities with neighboring communities and existing conservation efforts.