Press Release

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), Virginia Interfaith Power & Light (VAIPL), and Mosby Memorial Baptist Church will give away 200 native trees and shrubs to Richmond residents on Saturday, September 21, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. This free giveaway is an opportunity for homeowners to beautify their properties while contributing to a healthier environment.

“Fall is the ideal time of year to plant new trees,” said Ann Jurczyk, CBF Virginia Manager of Urban Restoration. “These native species provide vital habitat for birds and pollinators, while also cleaning the air we breathe. Trees filter out particulate pollution, a major contributor to asthma attacks, and help reduce stormwater runoff. Planting a well-placed tree can even save money on heating and cooling bills.”

Residents can choose from a variety of native trees and shrubs suited for the Richmond area. Species available include Redbud, Dogwood, Serviceberry, Inkberry, and Buttonbush.

“Many of us know all the many health and ecological benefits of trees,” said Faith Harris, Executive Director of Interfaith Power & Light. “However, most do not know that trees play a significant role in many of our religious traditions. In the Hebrew Bible, New Testament, and the Koran, trees provide a metaphor for wisdom, strength, perseverance, and good or godly character.  A lawn, community village, or landscape without trees is desolate and seemingly without creative activity. At VAIPL, we plant trees to honor their place within the traditions of our many faiths.”

Despite their value, Virginia’s trees continue to disappear at an alarming rate. At a time when the Chesapeake Bay watershed is struggling to meet 2025 water quality and restoration goals, planting trees remains one of the most successful and cost-effective solutions to reducing polluted runoff and cleaning local waterways.

Trees also provide significant benefits in cities, where they cool communities, combat flooding and reduce air pollution, all of which are exacerbated by climate change. 

Reserve free trees and shrubs and pick up your trees on:

• Date: Saturday, September 21
• Time: 9:00 a.m.–12:00 pm
• Location: Mosby Memorial Baptist Church (address provided upon registration)

This giveaway is a great way to:

• Enhance your landscape with beautiful native plants
• Support local wildlife and pollinators
• Improve air and water quality in your community
• Save money on your energy bills

Delegate Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) received the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Virginia Legislator of the Year award last week for her work protecting Virginians and the Chesapeake Bay from toxic substances and reducing pollution flowing into beloved waterways.

The new law Tran spearheaded, which passed the General Assembly this year, prohibits the sale and application of any pavement sealant with a PAH concentration greater than one percent by weight. Applied both commercially and privately, the sealant is a black liquid marketed as a pavement protector. These products contain high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that can harm people, birds, amphibians, fish, mammals, and plants.

“Delegate Tran’s leadership in addressing harmful toxics and pollutants has been a testament to her dedication towards creating healthier communities and restoring the Chesapeake Bay. Her unwavering support for the importance of banning toxic pavement sealants is highlighted by the fact that she carried this legislation for four years until its passage earlier this year, reflecting her tireless commitment to a cleaner environment for everyone,” said CBF Virginia Executive Director Chris Moore. “Because of her work, Virginia’s new law will reduce pollution to waterways and help shield Virginians from harmful chemicals.”

“I am honored to receive the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Virginia Legislator of the Year award,” said Tran. “Toxic pavement sealants put our children’s lives at risk and pollute our waterways. Many families do not realize that when repairing their driveway, they could be applying a toxic product that causes cancer in people and fish. Banning their sale is a commonsense action, and I am proud to partner with the experts at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to pass this bill and protect our children, marine life, and waterways.” 

“The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s deep commitment to protecting the Bay inspires us all to be better environmental stewards, and I look forward to continuing our work together to build a cleaner and healthier Virginia for all,” Tran said. 

CBF presents its Virginia Legislator of the Year Awards to lawmakers who have made outstanding efforts in the General Assembly to improve the health and resources of Virginia’s rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay. Recent Virginia Legislator of the Year awards include Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta), Delegate David Bulova (D-Fairfax),  and Delegate Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington and Alexandria). 

