Watermen's Aprreciation Day - St. Michaels, MD

Photo: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum

2ND ANNUAL WATERMEN`S APPRECIATION DAY

August 14, 2011

St Michaels, Maryland
Come to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD on Sunday, August 14 from 1oam to 5pm and meet Chesapeake watermen celebrating their heritage at the 2nd Annual Watermen’s Appreciation Day. Beginning at 11am, you can watch professionals in a spirited “Watermen’s Rodeo” or boat docking contest along Foggs Cove. At noon, the day’s catch of crabs will be steamed up and served in a traditional Maryland crab feast, with live music beginning at 1pm from one of the Eastern Shore’s favorite bands, Bird Dog & the Road Kings. Check out the working watermen’s boats along the waterfront during this event, or tour the museum’s 18-acre waterfront campus and ten exhibit buildings, including the 1879 Hooper Strait Lighthouse and the Oystering on the Chesapeake exhibits.

The event is sponsored by the Talbot County Watermen's Association in cooperation with the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. Museum members receive free admission. Otherwise, admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-17, and under 6 free. Crab feast tickets will be available on site and are $15 each, or $10 each with a commercial fishing license shown.

For more information, visit cbmm.org or call 410-745-2916.

St Michaels, MD Watermen's Appreciation Day Event Information from -

http://tourtalbot.org/showevent.asp?eid=6610

Help the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Win $30,000 - Votes Needed

Vote and Help CBF Win $30,000

Did you know the Chesapeake Bay Foundation has been nominated to participate in Liberty Mutual Insurance's "Like My Community" project. The top three causes with the most votes will receive $30,000. Please help by voting early and often at facebook.com/libertybaltimore

Save The Bay Photo Contest

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation 2011 Photo Contest
This year's contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers, and CBF is seeking photographs that illustrate the positive aspects of the Bay and its rivers and streams. We want to see your vision of the Bay region—from Pennsylvania to Virginia, from the Shenandoah Mountains to the Eastern Shore. Images depicting people, wildlife, recreation, and farms within the watershed will all be considered. All photos must include water from the Chesapeake Bay or a river, stream, creek, or other body of water inside the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Official judging will be conducted by a panel of CBF employees who will judge entries on subject matter, composition, focus, lighting, uniqueness, and impact. The public will also be able to vote online for their favorite photo in the Viewers' Choice Gallery. All winners will receive a cash award:

• First Prize: $500
• Second Prize: $250
• Third Prize: $150
• Viewers' Choice: $100   

In addition, the first-prize photograph will appear in CBF's 2012 calendar. And that's not all:  All winners will also receive a one-year membership to CBF and will have their photos displayed on CBF's website, in a CBF e-newsletter, and in CBF's Save the Bay magazine.

Submissions must be mailed to CBF and postmarked between March 14, 2011 and April 15, 2011.  There is a $10 entry fee for up to three photographs, and $3 for each additional photo.  All winners will be notified of the outcome, and their images will be posted on the CBF website by May 27, 2011.

• Official rules and guidelines
• Entry form
• Release for adult models (photographs featuring identifiable people must be accompanied by a photo release for each individual pictured)
• Release for minor models (photographs featuring identifiable people under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a photo release for each individual pictured)

Save The Bay Photo Contest information came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation www.cbf.org

Ten Steps to a Bay-Friendly Lawn from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

“Ten Steps to a Bay-Friendly Lawn”

To help protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed,

here are some simple steps you can take:

1. Test the soil
Find out what level of nutrients your lawn already has and what it needs before you consider using fertilizers or chemicals. Many people apply fertilizer to the lawn that isn’t needed or used, and unfortunately, it often ends up running into the nearest Bay tributary and damages its health. Your local university cooperative extension service has soil test kits available at a very low cost. (see Resource List below)

2. Fertilize only when and where necessary
Many people over apply fertilizer to their lawns, which contributes to nutrient loading that pollutes the Bay. After testing soil,use minimal amounts of fertilizer only if needed and be sure to keep it off of pavements, sidewalks and driveways. If fertilizer is needed, it is usually not needed more than once per year; fall is the best time to fertilize. Never use fertilizer for any other purposes such as de-icing.

3. Leave grass clippings on the lawn
As an alternative to chemical fertilizers, leave grass clippings on your lawn to provide the soil with many nutrients. It is also a great way to recycle the grass with very low maintenance.

4. Use compost as fertilizer
Another fertilizer alternative for the garden is to create a healthy compost pile that reuses food waste, grass clippings, yard waste, and other natural ingredients to make a nutrient and mineral-rich compost that can be added to garden soil to increase productivity and health of the soil. You can also purchase compost in bags from garden centers.

5. Mow the lawn at the proper height
Set your mower blade height to 3-inch and make sure the blades are kept sharp. Many people cut their grass too short, which never allows the grass to get ahead of the weeds or develop a strong root system to sustain through drought. A general rule of thumb is to never cut more than one third of the blade. If you allow your grass to stay higher, you will shade out many weeds and develop healthy roots system. Consider using a push mower in place of a motorized mower.

6. Reduce use of pesticides and herbicides by at least 50%
Toxic chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides can poison your yard’s balanced ecosystem by killing the natural predators and native plants that help your yard maintain a healthy diversity of living organisms. Take the time to monitor the natural systems in your yard so that you will understand what kinds of problems might occur and can take appropriate action for that specific problem. Adopt integrated pest management strategies around your home so that you can reduce or eliminate your use of chemicals. Make sure that you or your lawn care professional only use chemicals when all other options have been exhausted and then use the minimal amount needed. Other alternatives to chemicals include using beneficial insects and attracting natural predators to your yard.

7. Plant native trees and shrubs
A diversity of native plants will help your yard have less pests, disease, and weed problems as well as provide valuable food, shelter, and cover for all kinds of critters. Ask your local nursery to provide you with a list of native trees and shrubs they offer or get advice from the cooperative extension service.

