Press Release

Virginia farm and environmental leaders join forces for clean water budget

As Virginia legislators prepare to finalize the budget for the next two years, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Virginia Farm Bureau, and Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are urging leaders to fix a funding shortfall in farm conservation practices and invest in other programs that reduce pollution to waterways.

For more than 40 years, Virginia’s Agricultural Cost-Share Program has helped farmers install solutions that both benefit the environment and their farms. Fencing cattle out of streams, planting streamside trees and grasses, and other conservation practices are the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to reduce nutrient pollution to local streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.

The program has been fully funded since 2022. This much-needed period of stability has allowed program staff numbers to grow while these experts gain experience and build valuable relationships with farmers.

However, the current budget proposal introduced by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin would underfund the program, threatening to upset that stability. Fortunately, legislators are currently considering budget amendments that would fully fund the program.

Virginia legislators have set a July 1, 2028, deadline for farmers to meet goals for reducing pollution from agriculture. Even after reaching these goals, continued investment will be needed to keep pollution from growing.

“Meeting Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay clean up goals requires a heavy lift from farmers. Now is not the time to take our foot off the gas,” said Martha Moore, senior vice president of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau. “Farmers are doing their part to improve the land and waterways, but we need the state to fulfill its promise. Cuts to the agricultural cost-share program would mean losing trained staff, valuable expertise, and hard-earned trust.”

This state budget will be the first after Virginia joined state and federal leaders from across the region in December to commit to an update to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. That new accord binds Virginia to meeting numerous environmental goals by 2040.

“Farmers are on the front lines of efforts to create clean-running streams and a healthy Chesapeake Bay,” said CBF Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford. “After recommitting to the Bay Agreement, Virginia should back words with action by fully funding its clean water programs.”

Budget amendments currently under consideration would fully fund the program by adding $8.5 million to the introduced budget funding levels for the program in the first year and $71.89 million in the second (Items 362 #19h by Del. Krizek and 362 #13s by Sen. Marsden, as well as 362 #7h by Del. Bloxom and 362 #10s Sen. Pillion).

“Farmers rely on consistent state support to protect both our waterways and their livelihoods,” said Virginia Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts Executive Director Kendall Tyree. “Decades of collaboration have delivered cleaner streams and productive farms. Now we must make sure we don’t backtrack on that progress.”

This Sunday, Feb. 22, Virginia legislators will release budget proposals in both the House and Senate. In addition to agricultural cost-share, CBF urges lawmakers to support the following provisions:

• Save Virginia’s Trees. As Virginia loses tree cover at an alarming rate, legislators can increase support for the Department of Forestry’s Trees for Clean Water grant program, which funds community-based tree planting and restoration projects. Legislators should allocate $4 million to the program through budget amendments 362 #18h (Del. Krizek) and 362 #15s (Sen. Surovell).
• Make Pay-for-Outcomes Permanent. This effort incentivizes innovation in environmental restoration by paying only for verified pollution reductions. Demand for this program outpaced funding six to one in its first year. Virginia can make the program permanent and add $20 million to the fund through the budget amendment Item 368 #9h from Del. Krizek.
• Increase funding for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP), which expands nature-based stormwater solutions on private properties, schools, and community sites to reduce pollution in rivers and streams.

“Virginia’s rivers and streams are the lifeblood of our economy and way of life. When we invest in clean water, we’re paid back in dividends in the form of healthier communities, thriving businesses, and higher quality of life,” said Ford.

A new alliance will help restore the mussel population in the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s namesake river in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as part of a grant announced this month.

Freshwater mussels, which provide critical bay ecosystem benefits like filtering water, creating habitat, and removing excess nitrogen, are considered the most endangered class of organisms in the country, with about two-thirds of species vulnerable to extinction.

The grant to CBF through the Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Grants Program will help power the work of the Pamunkey Freshwater Mussel Alliance, a coalition working on mussel restoration efforts in the Pamunkey River watershed.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is excited to be a partner on the WILD grant and in standing up the alliance, said Joe Capella, Natural Resources Director for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.