Planting in the fall by award-winning volunteers from the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership

Supported by a Healing the Planet grant from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful®, the City of Lancaster will get new trees this fall, planted by award-winning volunteers for the Keystone 10 Million Trees (K10) Partnership.

“The GIANT Company is pleased to partner with Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful to provide a grant to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation in support of its efforts to bring more trees to the Lancaster community,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of community relations and charitable giving for The GIANT Company. “Trees play a vital role in creating healthy communities and we are especially thrilled to see this grant benefit current and future students of McCaskey High School.”

The $4,000 Healing the Planet grant supports a tree planting in November at McCaskey High School, within the School District of Lancaster, led by Marlisa Yoder-Bontrager, and twin sisters Keisha and Tarsha Scovens. The three were recipients of the 2023 Mira Lloyd Dock Partnership Diversity Award, presented by the K10 Partnership, which is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

Dock Award winners were recognized for their conservation and Environmental Justice work in under-represented communities.

Each Dock Award winner will receive $5,000 for the planting and $1,000 for maintenance of the trees. Trees for the planting will come from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Tree Pennsylvania program, as well as the K10 Partnership.

Yoder-Bontrager’s portion of the project will also be supported by funding from the Frank Albrecht Memorial Fund. Frank Albrecht worked in the School District of Lancaster for more than 30 years, spending many years at McCaskey High School. He passed away from complications of ALS on August 24, at the age of 66. 

Volunteers from the Lancaster community will help with the planting.

“More trees for the City of Lancaster provided by this new funding will be important for the health and welfare of local residents, as well as the Conestoga River,” said Julia Krall, Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF. “We appreciate the support from The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful®. With this funding, the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership and its Dock Award winners will contribute to the great work already happening in Lancaster County to reduce polluted runoff into local waters.”

McCaskey High School is located west of the Conestoga River, identified in the City of Lancaster’s Comprehensive Plan as a “polluted and neglected part of our city’s landscape for too long.” The trees will filter and absorb polluted runoff before it reaches the Conestoga River, which travels directly through the City of Lancaster. Students will have access to the trees and the health and wellbeing benefits that they provide.

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.

The GIANT Company and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful awarded a total of $108,243 in support of 32 projects focused on tree planting projects. Funding for the grants was provided by customers at GIANT, MARTIN’S, and GIANT Heirloom Market stores who agreed to round up their grocery purchase to the nearest dollar from March through May. 

Learn more about the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Newly-planted trees along Pennsylvania streams will live longer, grow stronger, and have a better chance to clean and protect local waters, thanks to a grant by the Foxwynd Foundation of Chester County to the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership. The partnership is coordinated by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).

The $75,000 tree survival grant from the Foxwynd Foundation, of Uwchland, PA, stems from its mission to support initiatives that foster community well-being and resilience.

“At Foxwynd Foundation, we are committed to fostering environmental sustainability,” Pamela Villagra, Foundation Executive Director said. “Supporting the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is a crucial step in ensuring that the trees planted today thrive and contribute to a healthier environment for future generations. We are proud to play a part in this initiative, which aligns with our mission to protect and preserve our natural resources.”

The one-year tree survival grant will be used for maintenance, supplies, and logistical support for trees planted by the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership, which has grown to over 300 member organizations.

“Maintaining trees is as important as planting them,” said Julia Krall, Pennsylvania Executive Director for CBF. “New trees cannot mature and filter and absorb polluted runoff if they don’t survive. The important follow-up care for trees by partners, made possible by the generous support of the Foxwynd Foundation, will have a positive impact on local water quality.”

The grant is one of the first for Foxwynd’s environmental focus and requires matching funds within a year. CBF would like those funds to come from the support of CBF memberships.

Maintenance in a riparian buffer may include straightening, removing, or replacing tree shelters after storms, and checking for competing vegetation inside shelters. Other work could include removing bird nets from shelters with trees growing out the top, applying herbicides, and mowing around trees.

