Save the Bay Blog - 2023 - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Let's Pay Farmers for Outcomes That Restore Virginia Rivers, Streams, and the Chesapeake Bay

December 29, 2023

To create healthier rivers and streams for future generations Virginia legislators could launch a new pilot program that pays farmers based on how much cleaner they leave nearby waterways.

Stop the Influx of Industrial Sludge!

December 27, 2023

Maryland has become a dumping ground for the region's industrial sludge waste. But what is industrial sludge and why does it matter?

Five Things You Didn’t Know About Living Shorelines

December 21, 2023

What are living shorelines and how do they benefit property owners and the Bay?

Save the Bay News: Your Favorite Stories of 2023

December 15, 2023

From struggling striped bass (AKA “rockfish” or “stripers”) to a major new scientific report that could shape the future of watershed restoration, we take a look back at the most popular stories of 2023.

Top Three Advocacy Wins for the Bay in 2023

December 12, 2023

We look back at what our clean water advocates accomplished across the watershed this year.

Heart and Science: The Chesapeake Bay Needs Both

December 5, 2023

To succeed in the next chapter of bay-saving, we’re going to have to widen conservation’s historically narrow lens. We can’t focus so pointedly on trying to recreate the past that we neglect to build for the future—a future that recognizes that nature and human communities are intertwined.

Save the Bay News: Living Shorelines, Urban Farms, and People-Centered Conservation

November 16, 2023

This month, we discuss what it means to center people in conservation. When we do it successfully, it not only moves watershed restoration forward, but also builds community.

Being the Bay’s Voice

November 13, 2023

For nearly two decades, CBF’s Volunteers as Chesapeake Stewards (VoiCeS) program has inspired hundreds of dedicated volunteers to serve their community and the Bay.

Little Pieces of Life, Green, and Community

November 9, 2023

In building local food systems that support community and environmental wellbeing, small and urban farms have an outsized impact.

Living Shoreline Builds Resilience—and Community

November 8, 2023

This summer, roughly 90 volunteers from all walks of life came together for 10 weeks to restore waterfront in Portsmouth, Virginia. Community and comradery ensued.

A Place for People

November 6, 2023

There are more than 18 million people who live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, who don’t all look the same, have the same background, or speak the same language. But we are connected by the right—not the privilege—to clean water.

Successful Virginia Buffer-planting Program is Worth Replicating in the Farm Bill

November 3, 2023

After just four years, the James River Buffer Program is already responsible for planting more than 900 acres of forested buffers on several dozen properties in the Middle and Upper James River watershed in Virginia.

Back from the Edge

November 2, 2023

For 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has had remarkable success, saving 99 percent of the species on its list. While some species have tragically been lost forever, these three Chesapeake comeback stories give us hope.

Save the Bay News: Healing Headwaters, Pollution Hotspots, and Eating Local

October 27, 2023

The Chesapeake Bay region’s food system profoundly affects the watershed and the people who live here. Our latest newsletter features stories about how to meaningfully address pollution from agriculture—the largest source of pollution to the Bay but also a critical part of our economy and way of life.

What Would a Dream Food System Look Like?

October 23, 2023

CBF's Clagett Farm Vegetable Production Manager Jared Planz discusses the value of eating local.

Watershed Out of Balance: How Industrial Agriculture Tips the Scales

October 20, 2023

With intensifying livestock production in places like the Eastern Shore of Maryland, many are finding that conservation practices can’t keep up with pollution.

Tackling Pollution Hotspots

October 18, 2023

CBF’s Brian Gish discusses the pollution challenges in Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County and the best way to approach them.

Healing the Headwaters

October 16, 2023

How the James River Buffer Program has revolutionized the planting of valuable, pollution-reducing streamside forested buffers.

Bringing Our Best to the Table

October 13, 2023

Change is a constant opportunity. The best laid plans will inevitably encounter wrenches. It’s how we react to them that matters.

Five Times that Locals Spoke Up

October 6, 2023

For most, the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant is a distant environmental problem, but for nearby residents, it’s a daily, dismal struggle. Read their stories going back 75 years.

Save the Bay News: Fall Changes, Farm Fest, and Leaf-Peeping

September 29, 2023

Fall is a magical time around the watershed. From vibrant, changing leaves to blustery cold fronts to quintessential autumnal activities, explore some of the great things that make this season on the Chesapeake so special.

Warming Waters Bring a Storm of Challenges to the Bay

September 26, 2023

Rising water temperatures are reshaping the watershed and require restoration that takes climate change into account. Here are five things you should know.

A Day in the Education Field

September 22, 2023

What exactly happens on a CBF field experience? CBF Pennsylvania educator Adaiah Bauer walks us through a typical day in the field.

