Press Release

‘Without Getting Striped Bass Management Back on Track, There Might Not Be a Fishery in the Future’

As concerns about low striped bass numbers continue, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) on May 1 took additional steps to address the number of striped bass dying after being caught and released, as well as unsustainable commercial fishing rates.  

The ASMFC’s Striped Bass Management Board voted to establish a workgroup to explore options to reduce the significant number of striped bass that die after being caught and released. The workgroup will explore the effectiveness of season closures, the impacts of different types of fishing tackle, and the reduction in fishing effort needed to reduce striped bass losses. Following the workgroup’s report, which is expected in October this year, further action on catch and release mortality will likely follow.  

The Board also approved plans by Maryland and the Potomac River Fisheries Commission to reduce their commercial harvest. At the ASMFC’s January meeting these plans were found to be inconsistent with the requirements of the Striped Bass Management Plan. 

This week’s actions are intended to get efforts to rebuild this iconic species back on track. 

“We must all face the hard truth that striped bass are struggling,” said CBF Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden. “We’re seeing continued low juvenile striped bass numbers, dwindling commercial catch, and a trend of fewer large citation-sized fish caught by anglers. Without getting striped bass management back on track across all sectors – commercial and recreational – there might not be a striped bass fishery in the future.” 

Recreational fishing harvest of striped bass increased in 2022 along the Atlantic Coast even as managers implemented new harvest regulations. This significantly decreased the possibility of the striped bass population recovering to sustainable levels by a 2029 goal. Compounded with low numbers of young striped bass, this rang alarm bells for anglers, watermen, and fisheries managers. 

New Striped Bass Limits for Recreational Anglers and Commercial Fishermen 

To meet an ASMFC requirement with a May 1 deadline, earlier this year all Atlantic Coast states including Maryland, Potomac River Fisheries Commission, and Virginia implemented a one-fish limit for recreational anglers. In the Chesapeake Bay, fish kept must measure between 19 inches and 24 inches, while along the Atlantic Coast they must be between 28 inches and 31 inches.  

The limits on bigger fish are especially important to rebuild the population as a recent Maryland DNR study shows that older, larger female striped bass produce far more eggs.

Maryland this year also implemented emergency regulations to prohibit fishing for striped bass during crucial spring spawning times between April 1 and May 15. The state has also closed fishing for striped bass during two weeks in late July, when stressed striped bass are most likely to die after being released. In Virginia, striped bass fishing is off-limits to anglers during spawning periods and between June 15 and October 4.  

States also implemented a 7 percent reduction in the commercial harvest. Despite the commercial fishery comprising a smaller percentage of the total harvest, the dire status of striped bass requires conservation actions from all sectors who benefit from this shared resource. Commercial fishery reductions were necessary to ensure the greatest chance of achieving sustainable fishing rates. 

Avoiding a Repeat of the 1980s Striped Bass Crisis

Forty years ago, striped bass numbers reached a crisis point. Fishery regulators implemented a moratorium that shut down Maryland’s striped bass fishery from 1985 to 1989 and Virginia’s for one year in 1989. Striped bass numbers rebounded through the 1990s, and the 1980s moratorium is considered a major success story for fisheries management.  

This year, the new striped bass limits intend to rebuild the striped bass stock before a moratorium becomes necessary.   

There are many factors challenging the current recovery of striped bass, including overfishing, pollution and loss of habitat, climate change, and fish that die after being caught and released. New fishing limits are one of the most immediate, effective actions that can be taken to rebuild striped bass numbers.  

Low Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass Numbers Reverberate from Maine to Carolinas

Because the majority of East Coast striped bass hatch in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, striped bass numbers here affect anglers from Maine to the Carolinas. Multiple news stories on the striped bass decline have run from the Chesapeake Bay to New York to Boston.  

Concerns for striped bass include below average numbers for the last five years in Maryland’s juvenile striped bass survey, an annual count of the number of young striped bass in Chesapeake tributaries. The 2023 count was dismal—the second-lowest since the survey began in 1957. 

Last year also showed below-average numbers in Virginia’s juvenile survey, and a nearly all-time low for a similar survey in the Hudson River, another key striped bass nursery area. 

In Virginia, anglers are also registering fewer large citation-sized striped bass in recent years on average. Virginia striped bass citations per year averaged 873 per year from 2000 to 2012, and just 363 per year from 2013 to 2023. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission issues these citations to fisherman who catch and release a striped bass over 44 inches in length, or prior to 2023 kept a fish over 40 pounds.  