8. Provide wildlife habitat
Wildlife such as hummingbirds, hawks, chipmunks, fox and other birds and small mammals need a source of food, water, and shelter, particularly in areas that we’ve lost so much habitat as in urban and industrial areas. Plant trees and shrubs that provide a food source, especially in the winter, and provide a water source. Make sure there is adequate tree and shrub cover around food and water sources.

9. Reduce lawn size
How much lawn area do you really need? Assess your lawn use and reduce the grassy area to the minimal amount needed. Plant buffers of native trees, shrubs, and gardens in the remaining yard that will soak up excess nutrients and prevent soil erosion.

10. Water lawn properly
Grass lawns naturally go dormant during the drier summer season. When wet weather returns, so will your lush green lawn. If you do choose to water your lawn, water rarely and thoroughly until water can no longer be easily absorbed by the soil.





Resource List
Lawns:
In Maryland, to order free publications on lawn care, lawn renovation, “Lawns and the Chesapeake Bay,” contact the University of
Maryland Cooperative Extension (Home and Garden Information Center), 800-342-2507, www.hgic.umd.edu
To order soil test kits:
University of Maryland Cooperative Extension (Home and Garden Information Center) has a list of regional laboratories who will do
soil tests at cost, 800-342-2507, www.agnr.umd.edu/SoilTesting
Pennsylvania Cooperative Extension Services, contact your local county extension office or search the directory
www.extension.psu.edu/extmap.html
Virginia Cooperative Extension Services, contact your local county extension office or search the directory www.ext.vt.edu/offices
Meadows and Warm Season Grasses:
Chesapeake Native Nursery (301- 270-4534, 326 Boyd Avenue # 2, Takoma Park, MD 20912), native plants propagated from
indigenous seed sources, mail order, nursery location in Riva, MD. Owner Sara Tangren. www.chesapeakenatives.com.
Ernst Conservation Seeds (800) 873-3321. 9006 Mercer Pike, Meadville, PA 16335. Seeds of native and non-native grasses,
wildflowers, wetland plants and shrubs; live stakes for streambank restoration, www.ernstseed.com
Prairie Nursery Inc., P. O. Box 306, Westfield, WI 53964, 800-476-9453 (800-GRO WILD), source for mid-western native and nonnative
meadow seeds and plants, information on starting a meadow, plant selection, http://www.prairienursery.com
Native Plant Information:
Delaware Native Plant Society, www.delawarenativeplants.org , 302-674-5187
National Arboretum, 3501 New York Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002, (202) 245-2726,
www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/faqs/nativeaq1.html
Maryland Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 4877 Silver Spring MD 20914, www.mdflora.org
Maryland Department of National Resources, State Forest Tree Nursery, www.dnr.state.md.us/forests/nursery 1-800-TREESMD
Pennsylvania Native Plant Society, P.O. Box 281 State College PA 16804-0281 www.pawildflower.org
Virginia Native Plant Society, 540-837-1600, www.vnps.org/
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Maryland native plant lists to download: www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/nativesMD/
USFWS, “Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping,” Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This color guide provides
planting requirements and uses for 400 native plants. Write to: USFWS, 177 Admiral Cochrane Drive, Annapolis, MD 21401 or call
Mary Cordovilla, 410-573-4591.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
6 Herndon Avenue
Annapolis, MD 21403
410-268-8816
www.cbf.org
CBF Bay-Friendly Landscaping
www.cbf.org/landscaping


To print a PDF of Ten Steps to a Bay-Friendly Lawn from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation click below
http://www.cbf.org/Document.Doc?id=61
Information came from the Chesapeake Bay Foudation website http://www.cbf.org/

How to Plant a Tree - Tips from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

 

HOW TO PLANT A TREE - tips from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Planting a tree is not especially difficult. Doing it correctly, however, makes a huge difference in whether or not the tree's roots become established and the tree survives beyond its first couple of years in the ground. Here are tips on successful planting.

• Choose native trees over non-natives if possible (for wildlife benefits and adaptability to local soil, water, and temperature conditions)
• Match the tree species to the site. For example, trees that like "wet feet" include red maple, river birch, and green ash. In drier, sunny areas, plant American beech, black cherry, and loblolly pine. (see our list of recommended native tree and shrub species)
• Note: Most restoration sites along waterways and wetlands are already cleared of vegetation. Planting a variety of riparian trees and shrubs that are both sun and shade tolerant will quickly create a forested buffer.

Creating the Hole

• "Dig wide and not too deep" are the watchwords here. The hole should be at least two to three times wider than the diameter of the root ball or top of the container.
• The hole should be the same depth (and no deeper) as the root ball in the container or burlap ball.
  Use your shovel to measure both the hole's width and height.
• Place the soil that you dig up in a neat pile at the edge of the hole so that no soil is lost when the hole is refilled.
  Loosen the soil within the hole to create a space where roots can spread.

Planting the Tree

• Loosen the tree roots in its container by first pressing down and rolling the container's sides with your foot.
• Holding the tree by its trunk, carefully pull the tree out of the container.
• If the roots are wrapped around the root ball, loosen them with your hand or shovel. Cut especially long roots to encourage new growth.
• Place the tree and root ball in the hole, making sure that they are at the proper depth and width. Dig out or fill in the hole if necessary.
• Center the root ball, spread out the tree's roots, and make sure the tree trunk is straight.
• Fill in the root area with soil in stages and pack it down each time with your feet (do not step directly on the root ball). All roots should be in direct contact with the soil.
• Fill the hole up to the level of the container's soil line. Adjust the root ball level if necessary by adding or removing soil.
• Create a berm with the soil around the hole to help retain rainwater.
• Mulch with two to three inches on top of the hole. Do not pile the mulch too high or let it touch the trunk (incorrect use of mulch can smother the roots or cause the bark to rot, inviting insects and disease).
• Water slowly, deeply, and thoroughly.

Do's and Don'ts of Tree Planting

• Do not add soil amendments or fertilizers to the planting hole.
• Use organic compost as a top dressing only.
• Do not prune or stake your newly planted tree (if left on too long, ties and stakes can strangle and kill the tree).
• Mulch new trees at least as far out as the spread of branches.

