Many of us are still regaining feeling in our toes and ears. In what's now an annual tradition, a motley crew of brave crazy CBF staffers in Annapolis and Virginia Beach plunged into the frigid waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Lynnhaven River as a thank you to the hundreds of generous CBF members who gave on Giving Tuesday. And at 38 degrees with gusting winds, this year was the coldest of the plunges so far!
But the dip into numbing waters was worth it, as the generosity of our members never ceases to amaze us. Not only did we meet our $30,000 goal—we far exceeded it, making this CBF's best Giving Tuesday ever!
As we thaw out, the CBF staffers who took the plunge and the sane ones who didn't, will use every dollar given to defend and protect the Bay, including award-winning educational programs, on-the-ground restoration activities throughout the watershed, and advocacy initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. With you by our side, we won't stop until the Bay and its rivers and streams are fully restored.
P.S. Did you miss out on Giving Tuesday? It's not too late to give and have your impact doubled—show your love for the Bay and its rivers and streams!
This Week in the Watershed: Oysters on the Half Size, Permitting Streams, and Poo Problems
- Efforts are underway to address the onslaught of pollution from Baltimore's trash incinerator, Wheelabrator. (Baltimore Sun—MD)
- CBF Maryland Fisheries Scientist Allison Colden writes on the need for meaningful changes in the management of Maryland's oyster fishery in the wake of the recent oyster stock assessment. (Capital Gazette—MD)
- Farmers on Maryland's Eastern Shore are wrestling with the implications of the state's Phosphorus Management Tool rule, which seeks to decrease the amount of chicken manure spread on farms due to its negative impact on water quality. (Bay Journal)
- The Magothy River Association is using drones to map and measure the quantity of underwater grasses in the Bay tributary. (Chesapeake Bay Magazine)
- The recently released National Climate Assessment reveals Maryland will experience more floods, shorter winters, and fewer marshes. (Baltimore Sun—MD)
- Archaeological digs on the shores of the Chesapeake found indigenous peoples consumed a great quantity of oysters, while harvesting them sustainably. (Hakai Magazine)
- Good news for Virginia waters, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers suspended a national permit for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross more than 1,500 streams. (Richmond Times Dispatch—VA)
- The long-awaited release of the Maryland oyster stock assessment found that Maryland's oyster population is down by half since 1999. (Bay Journal)
- This year's record rainfall might lead to smaller and fewer oysters in Maryland waters. (Washington Post)
- We couldn't agree more with this editorial arguing for changes in the management of Maryland's oyster fishery. (Capital Gazette—MD)
What's Happening around the Watershed?
December 6
- Easton, MD: Join us for our Chesapeake Book Club, reading Tom Hortons' An Island Out of Time: A Memoir of Smith Island in the Chesapeake. Learn more and register here!
December 8
- Hopewell, VA: Help CBF and Hopewell Recreation and Parks to free Heritage Gardens park from invasive kudzu. This pesky plant has taken over a significant portion of the park and smothers native plants, preventing them from receiving sunlight. All tools are provided, as well as snacks. Register here!