“Tribal sovereignty will be strengthened through the grant by amplifying Tribal voices in deciding how these culturally significant species are managed on and around their ancestral lands while also identifying a unique opportunity for the Tribe,” Capella said.

The grant will, in part, help to conduct targeted outreach to landowners in mussel hot spots and to investigate whether the existing Pamunkey Tribe hatchery can be used to help grow freshwater mussels.

The alliance will also work to identify populations of threatened and endangered mussels and characterize fish hosts that mussels rely on for reproduction.

The Pamunkey Indian Reservation spans about 1,600 acres in King William County—an area also facing ecological and climate-related threats like flooding and erosion.

“The Pamunkey Fish Hatchery operated as an American shad hatchery for over 100 years, and we are excited to explore how we may re-tool the facility to provide meaningful restoration support for freshwater mussels and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem through Traditional Ecological Knowledge,” Capella said.

Other alliance partners include Virginia Commonwealth University, the York River and Small Coastal Basin Roundtable, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Randolph-Macon College, Wetland Restoration and Training LLC, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Pamunkey River Watershed is home to at least 18 freshwater mussel species—three of which are at significant risk of extinction.

The South Anna River, which is a tributary to the Pamunkey, represents an exciting opportunity for restoration following the recent Ashland Mill Dam removal which opened up over 100 miles of streams and rivers to migratory fish. Most freshwater mussels rely upon fish populations to complete their reproductive cycle, and this dam removal presents new opportunities for freshwater mussels in the watershed.

The first public meeting of the alliance is expected to be held virtually on February 26 and is open to the public.

The WILD grants program is administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), with major funding support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (NWS). The total project amount of $243,800 will go toward restoration of freshwater mussels.

The alliance “represents a commitment to protecting species on the brink of extinction and restoring the biodiversity and health of the Pamunkey River watershed,” said Joe Wood, Virginia Senior Scientist at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation thanks the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for providing funding through the WILD grant program for this work.

“We welcome partners from across the region to join Tribal leadership, scientists, conservation groups, and community members in building a future rooted in collaboration, sound science, and hands-on restoration,” Wood said.

“Together, we will safeguard these remarkable mussels and share their powerful story and value with the public.”

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Board of Trustees has elected Ann Pelham as its chair for a three-year term. Pelham spent her professional career in the media industry and is the retired publisher of Legal Times, an ALM Media company focused on law and lobbying in Washington, D.C. She lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

“Ann brings a thoughtful combination of strategic vision, sound judgment, and deep commitment to the Chesapeake Bay,” said Hilary Harp Falk, President and CEO of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Her leadership, experience, and collaborative approach will be invaluable as CBF builds on decades of progress to restore the Bay. We are grateful for her continued service and look forward to working together to advance our mission for the Bay and its communities.”

Pelham joined CBF’s Board of Trustees in 2019, became Vice Chair in 2023, and was appointed as Vice Chair-Elect in 2025. She has also served as chair of the Audit & Finance Committee and as board liaison to the organization’s year-long strategic planning process. She takes the helm from outgoing Board Chair Otis Jones. Her term begins just after leaders around the region committed to an updated Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement that will guide the next 15 years of Bay restoration.

“I am honored to step into the role of board chair at a pivotal moment for the Bay,” Pelham said. “For decades, CBF has led efforts to save the Bay with science, credibility, and impact. The organization’s history of success, the strength of its team, and the collective voice of its members leave us well positioned to meet the challenges ahead.”

She praised Falk for being “an exemplary leader,” noting that “she is both hands on and strategic in her approach.” Pelham added, “Hilary has deepened and built relationships across the watershed for CBF.”

She emphasized the importance of partnership to ensure a thriving Chesapeake Bay and local waterways that benefit everyone in the region.