The Bay’s commercial striped bass catch has also seen a decline of about 40 percent when comparing 2012 to 2022. Maryland and Virginia’s commercial harvest totaled 4.5 million pounds in 2012 and just 2.7 million pounds in 2022, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  

‘Leave Big Fish in the Water to Reproduce and Rebuild’

“What has everyone worried is that there are hardly any smaller striped bass growing up for anglers to catch in future years,” said CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore. “The last time the Chesapeake saw a strong group of young striped bass was back in 2015. Some of those have now grown into large fish that anglers are catching today. But we must leave big fish in the water to reproduce and rebuild the striped bass population so that they’ll be around in the future.” 

A major concern has been the number of striped bass that die after they are caught and released, especially when the water is warm and holds less oxygen. When air temperatures are above 95 degrees, about 17 percent of shallow hooked striped bass died after being caught and released, according to a Maryland Department of Natural Resources study. 

At its meeting this week, the ASMFC voted to form a recreational release mortality workgroup to develop possible solutions, including additional seasonal closures. 

Anglers in Maryland and Virginia who care about the future of striped bass can take the following steps to ensure the future of Chesapeake striped bass:   

• Avoid targeting striped bass during late June, July, and August, when high water temperatures stress fish and make them less likely to survive being caught. In Maryland, anglers can reference Maryland DNR’s Striped Bass Advisory Forecast to determine if it if air and water temperatures are safe to catch and release striped bass. 
• Practice careful catch and release tactics to ensure fish survive, such as using barbless circle hooks, keeping fish in the water, and supporting fish with two hands if you must handle them.
• Fish for other species while striped bass stocks are low. The invasive blue catfish fishery is booming in Maryland and Virginia, as well as snakehead. The upper Bay and its tributaries are also prime for targeting pickerel, white perch, and yellow perch. In higher salinity areas, anglers can target cobia, red drum, speckled trout, Spanish mackerel, and many other species.   

Leaders of the congressional agriculture committees today unveiled separate versions of legislation to reauthorize the Farm Bill, the largest and most influential agricultural legislation in the nation.   

The Farm Bill, which is renegotiated about every five years, has far-reaching outcomes for the way food is grown, the livelihood of farmers, and the health of rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay.  

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson, (R-Pa.), released an overview of his panel’s version of the Farm Bill on Wednesday. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) rolled out a detailed summary of the Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. 

Farmers play a critical role in keeping waterways clean. Agriculture is the second largest land use in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, behind only forests. The large number of acres in ag production is one of the reasons that nutrient runoff from farms is the largest source of pollution in our waters. Working with our agricultural communities is our greatest opportunity to create meaningful and lasting change for clean water. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) advocates for programs that help farmers install conservation projects that reduce pollution to waterways. CBF urges Congress pass a final version of the Farm Bill that:  

• Invests in and makes updates to key conservation programs that provide technical support to farmers and incentivize regenerative agriculture. Those include the Conservation Reserve Program, the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP); 
• Authorizes the Chesapeake Bay States’ Partnership Initiative to direct additional federal resources to Chesapeake Bay watershed farms, particularly in Pennsylvania;  
• Develops and maintains a robust workforce of agricultural conservation professionals to help install local conservation programs and practices on the ground; and, 
• Preserves the $20 billion investment from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act that Congress devoted specifically to Farm Bill conservation programs. 

We applaud Chairwoman Stabenow for including these priorities in the initial Senate version of the bill. For the House version, full details on these programs are not yet available.   

CBF Federal Director Keisha Sedlacek issued the following statement.  

“The Farm Bill is an unparalleled opportunity for the Chesapeake Bay and our region’s farmers. This legislation can focus federal resources on conservation programs that lead to cleaner waterways and more resilient farms, address climate change, and benefit local economies.  

“We thank Chairwoman Stabenow for her leadership on including key conservation elements in the Senate legislation. We’re grateful to Chairman Thompson for his hard work on moving the Farm Bill forward and look forward to learning more details about the House version.” 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) this month earned a spot on the Baltimore Business Journal’s 2024 Best Places to Work list.

CBF is one of 50 organizations to receive this year’s award. Winners were selected based on an employee survey that measured engagement, leadership, culture, benefits, diversity, equity and inclusion, and more. During the survey process, employees were able to highlight why they value working at CBF—including benefits like the nonprofit’s unique waterfront facilities and flexible 36-hour work week.

