Bay Journal

A small group of fish swimming through underwater grass

What a trip to Key West taught me about Chesapeake Bay conservation

As someone who works in communications, where my job can be boiled down to making people care more about the Chesapeake Bay, this little lesson on marine ecology, delivered by a weather-beaten boat captain no less, was no doubt the highlight of my trip.

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A closeup of a flowing stream with snow-covered banks

What is a watershed anyway? – understanding the Chesapeake Bay watershed

A lot of us clean water enthusiasts have probably heard the word “watershed” countless times. But what does the word actually mean?

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a close up of a hand flipping a crab cake in a pan

Where “surf” meets “turf” – a Chesapeake watershed tale

In the Shenandoah Valley, the Alliance brought together a waterman and a farmer to share their personal stories and professional passions, while breaking bread together. Theirs is a story of the captivating journey from inland mountains and headwater streams to the wide-open, salty expanse of the Bay itself.

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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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