“As chair, I am committed to listening, learning, and engaging closely with CBF’s staff, partners, members, and community volunteers,” she said. “By working together, we will continue reducing pollution, restoring oysters, and rebuilding the fish and wildlife that depend on this extraordinary ecosystem. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the Bay.”

Pelham spent the bulk of her career reporting and editing at Legal Times and other publications. She serves on the Duke University Board of Trustees, where she chaired the Undergraduate Education Committee and served as a member of the Executive Committee, among other roles. She also serves as a director of Canal Insurance Company, as president of the Jean T. and Heyward G. Pelham Foundation, and is a past President of the Duke Alumni Association.

Coalition Pushes for Pausing Industrial Menhaden Extraction in the Chesapeake Bay While Scientific Study is Completed

As lawmakers prepare to vote in the coming days on breakthrough legislation to address concerns around Virginia’s menhaden extraction industry in the Chesapeake Bay, groups are calling for a pause on the fishery while research occurs.

Menhaden are small, nutrient-rich forage fish that anchor the Chesapeake Bay food web, feeding iconic species like striped bass and osprey. They are targeted by an extraction fishery that grinds up more than 100 million pounds of Chesapeake menhaden every year for industrial uses.

“It’s time to prioritize the Bay’s long-term health over the short-term profits of a single corporation,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation Forage Campaign Manager Will Poston. “The Bay is showing signs of unprecedented strain, and we can’t afford to continue to stick our heads in the sand. We must ensure sufficient menhaden are available to sustain the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem while scientists begin to address longstanding concerns about threats from concentrated industrial extraction.”

Proposed state legislation would better protect a fish at the heart of the Chesapeake Bay and finally begin to improve Bay-specific menhaden science. This comes after years of failed attempts in the General Assembly to fund research to inform harvest levels needed to protect the Bay. This legislative session the pieces of the puzzle could finally be lining up.

Those include HB1048, patroned by Del. Betsy Carr, which would pause the industrial menhaden fishery inside the Chesapeake Bay until research shows no harm to other fisheries or species. Recent bipartisan polling shows that 79 percent of Virgina voters support that approach. This bill would not reduce how much menhaden the industry can harvest. Workers would still be able to fish in the ocean, as they already do regularly, but Bay waters would be protected.

A separate bill from Del. Carr aims to reduce potential harm from the industrial menhaden fishery by setting different harvest limits at different points in the year, as well as require fisheries observers on industrial menhaden fishing trips (HB1049).

Adding urgency, a bill that aimed to establish a menhaden science fund failed to clear the Senate Finance Committee this week (SB474, patroned by Senator David Marsden). However, hope remains on the House side as a separate budget amendment by Del. Carr still under consideration would invest in menhaden research.

Recognizing the level of concern for the menhaden population, Congress passed a funding bill last month that included $2.5 million for NOAA to support menhaden research in the Bay.

These commonsense conservation measures would provide long-overdue accountability by protecting menhaden, and the jobs, communities, and ecosystems that depend on them. Carr’s legislation is expected to be taken up Monday by the House Agriculture Chesapeake and Natural Resources – Chesapeake Subcommittee.
Warning signs point to a Chesapeake Bay under increasing stress. Osprey chicks are starving at unprecedented levels in parts of the Bay where they depend on menhaden for food. Small-scale watermen who catch menhaden for bait report catches down over 80% in recent years in Virginia, threatening livelihoods passed down through generations.

A new scientific assessment estimates far fewer menhaden up and down the Atlantic Coast than previously thought, but science specific to the Bay remains woefully inadequate.

Omega Protein and its associates have worked to delay meaningful action, blocking science and conservation efforts, violating harvest limits, and polluting the Bay.

“Virginia has an obligation to let data guide the management of Chesapeake Bay’s largest fishery. The science used to manage the Atlantic menhaden fishery is on a coastwide scale, even though nearly a quarter of total harvest occurs in Chesapeake Bay,” said Jaclyn Lunaas, forage fish program manager for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “HB1048 provides a commonsense mechanism for the Commonwealth to pause reduction fishing in the Bay until science demonstrates that this industrial harvest is not harming the ecosystem, a step that complements rather than rejects coastwide management by addressing its current limitations.”