Gas Compressor Expansion Threatens Public Health and Water Quality in Petersburg, Virginia

September 11, 2023

TC Energy, the company that operates a gas compressor in Petersburg—a small city outside of Richmond, Virginia—is planning to expand its operations. The proposal would increase pollution and possibly endanger the health of a mostly Black community already besieged with pollution from other industries.

Our Wisest Pursuit

September 8, 2023

At CBF, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits that come with adopting the principles of regenerative agriculture. Now you can join us in celebrating everything regenerative farming offers at our Food & Farm Fest at CBF's Clagett Farm this October.

The Beauty of Upcycling

September 1, 2023

Amber Whaley is on a mission. “It feels like you’re helping people and the environment,” she says of her passion for upcycling. Whaley's Secondhand Sunshine on Chincoteague Island has quickly become a community go-to for reusing and upcycling a kaleidoscope of items.

Save the Bay News: Tiny Turtles, Oyster Success, and Shenandoah Algae

August 25, 2023

Headwater wetlands in Pennsylvania, river valleys in Virginia, and oyster reefs on the Eastern Shore may seem like vastly different worlds. But all of these vital habitats have one thing in common: They’re crucial to supporting life.

Oyster Innovation on Living Shoreline

August 23, 2023

A Virginia project doubles as a testing ground for the latest innovations in oyster restoration technology.

Working Toward a Climate-Resilient Watershed

August 18, 2023

Most greenhouse gas emissions that drive pollution in our watershed come from a much larger area, known as the Bay's airshed. Limiting carbon pollution from this larger area is crucial to improving water quality and public health.

Quest to Save the Bog Turtle

August 10, 2023

Much like brook trout and the Eastern hellbender, bog turtles are an indicator species of water quality. Follow some official surveyors on their quest to research this tiny reptile.

Fret Not, Bay Restoration Is Achievable

August 8, 2023

CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden on oyster restoration, the CESR report, and the future of the save the Bay movement.

2023 Farm Bill a Unique Opportunity to Direct Vital Federal Resources to Pennsylvania Farms

August 3, 2023

As part of a farming family and working with farmers, Kristen Heberlig Hoke knows that investments in the family farm can improve the bottom line, protect herd health, and reduce polluted runoff that harms local waters.

Why Is the Farm Bill Critical to Local Farms and Clean Water?

July 25, 2023

Farmers across the Bay watershed share their experiences leveraging important Farm Bill programs that support productive, healthy farms and waterways.

Clean Water Advocacy: June 2023 Update

June 30, 2023

Advocates helped secure important wins for trees in Maryland, while the upcoming Farm Bill and recent challenges to climate action and wetlands protections highlight the need for continued advocacy ahead.

Save the Bay News: Restoration, Wetlands, and Saving Striped Bass

June 29, 2023

Progress toward clean water includes the need for a greater focus on the Bay's 'living resources,' such as blue crabs and striped bass, as well as placing more emphasis on the places and pollution that most affect the Bay's human communities.

From Trash to Community Treasure

June 28, 2023

Clean the Bay Day volunteers made a difference in Richmond this year with the Capital Region Land Conservancy by removing 147 tires from a future greenway.

The Ultimate Watershed Watchdog

June 26, 2023

After nearly 20 years at CBF, Vice President for Litigation Jon Mueller is ready for his next big challenge.

What Should the Future of Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Look Like?

June 20, 2023

Leading researchers across the watershed released a seminal scientific report in May that sought to answer the question so many people are asking: Why is restoration taking so long?

Four Things Bay-Savers Should Know about the Supreme Court's Wetlands Ruling

June 14, 2023

CBF Vice President of Litigation Jon Mueller breaks down the big takeaways from the recent Sackett v. EPA ruling and what it could mean for water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

What's Going on with the Chesapeake Bay's Blue Crabs?

June 13, 2023

After falling to record lows in 2022, blue crabs are on the rise—albeit a modest one. CBF scientist Chris Moore explains why there's still reason for caution.

Will Wildfire Smoke Impact the Chesapeake Bay?

June 8, 2023

If you live in the northern regions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, you’ve likely noticed unusually hazy skies obscuring the sun this week caused by massive wildfires in Canada.

New Small Farm Cover Crop Expansion Is Good for Communities and the Environment

May 31, 2023

For the first time, Maryland is giving small-scale farmers a similar financial boost for cover crops that larger-scale farmers have enjoyed for years.

Saving the Bay Means Creating a Future with and for People

May 26, 2023

What does it mean to save the Bay? To create a future in which humans and nature flourish together.

Save the Bay News: Outdoor Learning, Blue Crabs, and Bay Restoration

May 25, 2023

The simple idea of getting kids “out on the water, messing around in boats” has remained at the core of CBF’s award-winning environmental education programs for 50 years—an anniversary milestone celebrated by the stories in this edition of Save the Bay News.