CBF is a regional nonprofit with many employees living and working in the Baltimore metro area and across Maryland. CBF’s Annapolis headquarters, the Philip Merrill Center, is one of the world’s most energy-efficient buildings with Bayfront beach and river access available to staff.

Watershed Restoration Scientist, Rob Schnabel, has worked out of the organization’s headquarters in Annapolis for nearly 25 years. “The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is an excellent place to have a career,” Schnabel said. “Our office is filled with inspiring staff, meaningful work, and exceptional flexibility and organizational benefits.”

Karrie Frostbutter, Maryland Operations and Finance Manager started working at CBF in 2016. “The regenerative flextime offered at CBF is such a gift,” Frostbutter said. “It allows me to really balance my work and my life. CBF recognizes that everyone has different needs and adapts to them.”

CBF currently has several job openings in Maryland and across the Chesapeake Bay region. Information about CBF’s employee benefits can be found here.

The organization has a robust breadth of work in Baltimore, including its Baltimore Harbor Environmental Education Program and Baltimore Oyster Gardening Program. It also has a long history of community-driven environmental advocacy, fighting for cleaner water and air for the people of Baltimore.

Baltimore Business Journal will present the Best Places to Work awards and rankings at a ceremony on May 16 at Camden Yards.

Today, in celebration of Arbor Day, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) hosted roughly 40 members of the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps to plant 400 trees along Catoctin Creek at Summer’s Hill Farm in Jefferson, Maryland.

Planting trees around waterways like Catoctin Creek can help slow down and absorb runoff from storms, supporting the health of our streams, rivers, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. Trees also provide critical habitat and cool water temperatures for aquatic life. Catoctin Creek supports cold-water fisheries, including rainbow trout and brown trout, which prefer cool, clear streams. However, climate change and rising water temperatures have made these ideal habitats scarce.

“Restoring forested buffers along streams on agricultural lands is one of the most effective methods to reduce pollution entering waterways and improve fish and wildlife habitat,” said Rob Schnabel, Watershed Restoration Scientist at CBF. “Our goal is to plant roughly 19 acres of forestland at Summer’s Hill Farm. The Corps members participating in today’s event represent the future of Chesapeake Bay restoration. We’re grateful for their dedication, not just today but in their careers.”

The Chesapeake Bay Trust’s Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps program increases access and opportunities for young environmentalists seeking green careers in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The Corps places individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 with nonprofit or government agencies for a one-year term of service.

“The Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps is a huge part of our movement to grow the next generation of Bay stewards,” shared Jana Davis, Ph.D., president of the Chesapeake Bay Trust. “By connecting aspiring environmentalists to hands-on experience, leadership training, and networking in green careers, we ensure more conservation and climate advocates enter the workforce committed to the health of our natural resources and communities for years beyond their Corps service.”

Kayla Brennan is a member of the Corps and has spent her term supporting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation through science and agriculture stewardship.

“My time in the Corps and working with CBF has given me hands-on experience restoring and protecting our natural resources,” Brennan said. “My goal is to pursue a career in agriculture or a related field focused on environmental restoration.”

This was one of several CBF-led tree planting events at Summer’s Hill Farm this spring. The farm has over two miles of Catoctin Creek frontage. There will be a public tree planting event the following day on Saturday, April 27, which will complete the 19-acre forested stream buffer goal.

With funding from the Maryland Department of Agriculture Conservation Buffer Initiative, the farm will gain 19 acres of new forestland, creating a 100-foot buffer around Catoctin Creek. The program also provides maintenance support for the buffer five years after it’s been planted, as well as financial support for the landowners. The landowners are working with Frederick County’s Office of Agriculture to put the farm in a permanent agriculture easement for future generations and to protect it from development.

The native trees for this project were provided by CBF’s Clagett Farm, a working farm in Prince George’s County that uses regenerative agriculture practices to improve soil health and water quality.

This project is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

On Thursday, April 25, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center welcomed 90 sailors and their families for a day of service known as the Thousand Points of Light. The City of Virginia Beach, which owns and manages Pleasure House Point with CBF, also hosted the volunteers and performed work on their portions of the property.

While at CBF’s Brock Environmental Center on Thursday, the volunteers removed invasive species, weeded gardens, moved oyster shells, as well as mulched and spread pine straw.   