Recommended Native Tree and Shrub Species for Riparian Areas

These tree species thrive in or are tolerant of moist soils:

• Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)
• River birch (Betula nigra)
• Black gum ( Nyssa sylvatica)
• Sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)
• Red maple (Acer rubrum)
• Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
• Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
• Sweetbay magnolia (Magnolis virginiana)
• Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
• Black willow (Salix nigra)
• Pin oak (Quercus palustris)
• Willow oak (Quercus phellos)

Some shrubs that can planted in the understory (they do well in the shade produced by the trees above):

• Southern arrowood (Viburnum dentatum)
• Winterberry (Ilex verticillata)
• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
• Buttonbush (Cephalantus occidentalis)
• Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)

How to plant a tree infomation came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website.

Cyclist for the Bay - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

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 The Bay you love is in TROUBLE.

The Chesapeake Bay is dangerously out of balance. The Bay and its rivers and streams are being choked by nitrogen and phosphorus pollution, toxic contamination, and oxygen depletion.

You can be part of the solution. Join CBF's CYCLIST FOR THE BAY program and help protect this national treasure.

Membership is FREE!

Pledge now and receive:

• Two CYCLIST FOR THE BAY stickers to proudly display your support for the Bay and its tributaries.
• Pledge card with useful Bay information.
• Access to Cyclist Network — an online source for all things Bay area cycling. From links to great area organizations to forums where you can share routes with other cyclists for the bay!
• Automatic enrollment in CBF's Action Network, our e-mail alert system for important Bay issues.
• Discounts on merchandise from CBF's online store.

Questions? Contact Heather Tuckfield at htuckfield@cbf.org or 443.482.2151.

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

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As a CYCLIST FOR THE BAY, I will

• Use my bicycle instead of a car whenever possible to reduce the harmful effects of vehicle emissions.
• Ride my bike to work at least once a week, if circumstances allow.
• Do what I can to promote cycling as an environmentally-friendly means of transportation.
• Spread the word that vehicle exhaust contributes more than one-third of all the nitrogen pollution entering the Bay from the air.
• Encourage other cyclists to join the fight to protect and restore the waterways, farmlands, and forests of the Bay region.
• Speak out for decisive action to save this national treasure.

Take the Pledge  

Become a Cyclist for the Bay

Take The Pledge 

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Welcome to the Cyclists Network!

The Bay you love is in TROUBLE. Luckily, your actions as a Cyclist for the Bay can make a difference in the quality of our waters.

By taking the pledge, your dedication to cycling will help reduce pollutants that harm the Chesapeake and our environment in general.
Here on the Cyclist Network you will find useful resources to suppport your effort to save the bay through cycling. Welcome!
DID YOU KNOW?

• Washington DC was recently named one of the most improved cities for cycling! See the full article in Bicycling Magazine!
• Reasons To Commute By Bicycle! Health, Economic, and Environmental benefits...read more here.
• In a new report released by the League of American Bicyclists, Virginia Ranks 23rd for Bike Friendliness. The League recently ranked states using a questionnaire that addressed 70 factors on "6 key areas: legislation, policies and programs; infrastructure; education and encouragement; evaluation and planning; and enforcement".
  
  The highest and lowest rankings were awarded to Washington and West Virginia respectively. Virginia placed 23rd in the ranking. The Bicycle Friendly States program, a separate program from Bicycle Friendly Community Awards, was supported by Bikes Belong and Trek Bicycle Company.

Back to Top
GET BIKE ROUTES FROM GOOGLE

Google is one step closer to making the world safer for bicyclists by adding bicycle routes to Google Maps. Visit maps.google.com, select Directions, and choose "Bicycling" from the drop down menu.



GET GEAR!

The CBF store is full of great gear for your ride, or just for enjoying your day outside!
Back to Top

USEFUL LINKS

Bike commute tips blog: http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com/
Bikely route creation: http://bikely.com
Bike hugger blog: http://bikehugger.com/
Bike commuting tips: http://www.runmuki.com/commute/index.html
Bicycle safe: http://www.bicyclesafe.com/
Bicycling magazine: http://www.bicycling.com/
Bike blogs: http://www.bikeblogs.com/
Ecovelo: http://www.ecovelo.info/
Commute by bike: http://commutebybike.com/


Cyclist for the Bay informaiton came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website www.cbf.org

Boaters for the Bay - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Boaters for the Bay

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Photo: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

  The Bay you love is in TROUBLE. Sign the Boaters for the Bay pledge and show your support for a clean and healthy Bay!

Membership is FREE!

It includes:

• Two handsome decals for your boat & car, which proudly display your support for the Bay and its tributaries.
• A waterproof card for your boat pledging your support for clean water.
• Online tips for environmentally-sound boating practices.
• Automatic enrollment in CBF's Action Network, our e-mail alert system for important Bay issues.
• Discounts on merchandise from CBF's online store, including hats and burgees.

Other great CBF programs on the water:
Volunteer as an Oyster Gardener.
Questions? Contact Heather Tuckfield at htuckfield@cbf.org or 443.482.2151.
Polluted waters are threatening our crabs, fish, and oysters. You can be part of the solution
. Join CBF's BOATERS FOR THE BAY program and help protect this national treasure.

Boaters for the Bay

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 The PLEDGE:

• Proudly display my BOATERS FOR THE BAY decal to show my commitment to the restoration of the Bay and its tributaries.
• Speak out for decisive action to save this national treasure.
• Encourage other boaters to join the fight to restore our waterways.
• Report abnormal water conditions and marine anomalies. In VA, contact CBF's Water Watchers; in MD, call the Chesapeake Bay Safety & Environmental Hotline (877.244.7229).
• Do what I can to leave behind cleaner, healthier waters for future generations to enjoy.
• Practice litter-free and pollution-free boating.

Boaters for the Bay

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Responsible boating comes from knowledge and action. Take the pledge and become A Boater for the Bay!

