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Formed in 1983, the Chesapeake Bay Program guides cooperative restoration and
conservation efforts by Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia,
the Chesapeake Bay Commission and the Federal government. The Program sets ambitious,
concrete goals for the Bay’s future.
But the state of the Bay isn’t just the responsibility of national and
state governments. Everyone who lives in or visits the region has a stake in
the Bay’s health. Here are a few things you can do to help while traveling
around the Bay:
“The baye is the most delightful water I ever saw between two sweet lands.”
—Father Andrew White, 1634 |
Learn about the stories and culture of the region. Respect local traditions.- Make time to volunteer in a conservation project.
- Leave no trace of your travels. Dispose of trash properly. Don’t
do any damage to trails or shorelines.
- Support local farmers, fishermen, and businesses.
- Be a responsible boater. Don’t disturb sensitive habitats and bay
grasses. Minimize wakes in shallow water and near shore.
- If you fish, practice catch and release.
And here are a few ways residents of the watershed region can help the Bay
in their daily lives:
- Conserve water and electricity. Drive less.
- User fewer toxic chemicals, cleaners, and pesticides. Whether they go down
the drain or run off into the land, they end up in the Bay.
- Plant native trees and shrubs, especially along streams.
- Use as little fertilizer as possible.
- Support restoration and conservation efforts in the watershed.
- Get involved with issues in your local community that affect the Bay.
For more information on the Chesapeake Bay, visit the Chesapeake Bay Program at www.chesapeakebay.net.
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