What Can I Do?
 Maintain your septic system. Do not plant trees or shrubs near your septic drain field. Roots clog septic drain lines and cause overflows. Click here for more information.
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Bay Fact
There are nearly 18,000 local governments in the Bay watershed, including towns, cities, counties and townships.
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland
It has been three decades since the first Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement was signed; while we have made much progress, there is still a lot of work to be done.
Through the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership, we have drafted a new Agreement, which outlines a plan for collaboration across the Bay's political boundaries and clarifies the vision of the multi-state effort. Establishing a series of interrelated goals and outcomes, the plan will work to protect and restore the Bay, its 180,000 miles of tributaries and the lands that surround them, as well as the health of the more than 17 million people who live here.
As key partners in the attainment of Bay restoration goals, the State of Maryland values stakeholder input from individual citizens, private businesses, watershed groups and local governments. If you have ideas on how to improve the plan --- perhaps you would like to see additional topics addressed such as toxin pollution or climate change --- now is the time to comment and let your opinion be heard.
As Chairman of the Chesapeake Executive Council, I've asked our State agencies to host a Public Open House on Tuesday, March 4 at St. Johns College from 3 pm to 8 pm where you can learn more about the Agreement and provide feedback. We welcome your input on this draft between now and March 17, 2014.
Together, we can restore the Bay, our nation's largest and most productive estuary, and our region's most important natural resource.
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Eyes on the Bay Water Quality Website
BayStat Update
In Maryland's continuing effort to make information on Bay restoration accessible to all citizens, at its January 28 meeting the BayStat team reviewed the BayStat website, set a new schedule for information processing and regular updates, and agreed to add additional historical data to several key indicators.
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Explore and Restore your SchoolShed Updates
 Governor O'Malley's Explore and Restore your SchoolShed initiative is helping students across the state to become stewards of their local streams. Want to learn more ways to engage youth as leaders in improving our streams? The Izaak Walton League of America has a number of resources, including Creek Freaks --- a program for middle school students who want to protect streams in their communities. Through the program, students go outside to explore local streams, learn how to improve water and then share their experiences with other Creek Freaks on Facebook. The Explore and Restore your SchoolShed website has links to more materials and tools for teachers, community and youth leaders.
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Your Government at Work
Public Comment Requested on Chesapeake Bay Agreement The Chesapeake Bay Program office has released the final draft of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and is seeking public comment until March 17.
Read more...
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 Maryland Issues New Guidelines for State Construction in Vulnerable Coastal Areas Maryland's Climate Change and CoastSmart Construction Working Group has issued its Final Report, intended to guide what, where and how the State builds in areas vulnerable to coastal flooding and sea level rise. The report recommends specific siting and design guidelines for State projects to protect against the impacts of climate change. Recently introduced in the House, the Climate Risk Reduction Act (HB 615) would put into place key provisions from the Report and codify provisions of Governor O'Malley's 2012 Climate Change and Coast Smart Construction Executive Order. Read more...
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 Hormone Discovered in Eyes of Female Crabs
Those two crooked beady eyes peeking out of its shell do more than just help blue crabs spot food in the murky waters of the Chesapeake Bay. They also produce important hormones responsible for a crab's growth and development from adolescent to full-fledged adult. Scientists at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology recently discovered a new hormone in those eyestalks responsible for forming body parts that make it possible for female crabs to mate and raise young. Read more...
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 Nominate an Environmental Hero for the 37th Annual Tawes and Coulter Awards
Nominations are being accepted until April 11 for the 2014 Tawes Award for a Clean Environment and for the James B. Coulter Government Employee Award. The Tawes Award recognizes individuals, civic, community and non-profit groups that have demonstrated outstanding efforts to enhance Maryland's environment over a period of time or with a single project. The James B. Coulter Award acknowledges outstanding environmental contributions by a government employee. Read more...
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 Governor O'Malley Announces Innovative Tree Program for Maryland Landowners
The Maryland Forest Service and the Arbor Day Foundation have created an exciting new stewardship program to help Marylanders who own one to four acres of land convert unused lawn to forest cover at no cost. Lawn to Woodland will kick off as a pilot in select central counties this spring and will improve land and water quality in Maryland. Read more...
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 DNR and Partners Restore Shoreline at Ferry Point Park
After nearly five years of planning and five months of construction, the deteriorating coast along the north end of Kent Narrows within Ferry Point Park will soon be fully transformed to a resilient and robust living shoreline, following a grass planting this spring. Made possible through a partnership between the State and Queen Anne's County, the project restores the loss of wetland in Kent Island, safeguards land and sea life habitat, protects Kent Narrows from extreme weather, and enhances recreation. Read more...
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 Board of Public Works Approves Funding for Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $35 million in funding to upgrade sewage treatment plants and septic systems in four counties as well as fund several projects that will improve wetlands and reduce polluted stormwater runoff. Read more...
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