You can help the Chesapeake Bay by incorporating the following items into your boating routine:

1. PREVENT OILY DISCHARGE FROM THE BILGEKeep your engine well-tuned, and place an absorbent pad or pillow under your engine where drips may occur, and in your bilge. Check the pads regularly and dispose of them properly as hazardous waste.

2. SPILL PROOF YOUR OIL CHANGES
Use an oil change pump to transfer oil to a spill-proof container. Wrap a plastic bag or absorbent pad around the oil filter to prevent oil from spilling into the bilge.

3. SPILL PROOF YOUR FUELING PRACTICES
Fill tanks slowly, and use absorbent pads to catch spills and drips. Don’t “top-off” or overflow your fuel tank, and leave 5 percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms. Consider installing a fuel overflow reservoir in your fuel tank’s air vent line to prevent bubbling backflow.

4. DON'T ADD SOAP TO FUEL SPILLS
Not only is it illegal, but many soaps contain phosphorus, which feeds the excessive algae growth and contributes to the Bay’s “dead zone.” Use Bay-friendly cleaning agents.

5. MINIMIZE BOAT CLEANING & MAINTENANCE IN THE WATERUse tarps and vacuum sanders to minimize debris, and collect all drips for proper disposal.

6. REDUCE TOXIC DISCHARGES FROM BOTTOM PAINTS
Use a hard, less toxic, or nontoxic antifouling paint, and use only non-abrasive underwater hull cleaning techniques to prevent excessive paint discharge. Consider dry storage, which reduces the need for antifouling paint and saves money.

7. DISPOSE OF HAZARDOUS WASTE PROPERLY
Dispose of paints, batteries, antifreeze, cleaning products, oil, oil filters, and other chemicals at a proper hazardous waste facility or event. Recycle paints, batteries, oil, oil filters and antifreeze don’t throw them overboard.

8. MANAGE SEWAGE WASTES PROPERLYUse harbor pump-out stations and shore-side facilities instead of dumping into the Bay.

9. STOW IT, DON'T THROW IT!
Keep your trash onboard at all times. Never throw cigarette butts, fishing line, or any other garbage into the water. Take advantage of shore-side facilities to recycle plastic, glass, metal, and paper.

10. REDUCE GRAYWATER DISCHARGESUse a phosphate-free soap to minimize graywater impact on the marine environment, and do dishes and showers on shore whenever possible. Consider installing a graywater tank onboard.

For More Information Visit:In Maryland: Maryland Department of Natural Resources
In Virginia: Virginia Clean Marina

Boaters for the Bay

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Planning a raft-up any time soon? Make it count for clean water by using CBF's Clean Water Kit. It will help your raft-up benefit the Bay by showing your support for clean water and a clean Bay.

Did you know... At times, the bacteria level of the Bay is so high it is comparable to swimming in an unflushed toilet? The Bay is suffering its own "oil spill" that is as damaging as the Gulf disaster? Millions of pounds of excess nitrogen and phosphorus pollution  flows into our streams, rivers, and Bay each day, destroying habitat for fish, crabs, and oysters, and causing deadly algal blooms, dead zones, and fish kills.

As a boater, I'm sure you realize that the pollution levels in the Bay are not acceptable. We who live and play on the water need to take a stand.
Let your legislative officials know the condition of the Bay is unacceptable by using our Clean Water Kit at your raft-up!
The Clean Water Kit includes:

• Signage about the Bay and the Chesapeake Clean Water Act.
• Informational brochure about the Chesapeake Clean Water Act.
• Postcards that everyone in your group can send to their senators in support of clean water legislation.
• A 3-by-10-foot banner personalized with your group's name. (Allow one week for delivery.)
• Drink koozies for all participants.
• Green tips for boaters.
• Tips for promoting your group's raft-up.
• Free one-year CBF membership* for all participants.
• 25% discount on CBF's boat flag for all participants.

Showing your support goes a long way in helping to restore the Bay's health. We all enjoy fishing, swimming, and boating on our national treasure. Come out with your family, friends, and boats. Have a great event and help the Bay! Order your Clean Water Kit here or contact Heather Tuckfield at (443) 482-2151.
All you need is a boat, some buddies, and your love of the Bay. Thank you for coming together for clean water!

* CBF membership includes CBF's e-newsletter and other breaking news and informational messages via e-mail. You may change your communication preferences at any time by clicking "Change My E-mail Preferences" at the bottom of any e-mail you receive from us.


Boaters for the Bay information came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation website www.cbf.org

Gardeners for the Bay - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Gardeners for the Bay

Take the Pledge

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You love your garden, and you love the Bay. The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams are in trouble. Pollution from many sources is degrading our water and threatening the habitat of fish, blue crabs, and other wildlife.

With your support, we can Save the Bay. Lend a hand by joining the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Gardeners for the Bay program. Membership is FREE!

Take the Gardeners for the Bay pledge now and receive:

• Two Gardeners for the Bay stickers to demonstrate your support for healthy water and a clean environment.
• A pledge card with useful Bay information.
• Automatic enrollment in CBF's Action Network, our e-mail alert system for important Bay issues.
• Discounts on merchandise from CBF's online store.

Learn more ways to have a bay friendly garden and yard here!

As a Gardener for the Bay, I will:

• Conserve water by diverting runoff downspouts and paved surfaces to rain barrels, rain gardens, or garden beds.
• Plant with native, non-invasive species that are adapted to conditions in my area.
• Enrich my garden beds and lawn naturally with compost, leaf mold, or other organic matter.
• Eliminate my use of toxic chemicals (synthetic chemical fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides).
• Reduce my lawn area by planting native trees and shrubs and enlarging garden beds.
• Encourage other gardeners to join the fight to protect and restore the waterways, farmlands and forests for the Bay Region.
• Speak out for decisive action to save the Chesapeake Bay a national treasure.

Remember to consult with your local garden center to find solutions that are environmentally best for your yard.

* I support clean water and a healthy environment. I pledge to avoid toxic chemicals, reduce runoff and care for my garden and lawn naturally.