Pollution and climate change are among the stressors on the menhaden population. Factory fishing by Omega Protein and its exclusive harvester partner Ocean Harvesters intensifies concerns about a population in decline being subject to high-volume extraction from Bay waters.

“Menhaden are integral to productive and thriving recreational fishing economies, as many of the most iconic Atlantic coast sportfish rely on this nutrient-packed forage fish,” said Mike Waine, Atlantic fisheries policy director with the American Sportfishing Association. “As warning signs mount for menhaden and the ecosystem, Virginia has the opportunity to respond with conservation-minded measures. Better protecting menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay protects a thriving recreational fishing economy here in the nation’s largest estuary and throughout the coast.”

The osprey crisis is ringing alarm bells in Virginia and beyond.

“Osprey chicks are starving to death,” said Alan Wingfield, president of the Richmond Audubon Society. “Osprey can’t speak, but they are telling us that there is something seriously wrong in the Bay and the need for action is urgent.”

The American Bird Conservancy is calling for action.

“Policy change is needed in the Chesapeake Bay to conserve menhaden and birds, and the Virginia legislature has the opportunity to do that right now,” said Brian Brooks, Vice President for Advocacy & Threats Programs at American Bird Conservancy. “Osprey nests are failing in the Bay and limited food availability is one of the reasons for this decline. These legislative proposals would advance needed research, science, and harvest limits on menhaden that would aid their conservation, benefitting the wider ecosystem, including osprey, which depend on this food source.”

This week CBF launched Save Menhaden, a new campaign raising awareness and mobilizing action to protect one of Virginia’s most critical natural resources.

“Protecting menhaden is essential for a healthy Bay and all the livelihoods that depend on thriving waterways,” said Poston. “That includes the community of Reedville, which has the most to lose if the fishery collapses due to short-sighted corporate interests. Let’s act now before it’s too late.”

Virginians must speak up and ensure legislators pass legislation that pauses industrial menhaden fishing in Virginia and supports research on menhaden in the Bay. Learn how to save the bay and our fish at savemenhaden.org.

Changes Could Better Protect Rockfish When They’re Most Vulnerable

Marylanders who want to help protect the Chesapeake Bay’s iconic striped bass should make their voices heard to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this month. The agency is seeking public comment through Feb. 23 on proposed changes to the state’s striped bass recreational fishing seasons.

The adjustment would close all striped bass fishing in Maryland waters for the month of August, while reopening a few days of catch-and-release fishing in April. If enacted, this would simplify Maryland’s current, complex fishing calendar. It would also better reflect the latest science and trends striped bass are experiencing in Maryland.

“We’re seeing two major trends in Maryland: young striped bass are struggling to survive their early life, and mature fish are suffering high rates of summer mortality,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Maryland Executive Director Allison Colden. “It’s critical we consider these realities and protect Maryland’s striped bass however we can—especially considering up to 90% of the entire Atlantic Coast stock spawn here in the Bay.”

For six consecutive years, Maryland’s juvenile striped bass numbers have been well below average. Not enough young fish are surviving the challenges of early life — such as habitat loss and invasive predators like blue catfish — to maintain a healthy population.

At the same time, mature striped bass are experiencing high rates of catch-and-release mortality in the hot summer months. Low oxygen levels and heat-induced stress make striped bass most vulnerable during this time.

DNR’s proposed August closure could help reduce that stress. The proposed change would also add a few more days for catch-and-release fishing in April when air and water temperatures are cooler and fish are much less likely to die.

Lastly, the proposed season adjustment would simplify Maryland’s fishing schedule. The current calendar is a complex patchwork of some harvest days, some catch-and-release, and some closed entirely for a few weeks at a time. Simplifying to a single month-long closure would leave less margin for error and help improve angler compliance with fishing regulations.

