Leaders from states along the Chesapeake Bay reiterated Thursday that they will not meet federal cleanup goals set for the bay, but they said new strategies will keep restoration efforts alive.

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty joined Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley and Virginia Gov. Timothy Kaine at Washington's Union Station for the annual meeting to discuss policies for protecting the bay. Federal officials and representatives from New York, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia also attended.

Environmental activists say about 200 people protested in the station's lobby, drawing attention to what they call the federal government's failure to cut pollution in the bay.

O'Malley said leaders understand public concerns about deadlines not being met. Officials say from now on they will set two-year deadlines to keep pressure on states to act in the short-term. The new objectives and timeline have not been set yet.