Inspired by George H.W. Bush’s support for volunteer service in his inauguration speech, and in celebration of the late president’s 100th birthday year, the day of service is aimed at giving back, strengthening community partnerships, and serving as a light for those in need. In his inauguration speech, Bush called on Americans to serve as a “thousand points of light” in their communities through volunteer service so that “we can find meaning and reward by serving some higher purpose than ourselves.”   

Since the USS George H.W. Bush returned from deployment last April, 1,646 sailors from the crew have engaged in a total of 4,463 hours of volunteer service in the Hampton Roads area. The Thursday event continued that effort.   

CBF’s Brock Environmental Center is one of the most sustainable buildings in the world, creating all its energy from solar and wind. It was also the first building to convert rainwater into drinking water.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Leaders Joined Governor and Partners in Virginia Marine Resource Commission-led Celebration

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin celebrated Earth Day 2024 by announcing the achievement of a milestone in the state’s effort to restore oyster habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

Youngkin announced Monday the completion of over 200 acres of restored oyster habitat in the Lower York River, solidifying Virginia as home to the largest oyster restoration and replenishment effort in the United States.

The Lower York River milestone is the result of collaborative efforts spearheaded by the VMRC Shellfish Management Division. The support and funding provided by NOAA enabled the implementation of innovative restoration techniques and the monitoring of ecosystem health. 

On Monday, Youngkin, along with Congressmen, delegates and representatives, commemoratively signed the final oyster shells to be added to the restored Lower York River oyster reef. These symbolic shells were then scattered on the oyster reef, marking the completed restoration of this Chesapeake Bay tributary. 

Chesapeake Bay Foundation leaders joined Youngkin, Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Travis Voyles, and representatives from Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), and oyster growers from across tidewater Virginia for the celebration. 

The project is part of a 2014 plan by the Chesapeake Bay program to restore native oyster habitat and population in ten Bay tributaries across Virginia and Maryland by 2025. CBF has called for accelerating and expanding oyster restoration to 20 additional Bay tributaries by 2035 due to the overwhelming success of these efforts.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement: 

“It’s incredible to see how oyster restoration goals, which were set back in 2014, are now being met. This oyster restoration success is a prime example of how smart, targeted investments can help us turn prior challenges into one of our greatest strengths as a community. The Lower York River oyster restoration achievements underscores why we must continue to ramp up oyster restoration work for the next 20 Bay tributaries.”

Clean the Bay Day Scheduled for Saturday, June 1, at Sites Across Virginia

Registration is now open for Clean the Bay Day, Virginia’s largest and longest-running annual litter cleanup scheduled this year on Saturday, June 1. Thousands of people across Virginia will come together on the morning of June 1 for this event organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). 

Every year since 1989, on the first Saturday in June, these volunteers remove a massive amount of litter and debris from parks, streams, beaches, and trails. Sponsored by PRA Group, Clean the Bay Day relies heavily on around 60 partners to host, publicize, and run litter cleanup sites. 

“Clean the Bay Day started off as a discussion among four residents sitting around a kitchen table. They wanted a way to clean up their communities but also experience the huge benefits when people come together toward a common goal of restoring the Bay and creating healthier neighborhoods. Now, for a few hours one morning a year, thousands of people become part of that dream. That wouldn’t have been possible without CBF’s partners,” said CBF Grassroots Coordinator Lisa Renee Jennings. 

CBF and partners plan to host more than 200 cleanup sites across Virginia, including in Northern Virginia, the Richmond Area, the Shenandoah Valley, Hampton Roads, and the Eastern Shore. Since 1989, this Virginia tradition has engaged more than 165,500 volunteers who have removed approximately 7 million pounds of debris from more than 8,250 miles of shoreline. 

“Clean the Bay Day gives the Suffolk community the chance to play a part in beautifying their communities, but also improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Daniel McDonald, Suffolk’s Litter Control Coordinator and a Clean the Bay Day partner. “Clean the Bay Day connects us to volunteers across the state to reduce the litter and debris we contribute to this treasured natural resource. We know that a cleaner Bay means stronger protection for our neighborhoods from climate change threats, restored natural habitats for beloved wildlife, and cleaner air and water for our children.” 

The most common items found during the cleanups are plastics, glass bottles, aluminum cans, and cigarette butts. Participants also often find unusual items. In previous years, that has included a recliner, a cash register, a car door, a 19th century horseshoe, and a homemade drone.