“Our understanding about the health of the striped bass population is based on the assumption that anglers are fishing according to regulations,” added Colden. “Ensuring the rules are clear and easy to follow is key to conservation efforts.”

DNR is currently accepting public comments through Feb. 23 to formalize the proposed regulatory changes. Those who want to help preserve the striped bass’s future in Maryland can learn more and make their voices heard here.

In addition to Maryland’s efforts, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Striped Bass Board, which manages the striped bass fishery along the entire Atlantic Coast, will meet at its annual winter meeting on Feb. 5. CBF will remain engaged at every step and level, urging ASMFC to protect striped bass across the coast while Maryland takes local action.

Court agrees Queen Anne’s County Commissioners’ approval of Chesterhaven Beach development plan is against state law

In a win for clean water and habitat, on Friday, Dec. 5 the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court decisively ruled in favor of environmental organizations over a long-standing dispute involving the Chesterhaven Beach development proposal on Kent Island. The property, which had been proposed for the development of dozens of new houses, includes an ecologically significant mix of forests, wetlands, and fields overlooking the Chester River that feeds into the Chesapeake Bay.

The development proposal, which has been a source of litigation for over 30 years, would have circumvented environmental laws and allowed dwellings to be built on a vulnerable 101-acre waterfront ecosystem. The property owner claimed that he had “grandfathered” rights to build 186 residential units, despite laws that limit residential density in this sensitive area to just one unit per 20 acres. The developer’s argument was rejected by the courts in 1992, but it became just the start of numerous unsuccessful legal challenges.

Last week, the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court once again ruled in favor of environmental protection and clean water after a group of environmental partners challenged the latest Chesterhaven Beach development attempt in July 2024.

“Time and again, this developer has wasted everyone’s time trying to convince someone – anyone – that he somehow has grandfathered lots that do not exist,” said Queen Anne’s Conservation Association Executive Director Jay Falstad. “And time and again, the Courts have ruled against him. With this latest decision, hopefully the matter is now settled.”

The developer wanted to build 90 homes on the 101-acre waterfront property, which is almost entirely within Maryland’s Critical Area where state law limits development near tidal water. Perhaps most concerning, the proposal was approved by the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners, who claimed the property qualified as a “growth area” despite the state’s Critical Area laws.

The decision drew an immediate challenge from the Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage, and several adjacent neighbors, who raised six individual claims for summary judgment against the proposal. Maryland’s Critical Area Commission (CAC) also raised red flags with the proposal, including the development’s size, and that no application or notice had been provided to the CAC, in accordance with state law. CAC intervened in the case on Jan. 29, 2025.

After hearing the case, the Court found all six of the plaintiff’s arguments persuasive, including the failure of Commissioners and Chesterhaven Beach to give the CAC the required notice of the comprehensive rezoning that the project needed to move forward. The Court also agreed that Commissioners illegally adopted the rezoning request two years after the adoption of the County’s Comprehensive Plan, where such designations are required to be identified. The summary judgment in favor of the plaintiffs underscores the legal finding that intense development is not permitted on this property.

“This proposal completely disregarded the health of the Chesapeake Bay and was simply against the law,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation Advocacy Director Alan Girard. “We are pleased and encouraged that the Queen Anne’s County Circuit Court ruled against this dangerous, illegal development plan and upheld Maryland’s commitment to protect our land and water.”

Maryland’s Critical Area law protects land within 1,000 feet of high tide or tidal wetlands to minimize the harm of new development on Bay water quality, habitat, and wildlife.

The Chesterhaven Beach property includes 1.6 miles of vulnerable and ecologically important shoreline on the Chester River and Piney Creek. The property’s mix of forests, marshes, and wetlands supports wildlife, naturally filters polluted stormwater runoff, and is vital to Maryland’s resilience against flooding and climate change.