Roughly 28,000 miles of Pennsylvania’s rivers and streams are damaged by polluted runoff and the legacy of coal mining. Trees are the most cost-effective tools for cleaning and protecting waterways. Trees filter and absorb polluted runoff, stabilize streambanks, and improve soil quality. Trees also help address climate change by cooling the air and sequestering carbon.

Foxwynd Foundation’s generous donation to the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership is funded by The Foxwynd Foundation Donor Advised Fund. Launched in January 2024, the Foxwynd Foundation has impacted environmental sustainability, healthcare, and housing through 32 organizations in 17 U.S. states.

Learn more about the Foxwynd Foundation and the Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership.

Discussion on key Bay health practice comes as restoration effort nears 2025 deadlines

Farmers in White Post, Virginia, traded successes and lessons learned from implementing conservation practices that benefit their land and livestock while reducing pollution to local waterways Wednesday. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation is a partner in the Mountains-to-Bay Grazing Alliance, which hosted the roundtable Wednesday, providing local farmers an inside look at conservation practices in action at a local 227-acre farm.

“Rotational grazing is a regenerative farming practice and remains one of the most effective ways to improve soil health and reduce pollution from farms to the rivers and streams that feed the Chesapeake Bay,” said Matt Kowalski, Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Watershed Restoration Scientist. “We were excited to be part of this roundtable so new and experienced rotational grazing farmers could hear from each other about their experiences and the benefits of putting these practices in place.”

The grazing roundtable kicked off with Ryan O’Connor of Green Rock Enterprises explaining to the group the rotational grazing, tree plantings, grazing infrastructure, and portable fencing and water troughs put in place when he began managing the farm three years ago. 

“This land had been continuously grazed. The consequences of that were pretty obvious. The grass was short, spare, a lot of noxious weeds everywhere. But now we have a lot more ground cover, diversity, a lot more grass. We’re still learning, but over time, I think we’ll continue to see more benefits of these regenerative practices,” O’Connor said. 

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the local Soil and Water Conservation District, and the National Resources Conservation Service were some of the organizations that helped implement these projects over the years.

After visiting the grazing operation, farmers chatted over dinner with other producers and technical experts about incorporating rotational grazing into their farming operation. Farmers expressed ways they planned to change their fencing and asked questions about timing for rotating the grazing livestock.

This grazing roundtable comes at a pivotal time in Bay restoration. Virginia is expected to miss 2025 pollution reduction deadlines set by the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. 

This increases the urgency for Virginia Governor Youngkin to recommit to Bay restoration and address challenges identified by the latest science at the December Chesapeake Executive Council meeting of Bay state leaders. 

A recent EPA milestone report noted Virginia’s significant funding in recent years for these agricultural best management practices. While they have helped reduce pollution, the report noted that agriculture and stormwater runoff from developed areas remain major sources of pollution into the Chesapeake Bay and the rivers and streams that feed it.

Anglers can catch these fish in upcoming Maryland Rod and Reef Slam

To express his love of fishing in the Chesapeake Bay, Silver Spring resident Rick Bowers recently wrote and produced two new songs about Maryland’s most voracious invasive predators—the blue catfish and Chesapeake channa (formerly snakehead).

In his catchy country tunes, appropriately named “Blue Cat Blues” and “Chesapeake Channa,” Bowers encapsulates the joy of fishing for invasive species. He also highlights why targeting these fish is important for Bay health.

Blue Cat Blues and Chesapeake Channa by Rick Bowers Band can be found on Spotify.

“These two songs combine my passions for fishing and songwriting,” said Rick Bowers. “I hope people around the Bay can relate and feel inspired. Let’s get out there! Catching these invasive species is fun, flavorful, and good for the Bay.”

Rick is a Clean Water Captain with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and is a member of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Blue Catfish Advisory Committee, which proposes solutions to the destructive invasion of blue catfish in the Bay. 

“Like the song lyric says,” Bowers adds. “Blue cats are growing bigger; getting meaner; and sucking up the Bay like a vacuum cleaner.”

