The Keystone State is renowned for its abundance of beautiful rivers, streams, and creeks. In fact, although Pennsylvania is the 33rd largest state in square miles, its 83,000 miles of streams is second only to Alaska. But roughly 19,000 miles of Keystone State rivers and streams are polluted. And one of its native critters is suffering.
The Eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis), North America's largest salamander, is found in the cold, clear, swift-running rivers and streams of the Susquehanna watershed. But the loss of forested buffers along these waterways is resulting in warmer waters and silted streams, degrading the hellbender's habitat.
A group of student leaders are working to draw attention to the hellbenders plight. After studying Eastern hellbenders and meeting with legislators, CBF's Student Leadership Council wrote Senate Bill 658 to designate the salamander as Pennsylvania's official state amphibian, which passed the State Senate last November.
The job is only half done, however, as it needs support in the State House. And with the legislature reconvening on September 12, there's no time to waste. Pennsylvanians: join these inspiring students and take action for the hellbender! Urge your representative to support the hellbender bill, Senate Bill 658!
Learn more about the hellbender in this Back to Baysics video:
And that's not the only piece of critical clean water legislation currently in front of the Pennsylvania legislature. The Keystone Tree Fund, Senate Bill 1208 and House Bill 2486, would create a voluntary $3 checkoff box on Pennsylvania's driver's license and vehicle registration applications that would buy, plant, and maintain more trees across the Commonwealth. This crucial funding would support our goal of planting ten million trees in Pennsylvania. Take action and urge your state senator and representative to support the Keystone Tree Fund bills!
This Week in the Watershed: Oyster Moves, Sewer Thoughts, and Hellbender Happenings
- Maryland officials announced establishing a new oyster sanctuary in the Eastern Shore's Manokin River using state funding, but there are concerns that the sanctuary could eventually be opened to harvest. (Baltimore Sun—MD) BONUS: CBF Statement
- Students from six Pennsylvania counties will join us in the field this fall in our Susquehanna Watershed Environmental Education Program. (PA Environment Digest)
- Join us September 13 for an environmental forum with candidates for Maryland's Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners. (Star Democrat—MD) BONUS: Register here!
- Virginia teachers joined CBF educators outside this summer, learning how to bring the Bay into their classroom. (WCVE—VA)
- The total impact and potential damage to the health of the Bay following this summer's torrential rains is still to be determined. (Bay Journal)
- A group of inspiring Pennsylvania young people are working to designate the Eastern hellbender Pennsylvania's official state amphibian and draw attention to its need for clean water. (Pittsburgh Tribune—PA) BONUS: Take action and become a hellbender defender!
- CBF's Eastern Shore Director Alan Girard writes on the benefits of extending public sewer service in Talbot County only if new development is adequately controlled. (Talbot Spy—MD)
What's Happening Around the Watershed?
September 9
- Virginia Beach, VA: Join us for the second annual Save the Bay Family Day! Bring your family and friends for a thrilling day of educational experiences, local bites, live music, and more. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Register here!
September 11
- Salisbury, MD: Join us for a Wicomico County Council Candidate Forum, a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of Wicomico County and their ideas for overcoming the environmental challenges facing our communities. Attendees will also have the chance to submit questions to be asked during the forum. Register here!
- Virginia Beach, VA: The Brock Environmental Learning Series continues, focusing on the Bay's most iconic species–the Eastern oyster. Register here!
September 12
- Newport News, VA: Join us for our most in-depth adult education program available to our members and the public. VoiCeS, which stands for Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards, is a program to reach out to local volunteers and their communities to create a deeper understanding of the Bay and the efforts to restore it. The Hampton Roads VoiCeS class is a six-week course meeting on Wednesdays, starting September 12. Learn more and register here!
September 13
- Annapolis, MD: Come on board for a sail on our historic skipjack the Stanley Norman. While aboard, you'll be invited to help hoist the sails or simply enjoy the view! You will leave with a better understanding of oysters and their role in keeping the Bay clean as well as what CBF is doing to restore the oyster stocks to save the Bay. Register here!
- Cambridge, MD: As more local oyster farms are producing oysters, join us to indulge in some this beloved bivalve and learn more about this growing industry from a local oyster farmer. Learn more and register here!
- Wye Mills, MD: Join us for a Queen Anne's County Board of Commissioners Candidate Forum, a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of Queen Anne's County and their ideas for overcoming the environmental challenges facing our communities. Attendees will also have the chance to submit questions to be asked during the forum. Register here!
September 15
- Annapolis, MD: Join us out on the water for a morning of fishing, learning, and fun! Spend the morning aboard the Marguerite in search of whatever is biting! Our experienced crew will provide all the knowledge and equipment necessary—just bring your enthusiasm! Register here!
- Wachapreague, VA: Join us for the first annual Clamboree—a wonderful night of all-you-can-eat clams, live music, crab cake dinner, oysters on the half shell, and stunning views all supporting the important work of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in our community. Get your tickets here!
September 17
- Annapolis, MD: Join us for an Anne Arundel County Executive Candidate Forum, a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of Anne Arundel County and their ideas for overcoming the environmental challenges facing our communities. Attendees will also have the chance to submit questions to be asked during the forum. Register here!