“In the end, this landowner should do what every other landowner is required to do in Queen Anne’s County: follow the Comprehensive Plan, follow the law, and follow the process of the Critical Area Commission,” Falstad said.

QACA was represented by its longtime attorney Jesse Hammock and Parker|Counts of Easton, Maryland.

For Information Contact

Jay Falstad, Queen Anne’s Conservation Association, jay.falstad@qaca.org, 410-739-6570

Valerie DiMarzio, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, vdimarzio@cbf.org, 215-900-5719

Jesse Hammock, jhammock@parkercountslaw.com, 410-822-1122

PA Governor Shapiro Named Chair of Chesapeake Executive Council 

In an important show of unity, the region’s governors and federal partners today agreed to a Chesapeake Bay restoration plan for the next 15 years.  

At a Chesapeake Executive Council meeting in Baltimore, a host of state and federal leaders committed to the latest version of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement—including Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi, Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission Maryland State Senator Sara Love, and others.  

The Council also elected Shapiro as its next chair, marking the first time in more than two decades a Pennsylvania governor has led the group.  

Since 1983, versions of this agreement have held together the Bay restoration partnership, a decades-long effort that has become a national model for different levels of government cooperating to meet common environmental goals.  

Separately from the Bay Agreement, in 2010 states committed to meeting legally-binding commitments to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. This requirement was enshrined alongside other goals in the 2014 Bay Agreement.  

While states have made notable progress, from oyster restoration to upgrading sewage treatment plants, they did not meet the pollution-reduction targets by the 2025 deadline. 

In late 2024, the federal and state restoration partners committed to revising the Bay Agreement by the end of this year to update goals and incorporate new science that promises to more efficiently restore the Bay.  

Throughout the process, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) advocated for a strong agreement that: 

• Affirms state commitments to meet legally-required pollution reductions; 
• Provides accountability with a uniform deadline across goals and a midpoint assessment; and,  
• Factors in growing challenges from climate change. 

After input from CBF and other advocates, the final Bay Agreement revision includes improvements over the July draft. It now has a uniform deadline of 2040, as well as a 2033 midpoint check in that offers a chance to adapt to the latest science. It also reaffirms the legally-binding pollution reductions states must meet. The council today also approved a charge to develop by July 1 recommendations on including the region’s seven federally recognized Indigenous tribes in the restoration partnership.  

While the agreement approved today is not as ambitious as what CBF called for, it remains critical. The agreement sustains a historic partnership working to restore the Bay—including governors of Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and New York, the mayor of the District of Columbia, state legislators with the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and leaders at the EPA and six other federal agencies. 

CBF President Hilary Harp Falk issued the following statement: 

“The revised Bay Agreement is what we need to keep progress alive. Even in a time of deep division and uncertainty, leaders from across the political spectrum still find common ground in restoring the Bay. But words alone won’t save the Bay. Now is the time for bold action and thinking big.  

“We must use what we’ve learned over the last 40 years to deliver lasting solutions for polluted runoff from farms, cities, and new development. We should build on past successes like oyster restoration to exceed these goals. We’ll keep pushing for the policies and investments needed to make that happen. Because when the Bay thrives, so do we. 

“We’re thankful for the leadership of Maryland Governor Wes Moore as chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council and congratulate Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as he steps into the role. Together, we can leave a healthy Chesapeake Bay for future generations.” 

CBF Pennsylvania Executive Director Julia Krall issued the following statement: 

“As chair of the Chesapeake Executive Council, Governor Josh Shapiro’s mantra to ‘get stuff done’ represents an important call to action for continued momentum on clean water efforts throughout the Bay region. We look forward to his vision and leadership at this key time for the partnership. 

“Governor Shapiro pledged that Pennsylvania is ‘all in’ for doing its fair share to ensure cleaner local rivers and streams, which means a healthier Chesapeake Bay. 

“Now is the time to turn vision into action and for the Bay community to live up to our commitments. Governor Shapiro’s leadership will help do just that.” 

