Chesapeake Bay Foundation Surveys Litter on Lafayette River Ahead of Clean the Bay Day

Representatives from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) on Friday emphasized the importance of improving water quality and the need for volunteers while touring the Lafayette River in Norfolk, as the organization gears up for its annual Clean the Bay Day event on May 2.

In just about an hour touring the river by boat, officials picked up a plastic bag, old cans, weathered glass bottles, and a Styrofoam container, among other items—highlighting the need to continue efforts like Clean the Bay Day along our local waterways.

“Microplastics pose a large threat to the entire Bay watershed, including areas in and around Norfolk like the Lafayette,” said CBF Hampton Roads Outreach & Advocacy Manager Lisa Renée Jennings. “Litter and trash can wash up anywhere in local tributaries, and it’s important to stay vigilant throughout the year.

The survey came as CBF and partners gear up for Clean the Bay Day, Virginia’s statewide major litter cleanup scheduled this year for the morning of May 2.

Litter and microplastics can create major issues for the health of the Chesapeake Bay when things accumulate in local tributaries, as well as areas farther west that ultimately feed into the Bay.

“Whether it’s picking up a single plastic bag, avoiding lawn treatments that contribute to damaging runoff, or using less water in general, every little bit helps in helping preserve and restore the Bay,” Jennings said.

Clean the Bay Day is Virginia’s largest single-day volunteer litter clean-up each year. In 2025, nearly 3,500 volunteers and more than 70 CBF partners came together at over 200 sites to collectively remove more than 70,000 pounds of debris and litter.

For more information or to register for this year’s Clean the Bay Day, visit cbf.org/clean.

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