News

Virginia Freshwater Mussel Restoration Advances Under New Grants

October 31, 2022

Freshwater mussel restoration in Virginia is taking another step forward with new projects by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and James River Association (JRA) under two recently announced National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) grants.
Hampton Groups Declare Oyster Renaissance in the City

October 27, 2022

Business, science, and conservation organizations in the City of Hampton today declared an oyster renaissance, highlighting increasing oyster populations, a growing local seafood scene, volunteer oyster growing efforts, and the support of Hampton businesses.
Rockbridge Conservation Presents Award to Chesapeake Bay Foundation

October 12, 2022

The Rockbridge Area Conservation Council last Sunday presented CBF with a Conservation Impact Award for its work with landowners to plant and maintain streamside buffers of trees in Rockbridge County.
Virginia Announces $13.6 Million in Flood Preparedness Grants Paid for by RGGI

September 29, 2022

Yesterday the Youngkin Administration announced it has awarded $13.6 million in flood preparedness grants to 27 projects across Virginia using funding generated by Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
Endangered James Spinymussel Reintroduced to the James River

September 7, 2022

After more than 50 years of going missing in its home river, the endangered James Spinymussel is being returned to the James River thanks to efforts by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), and other partners.
Virginia Declares More Waterways Damaged by Harmful Algal Blooms

August 11, 2022

Harmful algal blooms that threaten the health of people and pets who spend time on the water led Virginia to add Lake Anna and six other bodies of water to its list of impaired waterways in a recent draft report.
Virginia Beach Continues Plastic Bag Fee Consideration

July 6, 2022

Committing to take a closer look at litter issues, last night the Virginia Beach City Council deferred voting on the implementation of a 5-cent fee for each plastic bag used by retailers in the city.
CBF Encouraged by Virginia and Maryland’s Changes to Protect Declining Chesapeake Blue Crab Population

June 28, 2022

In response to the lowest abundance of crabs ever counted in the 33-year history of the Chesapeake Bay’s winter blue crab dredge survey, fishery managers at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Marine Resources Commission this week adopted new regulations designed to reduce the crab harvest.
CBF Issues Statement on Bay Program Pollution Data

June 22, 2022

Today, the Chesapeake Bay Program released its modeled estimate of pollution reduced over the last year. As part of the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, Bay jurisdictions committed to implementing the practices and programs by 2025 that will lead to restored water quality in local rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.
Virginia Governor Signs Budget with Historic Clean Water Investments

June 22, 2022

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin yesterday signed a two-year state budget that provides historic levels of investment in in farm conservation practices and other programs to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.
Four Faces of the Oyster Industry

June 16, 2022

From oyster farmers to oyster shuckers, we asked four different key figures in the industry about their journeys toward saving the Chesapeake Bay's beloved bivalve.
Thousands Pick Up Litter across Virginia on Clean the Bay Day

June 4, 2022

Thousands of volunteers across Virginia have picked up 65,500 pounds of litter as of today as part of Clean the Bay Day, the state's largest and longest-running litter and shoreline cleanup. The annual event, which began in 1989, returned in full force this year after a two-year hiatus from its traditional format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virginia Legislators Approve Extraordinary Clean Water Investments

June 1, 2022

Virginia legislators in the General Assembly today approved a budget to fund the state government over the next two years that provides historic levels of investment in programs to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams.
Blue Crab Survey Results Show Downturn

May 19, 2022

Today the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and Maryland Department of Natural Resources released the results of the 2022 Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, an annual estimate of the population of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. CBF Senior Regional Ecosystem Scientist Chris Moore issued this statement.
Innovative Virginia Beach Effort Exceeds Expectations to Transform Students into Environmental Leaders

May 12, 2022

As the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) one-of-a-kind Macon and Joan Brock Classroom marks its first graduating class of high school students in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Environmental Studies Program, the effort is exceeding expectations to create new environmental leaders.
When the Student Becomes the Teacher

May 12, 2022

As CBF holds a celebration marking the success of the Macon and Joan Brock Classroom, this is just one example of the many amazing ways our partnership with Virginia Beach City Public Schools is building the next generation of environmental leaders.
Clean the Bay Day, Virginia’s Largest Litter Cleanup, Returns

May 6, 2022

Clean the Bay Day, Virginia’s largest and longest-running yearly litter cleanup, returns in full force this June 4 after a two-year hiatus from the event’s traditional format.
Free South Richmond Course to Build Leaders and Advocates

May 5, 2022

Residents of Richmond’s Southside have a first-ever opportunity to take a free environmental leadership course for adults this spring, with sessions ranging from a boat trip on the James River to a discussion led by Virginia State Senator Jennifer McClellan.
CBF Statement on Virginia’s Stormwater Policy for Solar Panel Projects

April 1, 2022

This week, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality issued a memorandum clarifying its interpretation of how solar panels should be treated when making important stormwater management calculations for new solar energy projects that are subject to key requirements in Virginia’s Stormwater Management Program.
Fones Cliffs Land Returned to Rappahannock Tribe

April 1, 2022

Today the Rappahannock Tribe celebrated the return to the tribe of 465 acres of land along Fones Cliffs on the Rappahannock River. This area has deep cultural and historic significance to the Tribe.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Withdraws Appeal of Environmental Justice Decision

March 29, 2022

Mountain Valley Pipeline today withdrew its appeal of an agency decision rejecting a key permit for the proposed Lambert Compressor Station, a component of the company’s Southgate expansion project.
One 'Really Empowering' Trip to Richmond

March 22, 2022

High schooler Jordyn Lewis meets with Virginia senators and delegates to urge support for environmental literacy.
Local Photographers Invited to Participate in Save the Bay Photo Contest

March 22, 2022

CBF's annual Save the Bay Photo Contest is underway. Photo submissions are being accepted now, through April 1. Photographers of all skill levels are encouraged to participate to win cash prizes of from $100 to $500, and to have their photos featured in CBF’s award-winning publications.
Norfolk’s Lafayette River Holds Hundreds of Oysters per Square Meter

March 3, 2022

Restoration reefs built in Norfolk’s Lafayette River are thriving beyond expectations, with hundreds of oysters found growing per square meter during a recent survey by CBF.
Virginia Resiliency Bills Advance Flood Preparedness Work

February 28, 2022

To protect people and the environment across Virginia from flooding, rising seas, and extreme storms, Virginia legislators are currently considering several coastal resiliency proposals.