Whether we fish, boat, swim in its waters, or simply enjoy its world-class seafood, the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries are vital resources for families in our State.  Maryland's Tributary Teams are another important resource for our families, and for our Bay.

 

Because the land use activities that impact our water quality can vary greatly from one tributary basin to another, Maryland's Tributary Teams were created in 1995 to work locally in an effort to effect policy change, educate the public, and engage fellow citizens in on-the-ground restoration projects.  As we now seek to expand citizen and local government involvement in restoring our Bay, the O'Malley-Brown Administration has charged these front line volunteers with driving local efforts to the next level.

 

I encourage everyone with an interest in the health of our Bay to start by contacting their local tributary team.  With thousands of citizens joining the teams for Wade-Ins at ten locations across Maryland, June is a great time to learn about our State's tributary strategies program, and to explore our natural environment.

 

More and more Maryland families, businesses and local governments are changing the way they go about their daily activities with an eye to conservation and to improving the health of the Bay - and our Tributary Teams are leading the charge. By working together with our partners across our One Maryland, we can work towards that more sustainable future we all prefer.