Learning to Think Like a Watershed

May 22, 2023

By forging human connections, watershed communities uncover the environmental connections that bind them to each other and their waterways.

“We Haven’t Learned to Be Silent Yet”

May 19, 2023

CBF student leaders take action for their communities, their watershed, and their world.

The Quest for Environmental Literacy

May 17, 2023

The benefits of outdoor education to students and society are backed by a growing body of evidence. But achieving widespread access depends on supporting innovation and removing barriers for teachers and schools.

Evolution of a Floating Classroom

May 15, 2023

The immersive experience of a day out on the water has been at the heart of CBF's environmental education program since it began in 1973. The fleet may have since evolved but the mission, and its impact on students, remains the same.

Our Watershed Teacher

May 12, 2023

CBF President & CEO Hilary Harp Falk reflects on the lessons she learned during her time as a CBF educator.

Four Ways to Celebrate the Bay

May 10, 2023

Now that the sunny and warm weather is (hopefully) here to stay, it is time to appreciate and take advantage of all the Bay has to offer. Here are four ways to celebrate the Bay in the next four weeks.

How Worried Should You Be About Striped Bass?

May 8, 2023

Under the ASMFC’s action last week, Atlantic Coast states will be implementing a 31-inch maximum size limit for striped bass.The organization also voted to start a process to make additional changes to fishery regulations later this year. Chris Moore, CBF’s Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist, tells us what Bay anglers need to know.

Save the Bay News: Plastic, Fashion, and Using Art to Save the Bay

April 27, 2023

From a rock concert to a digital folk artist inspired by Clean the Bay Day, take a look at some of the creative ways people are honoring and working to save the Bay.

A Digital Folk Artist's Take on Clean the Bay Day

April 24, 2023

Dwight Easter, artist and longtime Hampton Roads resident, discusses litter, beachgoing, and creating art.

Blue Catfish Disaster Funding Would Be Beneficial for Bay, Watermen

April 23, 2023

We want watermen to benefit from the bounty of blue catfish and other invasive species in the Bay, which would improve the Bay's overall ecosystem.

Bay Rockers, We Salute You

April 19, 2023

The brainchild of Towson High School students, the homegrown Tributary Festival melds music and passion to the tune of more than $19,000 raised to date for Bay restoration.

Student's Stream Dream Salutes Enslaved Kitty Payne

April 12, 2023

Student Aidan Kissner has succeeded in getting the little stream behind his house, which carries many personal memories, named "Kitty Payne Creek" so that it can get the respect, attention, and protection it deserves.

Clean Water Advocacy: March 2023 Update

March 31, 2023

In the first quarter of the year, CBF and our clean water advocates have been fighting for trees, healthy fisheries, environmental justice, agricultural investments, and more.

Farms Need Support Now, for Their Own Sake and for the Chesapeake Bay

March 29, 2023

The way we produce food has profound consequences for the health of our communities, our environment and our local economies. Unfortunately, the status quo isn’t working for us or our environment. Legislators and policymakers need to support farmers' efforts to make critical changes.

Save the Bay News: Blue Catfish, Oyster Gardening, and a Trout's Journey

March 24, 2023

This month, we explore the Bay's remarkable fisheries—from surveying blue crabs to controlling blue catfish to examining a trout hatchery. Read these stories and more.

Many Questions Remain for Blue Crab Outlook

March 22, 2023

The season for catching Chesapeake Bay blue crabs is already underway in Virginia, and recreational crabbing will officially kick off in Maryland on April 1. Several boats have been plying the waters the past several months, however, to pursue the crustaceans not for steaming but for science.

A Trout’s Journey: Behind the Scenes of Pennsylvania’s Fish Hatcheries

March 16, 2023

Getting 3.2 million hatchery-raised trout into waterways, as well as sustaining wild trout populations, is a critical part of the worldclass fishing for which Pennsylvania’s mountain streams are renowned. Both require good water, and lots of it.

Oyster Advocates Fight for Better Aquaculture Lease Process

March 15, 2023

A delegation of environmental advocates, aquaculture operators, and scientists met with legislators to support important aquaculture bills being considered in the Maryland General Assembly.

Fisheries Win in Virginia’s Legislative Session

March 9, 2023

Last month, Virginia wrapped up its legislative session and with it came big wins for the Chesapeake Bay’s fisheries. Read more about the strides made to control blue catfish and protect oysters, blue crabs, and menhaden.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Leader Calls for Shifts in Bay Cleanup

March 8, 2023

A little over a year ago, Hilary Harp Falk took over as president and CEO of CBF. Thirteen months later, she sat down with Tim Wheeler of the Bay Journal to talk about the future of the restoration effort and CBF’s role in it.