“Catching and eating invasive species like blue catfish and snakeheads is one of the most effective ways to reduce their harm to the Bay’s native ecosystem,” said Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director. “Rick’s songs perfectly reflect that, while also highlighting the fun that comes along with it.”

Anglers looking to follow Rick’s lead and target invasive species can do so in the upcoming Maryland Rod & Reef Slam fishing tournament, running from September 7 to 15. The tournament, hosted by CBF, Coastal Conservation Association Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance, challenges participants to target the largest diversity of species by fishing around restored oyster sanctuary reefs. Oyster reefs provide exceptional habitat for fish species, including invasives.

The tournament will be followed by an award ceremony and beach party on Sunday, September 15 at CBF’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center in Annapolis, and will include live performances by The Eastport Oyster Boys. Learn more about this event.

More than 100 visitors explored rain gardens, living shorelines, bioswales, tree plantings, and other green infrastructure projects throughout Norfolk Saturday during a garden-style, self-guided tour offered by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. 

For three hours, homeowners opened up their doors and visitors stopped by schools and parks to receive their one-of-a-kind look at the ten private and public projects throughout the city transformed by green infrastructure. These projects create beautiful, natural solutions to flooding and pollution, tying in closely to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay by reducing pollutants flowing into streams and rivers.

“Each of these projects builds up our community’s protection against flooding in our vulnerable region. But it’s also about beautifying the space for people,” said CBF’s Hampton Roads Grassroots Coordinator Lisa Renee Jennings, organizer of the Green Infrastructure Tour. “As Bay restoration goals near 2025 deadlines, we are thrilled the public was able to see how they can get involved at a pivotal time when we all need a recommitment to Bay restoration. Together we can build on the momentum to make a more resilient Virginia.”

CBF and partners were on hand at each site to offer expertise and resources. CBF partners included the City of Norfolk, Teens with a Purpose, Garden Club of Norfolk, the Elizabeth River Trail, Elizabeth River Project, and Norfolk Master Gardeners. 

Residents in various stages of implementing these projects in their own homes and communities were common visitors to the sites Saturday. Jennings fielded questions on the steps to build a living shoreline and rain garden while she was stationed at Purpose Park. The youth empowerment organization Teens with a Purpose established Purpose Park, which provides a safe environment for local teens to express themselves creatively and reconnect with their community. Teens weeded the rain and pollinator gardens as well as read their poetry from Purpose Park’s stage Saturday.

At around the same time, Kati Grigsby, CBF’s restoration coordinator, answered questions from a backyard dock full of interested tour participants. At this private residence, CBF and the Elizabeth River Project built a living shoreline and buffer that employed a more holistic approach to restoration that allows wetlands to shift inland, promotes sustainability as well as the well-being of nearby ecosystems.

All the conversations aimed at giving the public a better understanding of how these natural solutions improve water quality and increase protection from the impacts of climate change.

“Having seen firsthand how these projects bring the community together and benefit the environment, we were so excited to offer this tour and inspire others who are interested,” Grigsby said. “The power of urban restoration with the public was on full display Saturday.” 

Other sites included Lafayette Park’s stormwater wetland, Linwood Elementary’s Green Campus, Sherwood Forest Elementary’s rain garden, Pocket Park along Lovitt Avenue, The Hague, a private residence’s wetland buffer, Jeff Robertson Park, and the Ryan Resilience Lab. 

“These projects have brought life, beauty, and educational opportunities to our schools,” said Norfolk Tree Commission Treasurer and Norfolk Public Schools basketball coach Steve Dolly. “Areas that were once bare, flooded, and even causing safety concerns are now flourishing sustainable spaces to learn from and admire.”   

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) invites the public to enjoy a self-guided, garden-style tour of green infrastructure projects in Norfolk, which create beautiful, natural solutions to flooding and pollution. 

This Green Infrastructure Tour offered by CBF provides the opportunity to understand how these natural solutions improve water quality and increase protection from the impacts of climate change – in addition to ways the community can get involved as 2025 deadlines bring Bay restoration to a critical crossroads. 

