It was less than a generation ago that America was confronted with the consequences of the degradation of the environment. Cities were enveloped in smog, the Cuyahoga River was on fire, and the rampant use of pesticides was wiping out entire species and harming public health. But the tide turned in the 1970s with the advent of the Environmental Protection Agency and a slew of strong environmental laws that followed.
The Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, and several other pieces of legislation allowed nature to recover and improved lives. Despite the success of these laws, they have come under assault by industry groups over the years, and recently, by the Trump administration.
Specifically, the administration has proposed repealing the first-ever limits on carbon pollution from U.S. power plants, proposed weakening automobile fuel efficiency standards, and failed to carry out its responsibilities under the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution that travels across state lines. All these actions are harmful not only to the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams, but the health of all Americans.
The laws and policies enacted in all halls of government, at the local, state, and federal level, are not just words on paper. They have a real-life impact. Getting strong environmental laws enacted—and ensuring that they are aggressively enforced—allows us to make great strides in our work to save the Bay and its rivers and streams for generations to come.
This Week in the Watershed: Fones Fever, Nitrate Nightmare, and an Oyster Triumph
- A group of seventh-graders joined CBF for a day of outdoor education on the James River. (Suffolk News Herald—VA)
- After years of time, energy, and resources, the Lafayette River's oyster population is restored. (Southside Daily—VA)
- Big news in the saga of the Fones Cliffs development, as one of the developers sold a 250-acre parcel to a conservation group. (Free Lance Star—VA)
- Dangerous levels of nitrates, largely from polluted farm runoff, are contaminating public water supplies and increasing consumers' risk of cancer. (Bay Journal)
- After several violations surrounding the development at Fones Cliffs, the Virginia Attorney General has picked up the case and is exploring potential legal action. (Bay Journal)
- A study of Baltimore's Back River will seek to learn how to remove PCBs, a particularly toxic chemical residing in Back River waters. (Baltimore Sun—MD)
- The impact of the heavy summer rains on the Bay's oysters is unknown, but scientists are concerned that the lowered salinity might negatively influence the Bay's beloved bivalve. (WTOP—VA)
- CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Harry Campbell writes on the benefits ten million new trees can provide the Keystone State. (Kent County News—MD)
What's Happening Around the Watershed?
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!
- Carroll County, MD: Help plant approximately six acres of riparian forest buffer along a stream to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Suitable for adults, families, and community groups, this event is rain or shine. 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!
- 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!
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!
- Annapolis, 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!
October 10
- Baltimore, 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 Baltimore City VoiCeS class is a six-week course meeting on Wednesdays, starting October 10. 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!
- Towson, MD: Join us for a Baltimore County Executive Candidate Forum, a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of Baltimore 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!
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 15
- Virginia Beach, VA: Join us for a Second Congressional District Candidate Forum on the Forum. The only free forum for Second District candidates, this is a great opportunity to hear from the candidates about their vision for the future of local waterways 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!
October 16
- Hopewell, VA: Join us for a walking tour in an urban forest during peak fall leaf season! You'll learn how to ID trees by their leaves, shape, and bark, as well as learn which ones are native and provide habitat for wildlife. You'll also learn the environmental benefits an urban forest provides and how a daily walk in the woods can improve physical and mental health. 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!
October 24
- Virginia Beach, VA: CBF is proud to present the Hampton Roads premiere of National Geographic photographer James Balog's documentary The Human Element. From the producers of Chasing Ice, The Cove, and Racing Extinction, this new film highlights the dangers of the elements including air, earth, fire, water, and the fifth element—human impact. Immediately following the viewing, a community conversation on sea-level rise and climate change will take place with James Balog and CBF President Will Baker. This is a free event, but registration is required. Register here!
November 1
- Easton, MD: Join us for our Chesapeake Book Club, diving into Florence Williams' The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative. Williams takes readers on an adventure around the world investigating the restorative benefits of nature. Learn more here!
