Bay Journal

four white birds fly over a snowy field

Duck, duck go out and see some waterfowl

It’s winter time in the Chesapeake and I’ve got ducks on the brain. Not just ducks but geese and swans, too; all of the waterfowl that travel south to the Bay during fall and winter in search of abundant food, warmer weather and longer days.

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Local Feedback, Collective Impact: How Community Leaders are Guiding the Chesapeake Bay’s Future

When it comes to clean water, diverse communities require diverse solutions. Spanning more than 64,000 square miles across six states and the District of Columbia, the Chesapeake Bay watershed is home to roughly 1,800 local governments. At this vast scale, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving clean water.

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A person in the foreground taking a photo of someone holding onions in a garden.

Visual media has a role in saving the Chesapeake

Before the summer of 2014, I had hardly ever set foot in the Chesapeake watershed. Then I started a job that would take me all across its 64,000 square miles. As a photojournalist, I document the region — its people, places and wildlife — for stories published on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s website.

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A group of people in floatation vest jump into the water off of a dock

From the Seine to the Patapsco, urban swimming is having a moment

Urban river swimming was on public display as the world’s best athletes raced through the iconic Seine River during the Olympic triathlon. And while the Seine did not perform as well as I had hoped—with two training days canceled due to substandard water quality—any swimming in the river at all gives hope to urban waterways across the world.

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Cultivating New Perspectives in Delmarva

With its flat, coastal plains, Delmarva has a distinctive rural character with deep agricultural roots and strong ties to the water.

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A person placing a sticker on a book recommendation to indicate agreement

Environmentally Themed Reads For Your Summer

Camping, hammocks, beach days, wherever you go, the too-hot afternoons and the long hours of daylight make reading one of the best summer pastimes.

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A garden in front of house

How you can help change the perception of a “messy” yard

A recent news story involved a homeowner along the Elizabeth River whose next door neighbor hadn’t cut or trimmed the vegetation in his yard in over four years. This colorful local dispute gets to the heart of a perception issue that is critical to the future of the Chesapeake Bay and its wildlife.

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Move Over Miscanthus, Three Native Grasses to Plant Instead

Non-native species aren’t inherently bad, and not all non-native species become invasive. However, we should thoughtfully consider our landscaping choices, particularly when heading to our local garden center.

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The Dos and Don’ts of Invasive Species Management

There are plenty of different ways invasive species spread, and a control tactic that may work for one species may be unwise to use on another. Familiarize yourself with the management and maintenance techniques that are known to work for a specific invasive.

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Global Trends the Chesapeake Community Can’t Ignore

Last year, as we at the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay celebrated our 50th anniversary, we had a great time looking through our archives. It was also enlightening; we uncovered so many photos, partnership letters, project reports, and board meeting minutes — all of which helped us piece together where the organization has been in …

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