Bay Journal

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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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Don’t Forget Where You Came From: the case for a grassroots surge in celebrating the 50th Earth Day

As a thirty-year-old, I cannot personally speak about the first Earth Day. But I do know that 50 years ago we had no Environmental Protection Agency, no Clean Water Act, and appallingly inadequate proto-versions of the Endangered Species Act and Clean Air Acts. Rivers were burning, DDT was sprayed from airplanes across America, and people …

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Project Clean Stream: A great way to rally local action

Spring marks the beginning of Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay’s annual stream clean up program, Project Clean Stream (PCS). Through PCS, the Alliance offers hands-on opportunities through our partnership with residents, local businesses, environmental organizations, local governments, community groups, houses of worship, schools and universities, to come together to take action to restore clean waters …

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Hindsight is 2020: To Make Sure The Next 10 Years Count, Include Everyone

To fight for change tomorrow, we need to build resilience today. — Sheryl Sandberg Happy 2020! As we leave the 2010s behind, I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s in store for the Chesapeake Bay movement in the next 10 years, especially as our movement evolves and becomes more representative of the 18 million people …

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Correctional Conservation Collaborative Trains New Generation of Riparian Forest Buffer Professionals

On a sweltering July afternoon, a handful of conservation professionals walked through a cornfield in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania, heading towards a stream. While that alone would be commonplace, this cadre was accompanied by a group that was far from ordinary: 20 inmates at Huntingdon State Correctional Institution and their correctional officers. They stopped a few …

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Taking Simple Actions for the Chesapeake

During the first week of June, the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, as well as environmental organizations, communities, businesses, and local governments in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, celebrated Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. The week was designated in 2016 by the Chesapeake Bay Commission for activities, educational programs, and events to celebrate our nation’s largest estuary …

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