Virginia Backs Oyster Shell Recycling with New Fund

March 7, 2023

The best surface for baby oysters to grow on is the shell of another oyster. Virginia's adoption of a fund to help recycle oyster shell will give a much needed boost to this natural resource.

Save the Bay News: The Future (and Deep Roots) of Regenerative Farming

February 24, 2023

This month, we explore the roots of regenerative agriculture, how winter is unfolding on CBF’s own regenerative farm (and why we have one), and what the future of agriculture in the watershed could look like.

A Family's Legacy Along the Yeocomico

February 23, 2023

There is a special part of the world at the edge of the Yeocomico River in Virginia’s Northern Neck. For 146 years, the Wilson Family has called this land and water home.

Agriculture's Future Is Now

February 22, 2023

What does a farm have to do with saving the Bay? How we can produce enough nutritious food while also reducing pollution and restoring the health of our waterways? Jared and Elissa Planz look at how CBF's Clagett Farm is answering those questions.

Coming to Life: A Winter Day on CBF’s Clagett Farm

February 21, 2023

Get an inside look at how CBF's Clagett Farm team is preparing for the growing season. The farm is a place to ground-truth how holistic farm systems, often termed ‘regenerative agriculture,’ can help improve soil and water quality.

Breaking Through Concrete Ceilings

February 17, 2023

Dr. Mamie Parker has spent her life making history as a Black, female conservationist, paving the way for young Black women who want to pursue a career in the environmental world.

New Conowingo Dam License Critical to Bay Restoration

February 16, 2023

The new Conowingo Dam license process can be transformative for the Bay, but only if Maryland officials can work through the challenges of dealing with the dam’s private operator, the utility Constellation Energy.

With State Help, Farmers Make A Difference

February 15, 2023

Virginia legislators are considering several important proposals that could open significant opportunities for more farmers to improve their business operations while working for cleaner water.

The Deep Roots of Regenerative Agriculture

February 14, 2023

Tens of thousands of years ago, farmers of color around the world pioneered ways of working the land that are critical for restoring ecological balance, clean water, and community today.

Pennsylvania Eyes Next Steps to Reduce Agricultural Pollution

February 13, 2023

Funding will soon be flowing from Pennsylvania’s new cost-share Agricultural Conservation Assistance Program (ACAP) to help more farmers put pollution-reduction measures on the ground, creating optimism and momentum for cleaner rivers and streams in the Keystone State.

Our Family's Journey to Slash Plastic Use

February 6, 2023

CBF Clean Water Captain Kit Norlan shares how her family set out to shrink their consumption of plastic and paper, with information that could help you do the same.

Before, During, and After the NASA GLOBE Trees Challenge 2022

February 3, 2023

From 11 October to 11 November, 2022, volunteers around the world took part in the NASA GLOBE Trees Challenge 2022: Trees in a Changing Climate. The challenge resulted in 4,700+ tree height observations from 1,500+ locations in 50 GLOBE countries.

Four Ways the Chesapeake National Recreation Area Would Benefit You

January 31, 2023

Thanks to draft legislation, the Chesapeake Bay may finally get the national recognition, along with greater public access, that lawmakers and environmental groups in the region have been seeking for decades.

Save the Bay News: State of the Bay, Oyster Milestones, and Exploring Your Watershed

January 27, 2023

What does the 2022 State of the Bay mean for the long-term health of the Chesapeake and the communities that depend on it? Dive into the big takeaways from the recently released report and more stories about the state of the Bay.

Oysters on the Rise

January 26, 2023

There are finally bright spots for the Bay’s oysters. The collaborative Chesapeake Oyster Alliance—nearing the halfway milestone of its ambitious campaign to add 10 billion oysters to the Bay—is part of the resurgence.

A New Year, a New Governor, a New Chance to Clean up the Chesapeake Bay

January 25, 2023

As one year ends and another begins, many of us have hope and optimism for the new year. In these early days of 2023, CBF is encouraged that momentum in 2022 can bring us closer to cleaner rivers and streams in Pennsylvania.

Seven Steps to Writing a Bay-Friendly Farm Bill

January 24, 2023

Nutrient runoff from farms is the largest source of pollution in our waters. Reducing it is also the biggest opportunity to restore them. That’s why this year’s Farm Bill debate in Congress is so important.

Learning for Life

January 19, 2023

As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of CBF's award-winning Education programs, we reflect that the first way to get young people to care about the Bay is to let them experience it.

Five Things You Should Know from the 2022 State of the Bay Report

January 18, 2023

The Chesapeake Bay this month earned a D+ in CBF’s biennial report card assessing the watershed’s health. While the overall score remains unchanged from two years ago, there’s a lot going on below the surface. Here are five big takeaways.