On Saturday, August 24 from 9:00 AM until noon, CBF and partners will be on hand to give the public a one-of-a-kind look into these public spaces and private project sites including tree plantings, shoreline restoration, rain gardens, and bioswales. Registration closes on Wednesday, August 21.

“Public awareness of nature-based designs is key to creating more green spaces not only in public areas, but also our backyards. Each of these projects builds up our community’s protection against flooding in our vulnerable region,” said CBF’s Hampton Roads Grassroots Coordinator Lisa Renee Jennings, organizer of the Green Infrastructure Tour. “These projects also tie in closely to the restoration of the Bay by reducing pollutants flowing into our streams and rivers. As Bay restoration goals near 2025 deadlines, we are thrilled that the public gets to see the critical role these projects play and how they can get involved at such a pivotal time.”

CBF partners include the City of Norfolk, Teens with a Purpose, Garden Club of Norfolk, the Elizabeth River Trail, Elizabeth River Project, and Norfolk Master Gardeners.

“These projects have brought life, beauty, and educational opportunities to our schools,” said Norfolk Tree Commission Treasurer and Norfolk Public Schools basketball coach Steve Dolly. “Areas that were once bare, flooded, and even causing safety concerns are now flourishing sustainable spaces to learn from and admire.” 

These unique features enhance the community’s quality of life by mitigating flooding, protecting habitat, and beautifying landscapes. At each site, visitors can take home resources that show how to incorporate these practices on their own property. 

“Having seen firsthand how these projects bring the community together and benefit the environment, we are excited to offer a tour and inspire others who are interested,” said Kati Grigsby, CBF’s Hampton Roads restoration coordinator. “I’m looking forward to sharing the power of urban restoration with the public.”

Two days prior to the tour, registrants will receive a list of locations, a guide to help source plants, and expert advice.  Ten locations may be explored at the registrant’s leisure.

The public can register until August 21.

Federal and state elected representatives join environmental leaders to discuss advancing Bay restoration and community health

The future of the Chesapeake Bay’s restoration in Virginia was the focus of the “Beyond 2025: How the Bay Agreement Can Impact Our Community” panel discussion Wednesday in Virginia Beach at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Brock Environmental Center.  

Federal and state elected representatives joined environmental leaders at the CBF event to discuss new approaches to restoration and conservation work as Bay states expect to miss 2025 deadlines to have practices in place to reduce pollution.  

“The fingerprints of the Bay agreement can be seen across Virginia, from the Lafayette River to the James River to farms in the Shenandoah Valley,” Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford said. “But we still have a long way to go to make our rivers and streams to be healthy and thriving so that all Virginians have the chance to fish and swim in our waters. Moving forward, we must center people, build long-term climate resilience, and increase focus on shallow habitats and plants and animals.” 

Panelists included U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, Virginia Delegate Alex Askew, Virginia Delegate Anne Farrell Tata, Virginia Deputy Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon, City of Norfolk Coastal Resilience Manager Justin Shafer, and CBF’s Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford.    

Calling Bay restoration a bipartisan issue, panelists first focused discussion on Virginia efforts that have led to significant progress in improving water quality, health, and the economy.  

That included record support for agricultural best management practices that led to substantial reductions in agricultural pollution in Virginia, investment in flood protection projects across the state, and work to ensure rivers and streams like Norfolk’s Lafayette River continue to rebound. The Lafayette River was the first river in Virginia to meet goals for oyster habitat restoration set for 10 Bay tributaries.   

But the Bay and the rivers and streams that feed it are still at risk. The discussion on Wednesday focused on how to change the approach of restoration and conservation work to focus on outcomes that improve the lives of people and wildlife.  

This December, on the eve of 2025, the Chesapeake Executive Council is scheduled to meet. The Council is comprised of governors of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and New York, the mayor of Washington, D.C., the EPA Administrator, and the chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commission. The Chesapeake Bay watershed spans across all of these jurisdictions, and cooperative partnership is essential to meeting these goals.  

