Press Release

There is still time for Maryland residents seeking local, healthy produce this summer to sign up for Clagett Farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

CSA members can secure seasonal produce between May and November at convenient pick-up locations in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties. Seasonal harvests can include salad greens, green beans, peppers, tomatoes, and other varieties.

“Eating locally grown food is one of the most effective ways people can support local farmers and minimize their carbon footprint,” said Jared Planz, program manager at Clagett Farm. “It is also delicious and healthier than what you’ll find at the grocery store.”

Clagett Farm, owned and operated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, is a sustainable, regenerative farm that uses best management practices to improve soil health and water quality. The farm grows produce year-round and harvests 100 percent certified organic vegetables.

Through its CSA program, Clagett Farm offers local Maryland residents a chance to pre-purchase shares of their seasonal harvest each week. CSA sales are now open for the main season.

“We’ve really enjoyed being a part of the CSA,” said Shelby Johnson, shareholder since 2019. “It makes nourishing our family with seasonal produce super easy, but also we know and can trust where our food is coming from.”

CSA members can choose from three pick-up locations where they’ll retrieve their bounties each week. Locations include Clagett Farm in Upper Marlboro, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Philip Merrill Center headquarters in Annapolis, and the Vineyards at Dodon in Davidsonville. An exciting addition to this year’s program is the ability for shareholders to pre-order and pick up Clagett’s grass-fed beef and lamb, in addition to their weekly produce.

Prices vary based on pick-up location and duration, but range from $415 for 13 weeks to $825 for the full 26 weeks. Roughly 70 percent of Clagett Farm’s harvest will go to CSA shareholders, and the other 30 percent is donated to local food banks and pantries.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is the largest nonprofit dedicated solely to saving the Chesapeake Bay. Part of that mission includes working with farmers and demonstrating regenerative agriculture practices, which are key to addressing climate change and reducing pollution by minimizing nutrient runoff, reducing greenhouse gases, and mitigating flooding caused by more intense storms.

Participants Are Invited to Raise Baby Oysters for Clean Water

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is calling all interested oyster foster parents to join more than 700 other oyster gardeners across the state in raising oysters that help clean and restore tidal waterways. 

Registration for new oyster gardeners opened this month, with workshops scheduled throughout coastal Virginia this summer.  CBF’s volunteer oyster gardeners support the Chesapeake Oyster Alliance goal of adding 10 billion new oysters to the Bay by 2025. 

“Dogs may be man’s best friend, but oysters are some of the most rewarding pets you’ll ever own. Oyster gardening is a hands-on experience and allows you to interact with the Bay environment in such a positive way,” said CBF Virginia Oyster Restoration Specialist Jessica Lutzow.

CBF’s oyster gardeners, as shown in this video, raise oysters in cages suspended from a dock. But oyster gardening isn’t limited to a private dock. For those who don’t live on the water, CBF can place gardeners at public growing spaces such as nearby marinas or parks that partner with our program. 

The oyster parent journey begins with one of nine oyster gardening workshops hosted by CBF this summer.  These workshops provide everything oyster gardeners will need to grow oysters for eventual planting on sanctuary oyster reefs. The events will take place across Hampton Roads, the Eastern Shore, the Middle Peninsula, and the Northern Neck.  

Over the course of a year, gardeners tend to these oysters, which filter water and provide habitat for aquatic life. After a year, the gardeners return full-grown oysters to CBF, which places them on one of many local sanctuary reefs. CBF’s more than 700 oyster gardeners raise hundreds of thousands of oysters each year at locations across Virginia’s tidal waterways. 

“Our gardeners often develop a connection with their baby oysters as they watch them grow into adults, filtering water and attracting underwater life as they mature,” said CBF Virginia Oyster Restoration Specialist Jessica Lutzow. “Sending them off to a sanctuary reef after their year of care is a fulfilling experience for our oyster parents of all ages because they know they’ve contributed to a healthier Chesapeake Bay.”  

CBF will hold seminars for the following locations and dates this summer:   

• Virginia Beach Oyster Gardening Seminar I
  • Saturday, June 8, 2024, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Norfolk Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Thursday, June 13, 2024, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• VA Eastern Shore Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Hampton Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Thursday, June 20, 2024, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Irvington Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Saturday, June 22, 2024, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
• Newport News Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Gloucester Point Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Thursday, July 25, 2024, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Portsmouth Oyster Gardening Seminar
  • Thursday, August 1, 2024, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
• Virginia Beach Oyster Gardening Seminar II
  • Saturday, August 3, 2024, 9:00-11:00 a.m.

Registration is required, and a $35 fee helps offset the cost of the program. Participants can register online at www.cbf.org/vaoystergardening or call 757-644-4125 or e-mail OysterGardener@cbf.org.  

ODU-ICAR Forum Bridged Knowledge Gaps in Innovative Solutions to Sea Level Rise

As Virginia confronts increasing climate change risks, Old Dominion University’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation & Resilience (ODU-ICAR), in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, convened experts from diverse backgrounds May 7 to help shape the future of nature-based resilience design solutions.

Engineers, landscape architects, stormwater officials, resilience officers, planners, and consultants fostered a rich dialogue on nature-based design solutions implemented beyond Virginia’s borders, bridging the gap between science and practice. The forum drew more than 175 participants. 

“Nature-based solutions are an essential tool to build community resilience in the face of  rising seas while reducing pollution and enhancing natural resources. ODU-ICAR’s forum helped inspire how we will construct the sustainable cities of tomorrow here in the Commonwealth, enabling us to build on our successes and become more proactive in the face of climate change,” Chesapeake Bay Foundation Policy Advisor Jay Ford said.  

The effects of climate change are evident in the Chesapeake Bay region, with repeated flooding in coastal areas contributing to septic system failures, battered businesses and infrastructure, as well as increased pollution washing into local waterways. 

Hampton Roads has among the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast, experiencing a foot and a half of relative sea level rise over the last century. Rates are projected to more than double in the years to come.

Rather than relying on materials such as concrete or asphalt, nature-based solutions depend on natural elements to prevent erosion. Large scale shoreline protection techniques such as living shorelines, which use native plants and grasses, or living breakwaters and oyster reefs, all stabilize the waterfront against the force of waves and storms. These solutions provide benefits beyond flood control, such as creating public recreational spaces, critical habitat for wildlife, and reducing pollution. 

Smaller scale techniques, like rain gardens, tree boxes, vegetated swales, permeable pavers, rain barrels, and downspout disconnections, hold and filter rainwater into the ground rather than letting it wash off hard streets and buildings and into creeks and rivers. This relieves pressure on overwhelmed city systems that struggle with the regular deluge of polluted runoff.

“As Virginia’s communities develop their visions to adapt to climate change, nature-based designs are a key instrument in the tool box,” said Jessica Whitehead, the Executive Director of ICAR. “Today’s symposium brought together leading research in nature-based design from across the United States, and allowed us to discuss the opportunities and dual benefits of working with nature in coastal Virginia.”

ODU’s Institute for Coastal Adaptation & Resilience (ODU-ICAR) advances the practice of coastal resilience and adaptation by engaging with communities, organizations and businesses to develop and deploy solutions based on integrated, innovative and applied research. The institute operates in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

‘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.