Take the Pledge - Click Here

Gardeners for the Bay information came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation www.cbf.org

Clean The Bay Day - Chesapeake Bay

SAVE THE DATE

23rd Annual

CLEAN THE BAY DAY

Saturday, June 4th, 2011

Registration for Clean the Bay Day will be open in March 2011

QUESTIONS? E-mail: ctbd@cbf.org

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Thank you for a GREAT turnout!

THOUSANDS brave heat index of over 100 degrees to Clean the Bay on June 5th, 2010.

7,430 volunteers
419 miles cleaned
217,641 pounds of debris
245 sites



Photo - Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Clean The Bay Day

 We had it all ... thousands of volunteers, elected officials, and employees of corporate sponsors cleaning up 108.82 tons of debris—almost all synchronized at the exact same time across Virginia.
THANK YOU for going above and beyond in your commitment to better quality in local streams and rivers, and the Bay. And check back with us for updated numbers.
Some odd things found include a case of un-opened beer, an unopened gas mask canister, a marijuana pipe, bait boxes, a car muffler, shotgun shells, and aluminum furniture.
View tons of pictures or be the first to add your photos of the day's activities to our Facebook Fan Page's wall facebook.com/chesapeakebay. You also can send them to ctbd@cbf.org.

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You can continue to Save the Bay throughout the year by becoming a better Bay steward at home.
1.  Speak Out! Let your voice be heard regarding important legislation affecting our Chesapeake Bay and rivers. Write or call your senators and congressional representative, urging them to vote in an environmentally responsible way.
2.  Natural Cleaners Only - use natural, non-toxic, phosphate-free cleaners like baking soda or borax with hot water for most household cleaning tasks. You’ll be reducing toxic chemicals in wastewater while saving money.

3.  Reduce Fertilizer Use - always get a soil test first to be sure what your lawn requires; use fertilizer sparingly, and only when necessary. Excessive fertilizers contribute to nitrogen and phosphorous overload in rivers and the Bay, which can lead to low oxygen levels and dead zones.



Photo: Chesapeake Bay Foundation



4.  Only Rain in Storm Drain – allow only rain to go down the storm drain and use a broom not a hose or power blower, to clean debris from decks, patios and driveways. You’ll save water, reduce emissions, and curb stormwater runoff.

5.  Bay-Friendly Car Care - take your vehicle to a commercial car wash or wash your car on an unpaved surface with phosphate-free soap so water soaks into the ground, not into the storm drain.

6.  Reduce Rain Runoff - direct rainwater away from paved surfaces; direct gutter downspouts onto lawn or flower beds, or into a rain barrel.

Fully half of Virginia is drained by Chesapeake Bay rivers, and two-thirds of the state's population lives within the Bay watershed. From the farm fields of the Shenandoah Valley to the pinewoods of the Eastern Shore, for most Virginians the Bay is as close as the nearest creek or stream.

Clean The Bay Information Came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at

http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=603

Chesapeake Bay Weddings, Social Events

In October 2010, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation began a construction project on the Merrill Center. The project is expected to be completed late Fall of 2011. Due to this project and the impact that it will have on the Merrill Center, we will not be able to host any events or meetings from November 2010—December 2011.


The Merrill Center event space will re-open during the summer of 2012. We will begin taking bookings in the spring of 2011 for summer 2012.


Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. Thank you for your consideration and support of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

SOCIAL EVENTS and WEDDINGS - Features and Services

Features and services available to you at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center include:

• Maximum capacity: 230, seated (Deck included)
• 160 seated in dining room
• Wooded, private waterfront setting on 33 acres
• Great room with 270 degree views of the Chesapeake Bay
• Beachside tented deck
• Private beach
• Spectacular photo opportunities
• Dock for arrival or departure by boat
• Private pre-event dressing/waiting room
• Knowledgeable onsite event coordinator
• List of preferred caterers and other service providers

Download the floor plan for the venue and read the answers to our frequently asked questions about the facility.
For additional information or to book your special event, contact Chris Gorri CBF’s Events Coordinator at 443-482-2001 or cgorri@cbf.org

SOCIAL EVENTS and WEDDINGS FAQ

1. What is provided with the rental fee?
   Everything listed under Venue Information. Additional tables and chairs are available for rental.
2. How many hours does the rental fee cover for my event?
   The Merrill Center is rented for 8-hour blocks of time.
3. How many people does your facility hold for an event?The Joseph and Bonnie Kies Canvasback Conference Room holds 130-140 seated; 250 standing. There's an additional 2200 sq. ft. of partially tented deck space and a private beach area, which will allow for additional guests.
4. Is use of the private beach part of the rental fee?
   The rental fee covers the use of the room, catering kitchen, deck, dock, and beach. Though we do allow our staff to use the far end of the beach, this area is not in front of the center and staff use will not disturb the privacy of your event.
5. Can we have candles during our event?
   Yes. We allow use of tealight and floating candles, provided they are contained within a glass holder. Tall taper and pillar candles are prohibited.
6. Can we use the dock during our event?
   Yes. The dock can be used during your event to access the beach, for wedding ceremonies, and other occasions.
7. Can we use our own caterer and/or rental company?
   No. You must select a caterer and/or rental company from our approved vendor list. All other service providers, such as photographers, DJs, and florists can be chosen at your discretion.
8. Is there an onsite kitchen?
   Yes. There is a catering kitchen conveniently located off of the Joseph and Bonnie Kies Canvasback Conference Room.
9. We have heard that your facility is a "green" building. What does that mean?
   The Merrill Center is constructed of the most environmentally responsible building materials available, and consumes significantly less energy, water, and resources than similar commercial buildings. Not only does the building’s design prevent thousands of pounds of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from entering the Chesapeake Bay, it is extremely cost-effective, and operates in harmony with the land, natural resources, and the water. The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Merrill Center its first ever prestigious LEED Platinum designation, making it the world's greenest building.

Download our Event Packet for additional information.