“Our neighborhoods and waterways in Norfolk are a conduit of plastics and debris to the Chesapeake Bay and then out to the open ocean,” said Sarah Sterzing, Program Manager for Clean the Bay Day partner Keep Norfolk Beautiful. “Our wetlands, marshes, and rivers transport it, creating a crisis for the natural systems and wildlife that call the Chesapeake Bay home. Clean the Bay Day is Norfolk’s opportunity to not only clean up, but educate and engage residents and partners to understand that we are all stakeholders in the health and future of this critical system. We need to realize that every day is Clean the Bay Day and do our part and inspire others to as well.” 

Just like rainfall leads to polluted runoff, rain also washes litter from streets and parks into waterways. This leads to microplastics and other pollution far downstream in rivers and the Chesapeake Bay. Leaving sites cleaner sends an important message on reducing litter and plastic waste. 

This year’s event starts at 9 a.m. and is open to all, from children to adults, individuals to businesses and organizations. 

For questions, please send an email to ctbd@cbf.org or call 757-644-4122. 

Appointments Come During Pivotal Time for Chesapeake Bay Restoration

Virginia Senators Richard Stuart and Jeremy McPike and Delegate Alex Askew, leaders on conservation and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts, have been appointed to the Chesapeake Bay Commission. They will join Delegate David Bulova, who recently took over as Chair of the Commission, and Delegate Rob Bloxom, who has served on the Commission since 2018. 

The Commission is a tri-state partnership that seeks to provide coordination and leadership of state legislative and policy actions to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The commission also provides important input to Congress on Bay policy and budget issues.

The Virginia representatives will serve on the commission during a pivotal time as leaders chart a path forward as we approach a critical deadline for Bay restoration goals in 2025. 

Stuart’s district includes parts of the Northern Neck, Middle Peninsula, and Spotsylvania County.  McPike’s district includes parts of Prince William County and Stafford County and Askew represents parts of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. 

The appointments come several months after the January announcement of Virginia Delegate David Bulova as the commission’s chair. Bulova represents parts of Fairfax County and Fairfax City in the Virginia General Assembly. As a leader on environmental issues, he has worked closely with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) during his tenure. In 2019, CBF named him Virginia Legislator of the Year.  

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore issued the following statement. 

“We are excited to continue our work with these Virginia representatives as we enter this critical stage of Bay restoration.  The Commission’s bipartisan work is key to advancing Bay restoration legislative and budget priorities. Their strong track records on the environment in Virginia as well as Bay restoration will help pave the way for innovative and inclusive approaches to ensuring Chesapeake Bay can be preserved for generations. We congratulate Delegate Bulova, Delegate Bloxom, Delegate Askew, Senator Stuart, and Senator McPike on their appointments.”

Lancaster received an early Earth Day gift of 100 new trees during the weekend.

Dr. Zeshan Ismat of Lancaster City and Dart Corporation employees planted 100 trees on the company’s property at 110 Pitney Road, Lancaster, Saturday morning.

Dr. Ismat received a 2022 Mira Lloyd Dock Partnership Diversity Award from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership for her conservation and environmental justice work in under-represented portions of her community. The Partnership is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

The Dock Award presentation to Ismat, and Saturday’s tree planting, were made possible by partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation and Project UP, an initiative of Packaging Corporation of America and Boise Paper that aims to revitalize urban communities through tree planting. Recipients of the Dock Award receive trees and supplies to help advance their efforts.

Brennan Ka’aihue of Central Pennsylvania also received a 2022 Dock Award and planted trees and shrubs in Carlisle last fall.

“CBF is deeply appreciative and supportive of the work Dr. Zeshan Ismat has done in her community, making connecting to nature and land stewardship more accessible,” said Carla Eissing, CBF Grassroots Manager in Pennsylvania. “She truly embodies the spirit of the Mira Lloyd Dock Award and we’re honored to partner with her and Dart to plant more trees and be part of the climate resiliency work in Lancaster.”

Dr. Ismat started the Blackbirds Environmental Justice group to teach youngsters in Lancaster City about the environment in a fun way while emphasizing stewardship, community, and justice. She said the mission is getting people, particularly youngsters from marginalized communities, involved in the natural world.

“Our identity is tied to our land and if that connection is strained the community can suffer,” Dr. Ismat said. “Everybody talks about climate change, and it is difficult for a lot of people to connect with these issues unless they are actually connected with the land. Little things like digging in the ground can help to feel connected and give you agency and ownership over your land and want to take care of it and think about the larger scale issues.”