September 22
- Eastern Shore, MD: Experience a wonderful impact oyster restoration is having on the Eastern Shore–more fish! Join us for our Rod and Reef Slam Fishing Tournament, competing to catch (and release!) the largest number of fish species on three restored oyster reefs: the Tilghman Reef just outside Knapps Narrows, the Harris Creek reefs, and the Cook's Point reef ball field in the mouth of the Choptank. Don't fish? Register for the afterparty only and enjoy food, entertainment, a cash bar, and loads of information about what restored oyster reefs mean for fish in the Bay. Learn more and register here!
- Annapolis, MD: Come on board for a sail on our historic skipjack the Stanley Norman. While aboard, you'll be invited to help hoist the sails or simply enjoy the view! You will leave with a better understanding of oysters and their role in keeping the Bay clean as well as what CBF is doing to restore the oyster stocks to save the Bay. Register here!
- Baltimore, MD: Join us and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore for the 5th season of the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership. Build oyster gardening cages, learn about oysters and their role in the Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay, and help us settle about 50,000 baby oysters into their "homes" off the Downtown Sailing Center pier. Register here!
September 27
- Easton, MD: Join us for a Talbot County Council Candidate Forum on the Environment, a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of Talbot County and their ideas for overcoming the environmental challenges facing our communities. Attendees will also have the chance to submit questions to be asked during the forum. Register here!
- Annapolis, MD: Come on board for a sail on our historic skipjack the Stanley Norman. While aboard, you'll be invited to help hoist the sails or simply enjoy the view! You will leave with a better understanding of oysters and their role in keeping the Bay clean as well as what CBF is doing to restore the oyster stocks to save the Bay. Register here!
September 28-29
- Virginia Beach, VA: Join us for our 8th Annual Clean Water Captains' workshop. This annual training provides Captains and prospective Captains the most up-to-date, actionable science and policy information available. The training also provides opportunities for networking, on-the-water experiences with CBF educators, and bird watching at the Brock Environmental Center. Learn more and register here!
September 29
- Easton, MD: Help grow the Bay's beloved bivalve—the mighty oyster! Join us for a new oyster gardener workshop to the supplies and training necessary to grow your own oysters. During the two-hour workshop, you will learn about oyster ecology, the importance of oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, and how to care for your oyster garden. You will also construct four oyster gardening cages that you will use to grow your oysters. Register here!
September 30
- Annapolis, MD: Help grow the Bay's beloved bivalve—the mighty oyster! Join us for a new oyster gardener workshop to the supplies and training necessary to grow your own oysters. During the two-hour workshop, you will learn about oyster ecology, the importance of oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, and how to care for your oyster garden. You will also construct four oyster gardening cages that you will use to grow your oysters. Register here!
October 4
- Easton, MD: Join us for our Chesapeake Book Club, diving into an environmental classic—William Warner's Beautiful Swimmers. This Pulitzer Prize winning book explores the ecological importance of the Chesapeake's blue crabs and takes a closer look at the lives and culture of the watermen who depend on them. Register here!
October 6
- Baltimore, MD: Join us and the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore for the 5th season of the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership. Build oyster gardening cages, learn about oysters and their role in the Baltimore Harbor and Chesapeake Bay, and help us settle about 50,000 baby oysters into their "homes" off the Downtown Sailing Center pier. Register here!
October 8
- Norfolk, VA: Celebrate the Lafayette River becoming the first tributary in Virginia to meet Chesapeake Bay Program oyster restoration goals. Join the official flotilla in planting oysters to complete the most recently expanded Lafayette sanctuary reef. Learn more and register here!
October 9
- Centreville, MD: Join us for our most in-depth adult education program available to our members and the public. VoiCeS, which stands for Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards, is a program to reach out to local volunteers and their communities to create a deeper understanding of the Bay and the efforts to restore it. The Queen Anne's County VoiCeS class is a six-week course meeting on Tuesdays, starting October 9. Learn more and register here!
October 11
- Verona, VA: Join us for our most in-depth adult education program available to our members and the public. VoiCeS, which stands for Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards, is a program to reach out to local volunteers and their communities to create a deeper understanding of the Bay and the efforts to restore it. The Shenandoah Valley VoiCeS class is a six-week course meeting on Thursdays, starting October 11. Learn more and register here!
- Prince Frederick, MD: Join us for our most in-depth adult education program available to our members and the public. VoiCeS, which stands for Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards, is a program to reach out to local volunteers and their communities to create a deeper understanding of the Bay and the efforts to restore it. The Calvert County VoiCeS class is a six-week course meeting on Thursdays, starting October 11. Learn more and register here!
October 13
- Shady Side, MD: Help grow the Bay's beloved bivalve—the mighty oyster! Join us for a new oyster gardener workshop to the supplies and training necessary to grow your own oysters. During the two-hour workshop, you will learn about oyster ecology, the importance of oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, and how to care for your oyster garden. You will also construct four oyster gardening cages that you will use to grow your oysters. Register here!
October 20
- Annapolis, MD: Help grow the Bay's beloved bivalve—the mighty oyster! Join us for a new oyster gardener workshop to the supplies and training necessary to grow your own oysters. During the two-hour workshop, you will learn about oyster ecology, the importance of oysters to the Chesapeake Bay, and how to care for your oyster garden. You will also construct four oyster gardening cages that you will use to grow your oysters. Register here!
October 21
- Upper Marlboro, MD: Join us for a fun-filled afternoon with friends, live music, craft-brewed beers, and mouth-watering food created by area chefs using local ingredients at CBF's Burgers and Brews for the Bay. A family friendly event, it features live bluegrass music, hay rides, fish printing, and educational stations. Get your tickets!