Credit: Chesapeake Bay Foudation

Buy Fresh, Local Chesapeake Food, Eat Local - Save The Bay

 

BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL CHESAPEAKE®
EAT LOCAL—SAVE THE BAY

Chesapeake Bay Foundation - We're happy to introduce the new "Buy Fresh Buy Local Chesapeake" website! Find out what local foods and the Chesapeake Bay have in common, as well as where to buy local foods, how to get involved, and more.

ABOUT BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL CHESAPEAKE

Why Buy Fresh and Local?

• Fresh food and produce is healthier and more nutritious (and delicious!)
• More of your food dollars stay in the community to support local farmers and build local economies.
• When local farmers farm sustainably, they preserve open space, keep their lands productive, and protect their land from urban and suburban development, which harms the Chesapeake Bay.

Buy Fresh Buy Local Chesapeake is one of nearly 80 chapters throughout the country (and currently the only one in Maryland), working to promote locally grown food to the public, connect consumers to local food producers, and change local food priorities. The Buy Fresh Buy Local brand, under the auspices of the Food Routes Network, is nationally recognized.

The Chesapeake chapter began in 2006 with a group of dedicated individuals who had farming, restaurant, and food policy backgrounds. Since May 2010, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) has been the coordinating organization for the chapter, providing staff and organizational support.

For over 25 years, CBF has been making the connection between local sustainable agriculture and the Chesapeake Bay's water quality by:

• advocating for policies and legislation that benefit farmers and the Bay.
• educating students, teachers, and the public about sustainable agriculture.
• putting conservation into practice at CBF's Clagett Farm with its CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), grass-fed beef, native tree nursery, and education center.

What's Next?

We're just getting started. In the future, check this website for:

• an online food guide with lists of farmers, producers, farmers markets, and more resources.
• outreach events at fairs and festivals to educate consumers and promote sustainable agriculture and healthy local food.
• invitations to special events, such as a Graze Fest at CBF's Clagett Farm, highlighting grass-fed beef and local produce or an Oyster Fest featuring aquaculture oysters.

 

FIND LOCAL FOOD (MARYLAND)

Maryland's Best: Searchable database of local products from Maryland farmers. From produce, seafood, grass-fed beef, grains, and specialty items to CSA's, nurseries, wine, agri-tourism, and more.
marylandsbest.net

So Maryland So Good: Farm and product guide for Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's, Charles, and Prince George's counties.
somarylandsogood.com
Maryland Direct Farm Market and Pick Your Own Directory: Find out what's in season then find a local farm market or "pick-your-own" farm to get it fresh.
mdpyofarmmarkets.com
Local Harvest: A national searchable database for organic food sources--from local farms and CSA's to restaurants, grocers, and more.
localharvest.org
Amazing Grazing Directory: Produced by Future Harvest, which is helping to create a viable and sustainable local food system, this directory is your source for local grass-fed meat, poultry, and dairy products.
futureharvestcasa.org

OTHER REGIONAL BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL CHAPTERS

In the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Pennsylvania:  buylocalpa.org
Virginia Chapters:  buylocalvirginia.org
Hampton Roads, Va: buylocalhamptonroads.org 
Fredericksburg, Va: farmtofredericksburg.com/
Shenandoah Valley, Va: buylocalshenvalley.org/

West Virginia:  wvfarmers.org/buylocalwv/
Outside the Bay Watershed: foodroutes.org/bfbl-chapters.jsp

BUY FRESH BUY LOCAL CHESAPEAKE® EAT LOCAL—SAVE THE BAY Buy Fresh Buy Local Chesapeake® is part of the FoodRoutes Network   Credit: Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Plants - Wetlands, Underwater Grasses

Chesapeake Bay Plants



Photo - Chesapeake Bay Foundation



Underwater Grasses

Like wetlands, underwater grasses (known as submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV) serve as habitat for aquatic animals, and as a food source for waterfowl. And like other Bay grasses, they produce much-needed oxygen. But perhaps their most constructive feature is their ability to trap sediment that can cloud the water. As waves roll into grass beds, the movement is slowed and energy is dispelled, protecting shorelines from erosion. During the growing season, Bay grasses take up and retain nitrogen and phosphorus, removing excess levels that could fuel unwanted growth or algae.

Fourteen species of grasses are commonly found in the Bay or nearby rivers. Five of the most common are wild celery, found in freshwater; sago pondweed, redhead grass, and widgeon grass found in more estuarine water; and eelgrass found in the lower Bay in saltier water. Salinity, water depth, and bottom sediment determine where each species can grow. Survival of Bay grasses is affected by the amount of light that reaches the plants. Poor water quality resulting in less light penetration is the primary cause for declining grasses. Algal blooms, as a result of too much nitrogen and phosphorus, also cloud the water and reduce sunlight to SAV.


The absence of SAV translates into a loss of food for many Chesapeake Bay species, but bay grasses have rebounded steadily since their lowest point in 1984.

Plants in Tidal Wetlands


Tidals wetlands are dominated by nonwoody or herbaceous vegetation and are subject to tidal flooding. These wetlands have a low marsh zone (flooded by every high tide) and a high marsh zone (flooded by extremely high tides). Plants such as smooth cordgrass are found in the low marsh zone of brackish and saltwater marshes. The high marsh zone may be dominated by saltmeadow cordgrass, black needlerush, saltgrass, or marsh elder. Freshwater marshes also have low and high zones. Along the water’s edge, you may find wild rice, arrow arum, pickerel weed, and pond lily. In the high zone, cattail and big cordgrass may be prevalent.


Plants in Nontidal Wetlands


Nontidal wetlands contain bulrush, broad-leaved cattail, jewel weed, spike rushes, and sedges. Forested wetlands, often referred to as swamps, may have permanent standing water or may be seasonally flooded. Trees commonly found in forested wetlands include red maple, black gum, river birch, black willow, Atlantic white cedar, and bald cypress. Willows, alders, and button bushes are types of shrubs present in forested wetlands.




Chesapeake Bay Plant article came from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation - http://www.cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=612

Save Oyster Shell Program - Chesapeake Bay Foundation

PARTICIPATE - Save Oyster Shell


The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) needs your help–and your oyster shells–to restore native oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. Donate your empty shells to CBF so we can recycle them into more oyster reefs and repopulate the Bay with more oysters. Oyster shells are literally the foundation of our reef restoration efforts!