CBF is calling for the following actions at the December meeting:  

• Attendance in person by each of the Executive Council members, including all six Bay watershed governors and the EPA Administrator;  
• A formal recommitment to maintaining the Bay restoration partnership, as well as meeting the pollution-reduction and other restoration goals already agreed to by Executive Council members; and  
• A commitment by the Executive Council to update the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement by the end of 2025 to address challenges identified by the latest science.  

Watch Wednesday’s full discussion here. 

Anglers Will Compete to Catch the Greatest Diversity of Fish Species and Demonstrate the Importance of Restored Oyster Reef Habitat

Registration is now open for one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most unique fishing tournaments—the Maryland Rod and Reef Slam.

This annual tournament challenges anglers to fish around restored oyster reefs and target the greatest variety of species, including invasives like snakehead and blue catfish. Oyster reefs create extremely valuable fish habitat and often become angling hotspots.

This year’s event will run from Saturday, September 7, through Sunday, September 15. Fishing will be followed by a beachfront after-party and awards ceremony at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) Philip Merrill Center in Annapolis on September 15, featuring live music from the Eastport Oyster Boys, local food, and drinks. The tournament is co-hosted by CBF, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Maryland, and Chesapeake Oyster Alliance (COA).

“In this family-friendly tournament, anglers will experience the immense diversity of fish species that rely on oyster sanctuary reefs to thrive,” said Allison Colden, CBF Maryland Executive Director. “Oysters build underwater habitat that naturally attracts bottom-dwelling critters that gamefish eat. Restoring oyster reefs is a great way to help the many fish species that depend on this habitat.”

Past Rod and Reef Slams have resulted in as many as 16 different species being caught in one day. White perch, drum, toadfish, bluefish, rockfish, blue crabs, and Spanish mackerel have been recorded in past tournaments.

“Oyster reefs not only filter the Bay but also provide shelter and great habitat for fish and other marine life,” said former Maryland Rod and Reef Slam champion, Herb Floyd. “I especially enjoy the challenge of catching a wide variety of species and exploring the many reefs in our beautiful Chesapeake Bay waters.”

Event details include:

• Start date: Saturday, September 7, 2024
• End date and after-party: Sunday, September 15, 2024 from 12–3 p.m.
• Party location: CBF Headquarters, the Philip Merrill Center, located at 6 Herndon Avenue, Annapolis, Maryland 21403
• Tournament entry fee: $50 for adults, $25 for youth; after-party only tickets also available
• Fish tracking: All participants must track their catches (species, size, and location) virtually through the iAngler Tournament app.
• Divisions: Powerboat, Kayak, and Youth. All anglers are automatically entered into the Invasive Species division.
• Boundaries: Restored oyster reefs in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and tributaries. Click here for an interactive map.
• Prizes: Grand Prize will be awarded to the highest overall diversity of species caught with any tiebreakers determined by fish length. There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for powerboat, kayak, and youth divisions, and one prize for the invasives division.
• Build a reef: Join CCA Maryland at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore Peninsula September 7th and 8th. Roll up your sleeves and help build reef balls as part of the Living Reef Action Campaign and the 2nd Annual Oysters Blues & Brews festival. Find more information here. 

Eligible invasive species include blue catfish, flathead catfish, and Northern snakeheads (Chesapeake channa). Fishing for and eating these species is one of the best ways to reduce their threat to the Bay.

There are more than 100 oyster reefs that anglers can choose to fish, from small sites in the northern Bay and around Annapolis, to large-scale restoration reefs in Harris Creek, the Little Choptank River, and Tred Avon River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

Oyster restoration has been one of the Chesapeake Bay’s most successful restoration initiatives. Oyster reefs filter water quality and provide essential habitat for dozens of other species such as striped bass and blue crab. COA and its partnership of nonprofits, oyster farmers, and community organizations are committed to adding 10 billion oysters to the Bay by 2025.  

Registration for this event is required by September 6, 2024.