What Can I Do?
 Dispose of leaves the Bay-friendly way. Fallen leaves shouldn't end up in the landfill or the burn pile. Instead, consider mulching, composting or curbside collection. Learn more...
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Bay Fact
 Did you know that the Chesapeake Bay holds more than 18 trillion gallons of water, and about 150 streams, creeks and rivers drain into the Bay's watershed?
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
 | | Governor O'Malley and Panelists at Sustainability Forum |
Last month I hosted Maryland's Better Choices, Better Results Forum on Sustainability, the third in a series of statewide sessions designed to foster an ongoing, collaborative dialogue on protecting public health and the environment, and generating investments in green jobs. The forum highlighted key sustainability initiatives, including our progress on Chesapeake Bay Restoration efforts tracked by Baystat.
We began the day with a visit to Howard County's Dunloggin Middle School. One of six U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbons School in Maryland, Dunloggin's environmental programs are a model for our new Explore and Restore your Schoolshed initiative.
More than 100 schools in 23 counties are participating in the initiative, which encourages schools to adopt tributaries on or near their properties and conduct restoration projects that are also important environmental learning experiences. Dunloggin teachers and students are already setting a very high standard, finding solutions to real-world natural resource challenges, including stream restoration and oyster growing. By fostering environmental literacy and creating exciting, unique learning experiences, they are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable future for our State and a healthier Chesapeake Bay.
Click here to watch a video of our visit to Dunloggin Middle School.
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Eyes on the Bay Water Quality Website
Eyes on the Bay staff, statewide monitoring experts and interested citizens will be at the Maryland Water Monitoring Council's Annual Conference on December 5th at the Maritime Institute of Technology in Linthicum. It's not too late to register. This year's theme is, "Conserving Maryland's High Quality Waters ---- From Monitoring to Action."More information can be found here.
BayStat Update
At its October 29 meeting, Maryland's BayStat team discussed a new template for analyzing Bay mitigation efforts and previewed the revised Smart, Green & Growing website and the new Citizens Guide to Bay Restoration.
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Your Government at Work
Governor O'Malley Receives Climate Change Visionary Award
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters presented Governor Martin O'Malley with its inaugural Climate Visionary Award, recognizing his unsurpassed leadership in creating and adopting programs to help Marylanders combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. "It is in large part because of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters' commitment and partnership that Maryland has earned a reputation as an innovator in the climate change arena, and that we will meet our moral obligation to leave our children and grandchildren a healthier planet, and a greener, more sustainable economy" said Governor O'Malley. Read more...
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Clean Air Act Leads to Improved Water Quality
A new study shows that the reduction of pollution emissions from power plants in the mid-Atlantic region is making an impact on Chesapeake Bay water quality. The study confirms that as the amount of emissions of nitrogen oxide from coal-fired power plants declined in response to the Clean Air Act. The amount of nitrogen pollution found in the waterways of forested areas in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia fell as well. Read more...
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 Award Nomination Period Open for Innovations in Stormwater ManagementNominations are now being accepted for the 2013 Smart, Green & Growing Award for Innovation in Stormwater Management. The award recognizes groups, organizations, county and municipal governments and projects that have fostered the creation of new approaches to address the impact of stormwater runoff pollution in Maryland. Nominations are due by Friday, December 13, 2013. Read more...
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 Donald Boesch to Join Ocean Leaders
Dr. Donald Boesch, President of University of Maryland Center for Environmental Service, is one of five new members to join the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative's distinguished Leadership Council ---- an influential group of ocean leaders tasked with changing the way we manage the nation's oceans and coasts. The Joint Initiative was created in 2005 as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the Pew Oceans Commission. Read more...
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 New Guide Offers Bay Restoration Strategies for Citizens
For those who want to play a role in restoring bay health comes the Citizens Guide to Restoring the Bay. The new, reader-friendly guide from the Maryland Department of Planning dishes up dozens of strategies for residents, developers, farmers and others interested in helping reduce nitrogen and phosphorus runoff and sediment build-up. Read more...
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 Maryland Farm & Harvest to Air on Maryland Public Television
To help increase the public's understanding, Maryland Public Television in partnership with the Maryland Department of Agriculture is producing Maryland Farm & Harvest ---- a new series that will put a human face on farming, educate viewers about agriculture, and tell the stories of the industry that built this nation and continues to feed the world. The series will air Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Read more...
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 Try a Delicious, Farm-Fresh Turkey on Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving, the Maryland Department of Agriculture encourages families to purchase local, farm-fresh turkeys from one of the many growers across the State. Turkeys sold directly from the farm to consumers account for a small portion of the total production. By purchasing a locally raised bird, consumers will help support our family farms and community. Read more...
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