Oyster shells are becoming increasingly scarce. Through CBF's Save Oyster Shell program, shells that would typically be thrown away are saved and used in a variety of oyster restoration projects.


Your shells are used as homes for baby oysters (spat) like the shell in the photo. We place your recycled shells in tanks of water with millions of microscopic oyster larvae swimming and attaching to the shells. After a few days the spat-on-shell will be used to build a new oyster bar.


Maryland Public Drop-off Locations
CBF has two shell drop-off locations in Maryland, one at our Oyster Restoration Center in Shady Side and the second at the Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis.


Virginia Public Drop-off Locations
CBF has three shell drop-off locations in Virginia.


Norfolk
1176 Pineridge Road
Behind Waste Management facilities
Open M-F 9-5
Must call ahead 757/441-5813

Yorktown
103 Industry Drive
Behind York Bolt off Hampton Hwy-138

Williamsburg
Near Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center
Service road across Route 60 from Parkway Drive
GPS: 37.280507,
-76.692713
see map


Virginia Participating Restaurants
The following restaurants also participate in CBF's SOS program:


Berrets, Williamsburg
Harpoon Larry's Oyster Bar, Hampton
Le Yaca, Williamsburg
O'Sullivan's, Norfolk
Red Lobster, Newport News
River's Inn, Gloucester Point
Riverwalk, Yorktown
Rosemary & Wine, Gloucester
Tanner's Creek Restaurant, Norfolk
Yorktown Pub, Yorktown


More Ways You Can Help

Volunteers are needed to collect shells from Virginia restaurants and drop them off at CBF oyster shell "curing" sites in Colonial Williamsburg and at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science boat basin.


CBF also collects shells from oyster roasts and seafood festivals. We can provide bins and signage to minimize shells mixing with other refuse.


To participate or for more program information, contact Jackie Shannon at jshannon@cbf.org or 804/642-6639. Find out more about Virginia's program below.


OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING

The current Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) oyster shell recycling program--Save Oyster Shell (or "SOS")--is an expansion of a successful shell recycling effort started in 2005. This program is a partnership among the CBF, restaurants, communities, and dedicated volunteers with a goal of restoring oyster habitat in Virginia waterways.


Baby oysters begin life as free-floating larvae but quickly settle to the bottom and attach themselves to hard surfaces, which is why you see oysters growing in clumps on pilings and concrete. However, their preferred place to grow is on other shells. Unfortunately, many of the tributaries in Virginia lack enough shell for baby oysters to find. CBF is working with local partners to help Hampton Roads individuals and businesses collect oyster and clam shells and place them overboard to help turn the tide on declining oyster stocks.


Lynnhaven River 2007, the City of Virginia Beach and CBF saw promising community support of a pilot shell recycling program in Virginia Beach last summer and will be resuming the expanding program in January.


With the help of NOAA-Restore America's Estuaries, CBF will continue to expand the shell recycling program to include shell collection from oyster roasts and seafood festivals As well as more restaurants and citizen drop-off locations. The contents of these containers and storage sites will be collected twice per week and taken to a centralized location to cure, a process of drying and cleansing of bacteria.


After several months, these shells are used in restoration projects, such as building oyster reefs or constructing or in spat on shell production, a process that allows oyster larvae to attach to the shells and grow into a natural oyster reef.


For information about participating in "Save Oyster Shells" contact Jackie Harmon at jharmon@cbf.org or 804/642-6639.







PARTICIPATE - Save Oyster Shell
OYSTER SHELL RECYCLING - articles credit Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Health Improves - Still Critical Condition

Chesapeake Bay Health Improves, but Still in Critical Condition, According to Report

December 2010 -- The Chesapeake Bay’s health has improved slightly over the past two years, but the ecosystem remains out of balance, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s 2010 State of the Bay report.

The Bay’s overall health ranks 31 out of 100 on the Foundation’s numeric health index, a three point improvement from 2008. On the health index scale, 40 represents “improving,” 50 represents “stable,” and 70 represents a “saved” Chesapeake Bay. A score of 100 represents the pristine conditions of the 1600s when Captain John Smith explored the Bay.

“The Bay is a system that is starting to get better,” said Will Baker, president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Although this is a “huge development,” according to Baker, “the gains that have been achieved are fragile.”

The overall score is derived from 13 individual scores for indicators on pollution, habitat and fisheries. Eight of the 13 indicators improved in 2010, while two scores decreased.

Blue crabs showed the largest increase, improving 15 points to a score of 50 after the crab population more than doubled between 2008 and 2010.

Bay grasses continue to show slow, steady improvement, mostly due to flourishing grass beds in the upper Chesapeake Bay. The score increased two points to 22.

Despite slight improvements in some areas, nitrogen pollution, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, oysters and shad all received failing grades.

To help continue upward progress on restoring the Bay, the Foundation urges the government to enforce pollution laws and people to tell their elected officials that saving the Bay will help the region’s economy.




Visit the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s website to read the entire 2010 State of the Bay report.



Bay Health Improves, but Still in Critical Condition, According to Report
article came from Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s website ChesapeakeBay.net

Give a Gift to the Chesapeake Bay - Help Save The Bay

Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Help Save The Bay

Make a tax deductible gift to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. You can help Save The Bay! Click to make your gift today at CBF.org

MISSION AND VISION The Chesapeake Bay Foundation's (CBF) mission is to Save the Bay, and keep it saved, as defined by reaching a 70 on CBF's Health Index. Our vision is that the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers, broadly recognized as a national treasure, will be highly productive and in good health as measured by established water quality standards. The result will be clear water, free of impacts from toxic contaminants, and with healthy oxygen levels. Natural filters on both the land and in the water will provide resilience to the entire Chesapeake Bay system and serve as valuable habitat for both terrestrial and aquatic life. Learn more about CBF's programs.