A new short film by 27-year-old Baltimore local Jacob Jackson highlights the healing power of oysters in the Baltimore Harbor. In his video, Saving the Bay: The Untold Story of Oyster Gardening, Jackson shows how oysters can both clean the water and inspire a community to connect to local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

“For me, this project came from a lifelong sense of wonder about the natural world — the same curiosity that made me chase frogs and turtles as a kid,” said Jackson. “The more I’ve learned about the Bay and its wildlife, the more I’ve realized that some of the most impactful restoration work is also the most approachable. I wanted this piece to show that anyone, no matter their background, can take part in rebuilding something as vital as our oyster reefs.”

Jackson’s film showcases the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s oyster restoration efforts in Baltimore. The program includes hundreds of volunteer oyster gardeners, like Jackson, who help CBF grow young oysters and tend to their cages, which hang off marina docks around the city.

Last year, the Baltimore Oyster Partnership, a collaborative effort between CBF and Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore, added roughly 500,000 oysters to the Harbor. The partnership plans to expand that number, with a goal to grow 5 million oysters by 2030.

Once grown, the oysters are planted at the Fort Carroll oyster sanctuary reef in the Patapsco River where they’ll forever filter the water and provide habitat for other iconic Bay species like rockfish and blue crabs. An adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day.

“Oyster restoration simply could not happen without dedicated volunteers like Jacob,” said Morgan Shapiro, CBF’s Baltimore Oyster Restoration Coordinator. “This program fills a real need in the Baltimore community for hands-on environmental stewardship. To see how it’s made a difference in someone’s life through the lens of this film is truly inspiring.”

Watch Jacob Jackon’s oyster video here to get inspired. And those interested in oyster gardening can learn more here.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Event Expands Tree Cover at Chimborazo Park 

Richmond Mayor Dr. Danny Avula and 63 Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) volunteers helped bring Richmond Tree Week to a close Saturday by planting 46 native trees at Chimborazo Park.  

The planting adds to the greening efforts across the city, helping reduce polluted runoff entering the James River, improving local air quality, and combating the urban heat island effect. Saturday’s planting served as the final phase of a two-day planting at Chimborazo Park that in total planted 92 trees at the East End park.  

“Seeing so many Richmond residents come out to dedicate their Saturday to planting trees is incredibly inspiring,” said Ann Jurczyk, CBF’s Virginia Manager of Urban Restoration. “These trees are some of the most cost-effective tools we have for cleaning our water and creating a city stronger in the face of flooding and extreme weather. Every native tree planted today in Chimborazo Park will filter runoff, absorb carbon for decades to come, and cool our city neighborhood.” 

Mayor Avula joined volunteers, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to creating a sustainable built environment for future generations. He recalled that, like many homebuyers, he once bought a house because of a nearby willow oak.  

“Planting trees is a practical, immediate way we can invest in the health and vitality of our city and our residents,” said Mayor Avula. “The trees planted here today are future air filters, shade providers, and soil stabilizers. This work is crucial for giving us another line of defense against flooding and extreme weather.” 

The impact of urban trees extends directly to residents’ well-being and their pocketbooks. More urban trees significantly combat the ‘urban heat island’ effect, cooling neighborhoods and filtering airborne pollutants known to exacerbate asthma.  

They also lower energy bills. Properly placing trees around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 to 50 percent in energy used for heating.  

Volunteers of all ages came from Richmond and the surrounding counties.

“At a time when it feels like things are getting lonelier and lonelier, we are meeting new people and contributing to the community. Now every time when I come with my classmates or my dog, I will be able to see this tree and say, ‘I did that with my fellow neighbors,’” said Hannah Jones, a volunteer. 

The event was held in partnership with Richmond Tree Week and was made possible through funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund. 

Frederick County Event Featured Three Farms Improving Biodiversity and Climate Resilience

Maryland policymakers, conservation partners, public land decision makers, and farm leaders explored three Frederick County farms yesterday that are improving soil health, water quality, climate resilience, and biodiversity through regenerative agriculture.  

