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Make A Difference!
Make Your Lawn More Bay Friendly
Your lawn will be more lush and hold more rainwater if you keep it at a height of 3" or 4". Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after mowing recycles essential nutrients and water, reducing the need for added fertilizer. And converting unused lawn areas to wildflowers or other natural vegetation can save mowing time and expense. Click here for more information... |
| Bay Fact
Between 1985 and 2005, the number of people in the Chesapeake Bay watershed grew by about 3 million, from 13.5 million to 16.6 million. Experts predict the population in the watershed will increase to nearly 20 million by 2030.
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Summer's Not Over Yet - Don't Miss Out!
The 2008 edition of the Maryland Bay Game Celebrating Children and Our Natural World is now being distributed free at libraries and visitor's centers. The popular natural resources activity book channels children's restless energy during long summer car rides into an enjoyable learning experience about our natural environment. Click here for more information... | |
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
 Governor O'Malley helps to promote the "Buy Local, Buy Fresh" campaign.
Last week, we kicked off a Statewide "Buy Local" campaign, urging Marylanders to include at least one local product in their meals every day. Buying local not only means fresher, more nutritious and better tasting food, it also helps to keep our vital farmland open and productive, while helping to protect the environment and our Bay by reducing the amount of petroleum fuel used to transport our food. Through this campaign, we are rediscovering what our ancestors already knew - that buying local makes us all stronger, as One Maryland.
Maryland's summer months are not just known for ushering in a bounty of local produce. The official beginning of the North Atlantic hurricane season was June 1st, although we usually see the most hurricane activity through August and September. While most hurricanes thankfully do not threaten Maryland directly, past storms have proven that we must be prepared at all times. That is why the Maryland Commission on Climate Change, which the O'Malley Brown Administration created last year to study ways to reduce our vulnerability to severe storms and other effects of climate change, remains hard at work. We look forward to receiving their report and recommendations soon.
As we enter the last full month of summer, I urge everyone to spend some time enjoying our great outdoors with family and friends. We are truly blessed with the tremendous opportunities close to home, including all the excitement the Chesapeake Bay and our beautiful waterways have to offer. Sharing new outdoor experiences with our loved ones helps to bring families closer and opens the door to a better understanding of the natural world in which we live.
Please accept my best wishes as you enjoy the rest of the summer - the outdoors, our fresh produce and all the wonderful recreational opportunities our State has to offer. Working together, we are improving the State we live and work in today, while making investments in our future and the Maryland that we leave to our children and theirs.
Sincerely,
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Maryland Recognized for Environmental Action
 On July 22, The Maryland League of Conservation Voters released their comprehensive mid-term report card that placed Maryland "as a national leader in environmental policy." Their report awarded Maryland an overall grade of A-, the highest grade ever given by the organization, as a result of the strong environmental ethic instilled in all of our state agencies and communities.
Under the leadership of Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland efforts to build a more sustainable future and preserve and protect Maryland's natural beauty also led the Natural Resources Defense Council to name Maryland as one of the Top 10 states making significant progress towards breaking an unsustainable addiction to oil that is threatening our economy and our security. The report ranked Maryland second overall among states that are making eco-friendly public transportation a high priority. |
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BayStat Team Meeting Update
At yesterday's meeting, the BayStat team discussed progress in implementing of the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund, which will add $25 million to Bay cleanup this fiscal year. Implementation details are posted on the BayStat website. The BayStat team also discussed stormwater management, reducing the nutrients that reach the Bay from septic systems, and cover crop signups. |
Maryland Government at Work for the Bay
Maritime Environmental Resource Center Launches Invasive Species Research
 The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Maryland Port Administration have teamed up to launch a new research and testing program designed to help prevent invasive species from entering the Chesapeake Bay through the ballast water of large, ocean-going ships. Click here for more information... |
Chesapeake and Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund
The Chesapeake and Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund law went into effect on July 1. A request for proposals has already been issued, and the deadline for submission of proposals is August 29, 2008. The goal is to put the first year's $25 million to work in the highest priority watersheds as quickly and effectively as possible. Click here for more information... |
Governor Declared "Buy Local" Week
 Governor Martin O'Malley designated July 19-27 as "Buy Local Week" in Maryland. Governor O'Malley and local partners in the "buy local" challenge asked everyone to include at least one local product in their meals each day in hopes that the use of fresh, local products will become more familiar and more frequent. You can find these markets open in many counties. Click here for more information... |
Maryland Enforces Water Pollution Laws
Maryland's Department of the Environment recently took eight formal enforcement actions to protect waters in six different Maryland counties. "The laws protecting Maryland's surface and ground waters are critical to meeting Maryland's goals under the Chesapeake Bay Agreement," said Governor Martin O'Malley. "I urge all citizens to follow Maryland's laws to protect the Bay." Click here for more information... |
State Parks Get "Green" Trash Bags
 Maryland's State parks have taken another step in becoming more sustainable, offering visitors bio-degradable trash bags made from plants such as corn and tapioca. The new trash bags will decompose in 6 to 10 months, and replace the previous oil-based plastic bags. Maryland State Parks remain trash-free, meaning that any materials brought into the park by visitors must also leave with them. Click here for more information... |
State Wins Commitment to Clean Contaminated Chestertown Site
Governor Martin O'Malley and Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced that Velsicol Chemical Company has agreed to pay a $200,000 fine and clean up its contaminated Chestertown location in Kent County. The State took action last November to require the company to correct current practices and historical contamination that affected the Chester River and the Chesapeake Bay. Click here for more information... | |
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