According to the various Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan and Total Maximum Daily Load requirements, annual reductions of 185.9 million pounds of nitrogen, 12.5 million pounds of phosphorus, 6.45 billion pounds of sediment, and a variety of litter and toxin outcomes are called for across a watershed that is predominantly privately owned. While regulatory drivers can incentivize relevant practices on private property and government activity can accomplish a great deal of the outcomes, the ultimate goal is unlikely to be met without voluntary actions and behaviors undertaken by a variety of audiences. The broader water quality community intrinsically knows this too, which is why there are more than 600 conservation and watershed organizations in our region that are working to empower residents to protect and restore local rivers and streams. The key is to understand the most effective ways to get priority audiences to voluntarily undertake actions that result in watershed improvements. The social science community worked diligently over the past 10 years to advance natural resource behavior change practices, and we will hold the first forum (of a recurring series) to discuss behavior change best practices. To view the agenda and learn more about the speakers, please click here.