Agriculture is the second largest land use in Maryland—covering roughly one-third of the state—and the largest source of pollution entering the Chesapeake Bay. Frederick County has the most farmland out of all Maryland counties with over 188,000 acres. Fortunately, there have been immense improvements that both reduce pollution and help address climate change. Maryland farmers are at the forefront of this effort, implementing regenerative agriculture practices such as crop diversification and rotational livestock grazing, which can improve soil health and reduce a farm’s carbon footprint. 

“Agriculture can be part of the solution or continue to be a problem for the Chesapeake Bay,” said Rob Schnabel, Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Restoration Scientist. “Innovative local farmers are proving that regenerative agriculture can restore a farm’s soil health, making their land more resilient and productive, while at the same time reducing costly chemical fertilizer. Over 50% of farms are not profitable, making them vulnerable to development. Regenerative agriculture can be part of the solution to work with diverse natural systems for economic viability and for cleaner rivers and streams.” 

The October 23 event, coordinated by CBF and Mobilize Frederick, toured three unique farm businesses implementing regenerative practices, including: 

• Stone Pillar Farm in Frederick, a livestock and vegetable operation specializing in pasture-raised meat and eggs and marketing directly to consumers; 
• Hedgeapple Farm in Frederick specializing in grass-fed beef and pork, with over a mile of Monocacy River frontage; and,  
• Jehovah Jireh Farm in Dickerson, which specializes in organic pasture-raised eggs and sells to MOM’s Organic Market and other local grocers. 

“We started implementing regenerative practices like cover crops for the environmental benefits, but saw the operational benefits right away,” said Abby Fahrner at Stone Pillar Farm.  

During the event, presenters demonstrated the immediate water quality benefits of regenerative agriculture through rain simulators, slake soil tests, and greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration calculators. Presenters included representatives from CBF, Mobilize Frederick, University of Maryland Extension, American Farmland Trust, Future Harvest, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services, Frederick County Office of Agriculture, Maryland Forest Service, American Chestnut Foundation, Maryland Bird Conservation Partnership, local beekeepers, and more. 

“Mobilize Frederick is dedicated to implementing sustainable, equitable local solutions to climate change. We see regenerative farming as a key part of Frederick’s climate resilience and mitigation,” said Karen Cannon, Mobilize Frederick Executive Director. “We import the vast majority of our food from other parts of the country and around the world. To improve local food production and security and to maintain our agricultural heritage we need to ensure farms and farmers have all the tools they need to protect farmland and be profitable in the long run. Regenerative agriculture helps us meet these goals while mitigating climate change.” 

Healthy soil and biodiversity are critical for a prosperous farm. They are also a natural shield against flooding, absorbing rainfall and reducing polluted runoff, rather than letting it run off into our waterways. 

“We can really see the difference,” said Myron Horst at Jehovah Jireh Farms. “Now when we get a heavy rain, it has to rain at least two inches before we start seeing polluted runoff. Usually when it rains, the Monocacy River turns to mud from topsoil.” 

The top principles of regenerative agriculture include:  

• Minimizing negative disturbances like tillage and pesticides that can harm soil biology;  
• Always keeping soil covered with crops to prevent erosion;  
• Diversifying plant cover; 
• Prolonging root life to maintain photosynthesis, sequester carbon, and feed soil microbes, and;  
• Rotational grazing of livestock, which spurs diverse manure probiotics for better plant growth and deeper roots. 

Implementing these principles through a system of conservation practices across the Chesapeake Bay watershed is an efficient and cost-effective way to stop pollution at the source, meet the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint’s clean water goals, and provide economic resilience to farmers. Maryland must invest in the financial and technical assistance that farmers need to implement regenerative agriculture to meet these pollution reduction goals while illustrating the economic benefits for farmer profitability. 

Learn more about regenerative agriculture and how it benefits the health of the Chesapeake Bay.  

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