Our Vision Our vision is that the Chesapeake Bay and its tributary rivers, broadly recognized as a national treasure, will be highly productive and in good health as measured by established water quality standards. The result will be clear water, free of impacts from toxic contaminants, and with healthy oxygen levels. Natural filters on both the land and in the water will provide resilience to the entire Chesapeake Bay system and serve as valuable habitat for both terrestrial and aquatic life.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Mission and Vision sourced from http://cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=387

Chesapeake Bay Geography Interesting Facts

Eastern Shore and Chesapeake Bay

The Chesapeake Bay watershed is approximately 64,000 sq. miles long and encorporates six states of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and the entire District of Columbia. 17 million people live, work, and play in this watershed, and each individual directly affects the Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay proper is approximately 200 miles long, stretching from Havre de Grace, Maryland to Norfolk, Virginia. It varies in width from about 3.4 miles near Aberdeen, Maryland to 35 miles at its widest point, near the mouth of the Potomac River. Including its tidal tributaries, the Bay has approximately 11,684 miles of shoreline. It is a key commercial waterway, with two major Atlantic ports located here: Hampton Roads (which includes Norfolk, Hampton, Portsmouth, and Newport News) and Baltimore.

Fifty major tributaries pour water into the Chesapeake every day. 80 to 90 percent of the freshwater entering the Bay comes from the northern and western sides. The remaining 10 to 20 percent is contributed by the Eastern Shore. Nearly an equal volume of saltwater enters the Bay from the ocean.

On average, the Chesapeake holds more than 15 trillion gallons of water. Although the Bay’s length and width are dramatic, the average depth is only about 21 feet. The Bay is shaped like a shallow tray, except for a few deep troughs believed to be remnants of the ancient Susquehanna River. The troughs form a deep channel along much of the length of the Bay. The channel allows passage of large commercial vessels. Because it is so shallow, the Chesapeake is far more sensitive to temperature changes and wind than the open ocean.

Chesapeake Bay Geography Facts and Chesapeake Bay Picture sourced from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation at cbf.org

Maryland Submits Chesapeake Bay Clean-up Plan - Jobs at Stake

Eastern Shore Jobs at Stake as Maryland Submits Bay Clean-up Plan

Press Release
November 29, 2010

New Report: Thousands of Jobs at Stake as Maryland Submits Bay Clean-up Plan

A Strong Plan Could Create Employment for Marylanders, but Weak Plan Could Kill Jobs 

(ANNAPOLIS, MD.) -- The livelihoods of thousands of Marylanders, and potentially thousands of new jobs, could depend on whether Maryland today submits a strong Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) that reduces pollution into streams, rivers and the Bay, according to a new report from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The report examined the broad economic benefits of clean water in Maryland and across the watershed, and found that investing in clean water technologies creates jobs, generates economic activity and saves money in the long run.

"The Chesapeake Bay can be a fertile source of jobs as well as crabs and rockfish," said Kim Coble, CBF Maryland Executive Director. "This report totals up what we've lost economically with the Bay's decline, and how much more we stand to lose if we don't increase our commitment to reducing pollution. The more we accelerate the cleanup the more potential jobs for Marylanders."

The Bay and its tributaries provide an economic bounty of billions of dollars in jobs and revenue, even higher property values, the studies show. But that benefit has declined dramatically in several areas. Further substantial losses are possible if the Bay is not protected and restored.

On the flip side, the review suggests a renewed commitment to cleaning up the Bay could generate thousands of new jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in new income, revenue, property values and other tangible benefits for Maryland.

"The paper does a good job of demonstrating that there are large economic benefits to be gained from Bay restoration, while at the same time showing that investing in restoration will create economic impacts and jobs in the region," said Dr. Douglas W Lipton, a resource economist at the University of Maryland.

The review comes as Maryland and five other Bay watershed states are scheduled to submit their final WIPs to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Each state is required to meet a new pollution diet set by the EPA, and the WIPs are the individual state's detailed plans for meeting that diet.

Each year commercial and recreational fishermen, boaters, wildlife watchers and others take to the state's waterways, and in the process earn livelihoods from their catch, or spend money on gear, supplies, housing and other necessities. Those activities in turn produce further economic windfalls in seafood processing plants, restaurants, grocery stores and elsewhere.

About 11,000 people in Maryland earned $150 million in jobs directly or indirectly connected to the seafood industry in 2008. About 7,200 people worked in jobs connected to recreational fishing. The total impact on the Maryland economy from recreational boating is estimated to be more than $2 billion annually and sustains 35,025 jobs.

But the economic bounty of the Bay and its tributaries has shown severe signs of decline in some quarters, as poor water quality, overfishing, and loss of fish and wildlife habitat have caused drop-offs in crab and oyster harvests and other activities. For instance, 136 oyster shucking houses provided jobs in Maryland and Virginia in 1974, but today only a half-dozen houses remain, and scant few shucking jobs.

The good news is the Bay is an economic driver that can generate substantially more jobs and income as it is cleaned up, according to multiple studies. For instance, a University of Virginia study found that 12,000 jobs of one-year's duration would be created if farmers in that state implemented sufficient conservation measures: trees planted along streams on their property, cover crops planted in the winter, etc. 

One contracting company in Arbutus, Maryland reported it employs 115 full-time workers and supports an additional 100 subcontractors who provide trucking materials, concrete, paving, and fencing required for stormwater mitigation projects. That type of work could surge should Maryland submit a strong WIP with specific plans for reducing stormwater pollution – the only type of pollution increasing around the Bay. 

One study concluded that improvements in water quality along Maryland's western shore to levels that meet state bacteria standards could raise property values six percent.

Upgrading sewage treatment plants across the watershed has created hundreds of construction jobs, and will create perhaps thousands more as the program grows. Also, upgrading individual septic systems has employed installers, electricians, and others involved in the business. These upgrades have pumped millions of dollars into the region's economy, and could boost employment even more should Maryland accelerate its program to replace failing, polluting septics.

The report is available at cbf.org/economic-report. 

Maryland Bay Clean-up plan for Chesapeake Bay sourced from http://cbf.org/Page.aspx?pid=2169