Dear Alliance Friends and Partners,

Spring is here and the Alliance is gearing up for another season of planting more trees, coordinating volunteer cleanups, and strengthening our partnerships. But as an organization that receives substantial federal funding, we have been keeping a close eye on the emerging priorities of the new Administration.

As of today, we still have a significant freeze on funding from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which means that our Chesapeake farmers and partners are not receiving critical conservation dollars. Additionally, it means that our team is navigating in times of great uncertainty. While we can’t predict what will happen to the ultimate fate of federal conservation funding here in the Chesapeake, we do know that frozen and terminated federal funding will challenge the Alliance’s ability to continue our high level of programming around the watershed.

In times of changing priorities and shifting resources, the Alliance knows there is one thing we can count on – you. As volunteers, partners, donors, and supporters, you have helped keep us steady during tumultuous times. For the last 54 years, the Alliance has endured many challenges and as we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission of restoring our lands and waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In this moment, the Alliance is grateful for all of the partners and supporters who help us go farther, together.

A group of people digging hole to plant trees in

Volunteers and Maola Milk help the Alliance plant trees last October in Lancaster, PA.

As the weather continues to warm, I hope you will join us at one of our upcoming Treelay sites on April 5th or one of our many Project Clean Stream events. Thank you for being a part of our Alliance!

Many thanks,

Kate Fritz, Chief Executive Officer

PS Please consider making a gift to support our mission – restoring the lands and waters of the Chesapeake Bay watershed – during this moment of uncertainty. You can make a gift online here and learn about more ways to give here. We are profoundly grateful for your generosity.