Ismat is a geology professor at Franklin & Marshall College and before Blackbirds she was working on anaerobic digesters, putting compost into barrels to collect methane that forms naturally and can then be used for power. 

“As part of Dart’s environmental stewardship efforts, our employee Community Action Teams always look for opportunities to clean up our neighborhoods and improve our planet,” said Matt Hess, Human Resources Business Partner for Dart Container’s Lancaster, manufacturing facility. “Planting trees improves soil and water conservation, helps regulate extreme temperatures and increases wildlife habitat – and they are beautiful additions to our property for our employees to enjoy.”

CBF launched the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership in 2018 with a goal of planting 10 million trees for Pennsylvania to help meet the state’s Clean Water Blueprint.  

Mira Lloyd Dock is recognized as the first Pennsylvania woman to lead the way in forest conservation. She was an advocate for Penn’s Woods and in 1901 was appointed to the State Forest Reservation Commission by Pennsylvania Governor William Stone.

Five years ago this month and clad in a blue “HELLBENDER DEFENDER” t-shirt, Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation designating the Eastern hellbender as Pennsylvania’s official state amphibian. Gathered around him was an excited group of passionate teenagers who made it happen.

Those original “Hellbender Defenders” have been inspired to pursue careers in the fields of conservation, education, and the environment. The former Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Student Leadership Council (SLC ) members are working toward master’s degrees in Environmental Education, Wildlife Science or Conservation Biology, and studying Environmental Science and Outdoor Recreation Leadership.

The signing of Senate Bill 9 on April 23, 2019, was the crescendo of a three-year campaign by the students who had set out three years earlier to recognize the largest salamander in North America and create greater awareness of the critical need to reduce pollution in the Commonwealth’s rivers and streams.

“It is my hope that other student leaders across the Commonwealth may be inspired by our work,” SLC President Emma Stone said at the bill signing. “Making change is possible, no matter your age. All you need is dedication, support, and of course, a worthy cause. The hellbender is a worthy cause.”

“To think that future students get to learn about the hellbender is heartwarming because it will put this animal on their radar well into their adult lives,” Anna Pauletta said recently. She was president of the SLC when the hellbender campaign began in 2016.

Pauletta graduated from Cumberland Valley High School and then Penn State University in 2021 with degrees in Forest Ecosystem Management with a focus in Forest Biology and Wildlife and Fisheries Science, with a focus in Wildlife Biology. She also graduated with minors in Biology and Political Science. She is now serving as a paralegal specialist in the U.S. Army and plans to apply to law school in the fall. 

During the hellbender campaign, the students studied hellbenders extensively, they met with state legislators, and installed nesting boxes in several Pennsylvania streams. They wrote the first draft of the bill that was sponsored by Senator Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) in 2018.

Though the bill did not pass before the legislative session ended, the students persisted. When a new session began in January 2019, the measure was reintroduced as Senate Bill 9. The students helped guide the legislation to overwhelming passage by the Senate and House, and to the Governor’s desk. 

“I am proud that we had the courage to do something rather unprecedented; that we got back up and kept trying after our bill didn’t make it through the first legislative session,” Stone said recently. She graduated from Carlisle High School and then Mansfield University in 2022 after studying Environmental Science and Outdoor Recreation Leadership.

The SLC hellbender campaign garnered local, state, and national attention, making it onto the front page of the Wall Street Journal and was a subject of the iconic Mark Trail Sunday comic strip. A radio station in Canada interviewed Stone.

“At the time it felt very overwhelming, and I am glad I got to understand that no matter your age you have a voice and can make an impact,” former SLC student Anne Puchalsky said recently. She graduated from Cumberland Valley and completed her bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science with a minor in Forest Ecosystem Management from Penn State. She hopes to obtain her master’s degree in Wildlife Science, or Conservation Biology. 

Five years ago, Governor Wolf said the bill-signing ceremony was about more than a declaration of an official state amphibian. “It’s about reaffirming our commitment to protecting our waters in Pennsylvania,” he said. “Clean water is critical for the hellbender, and we need to continue to do our part to improve water quality in the Commonwealth so that the first state amphibian can thrive.” 

Meanwhile, the most famous salamander in Pennsylvania continues to be celebrated. In October of 2023, the Eastern hellbender was recognized with a special Pennsylvania license plate that supports the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.