What Can I Do?
 Build a rain barrel. Spring is a season of wet weather and new growth. Plants emerge from the ground, animals begin to migrate and humans prepare their homes and gardens for the summer months ahead. As seasonal droughts and energy consumption become increasing concerns, many homeowners have turned to rain barrels to meet their lawn's demand for water. Click here for more information on building rain barrels. |
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Bay Fact
Fifty major rivers and streams pour into the Bay each day. The Bay watershed is made up of roughly 64,000 square miles covered with forests, farms, and wildlife habitat; cities and suburbs; waste water treatment plants and heavy industry. The watershed starts as far north as New York and runs through six states and the District of Columbia on its way to the ocean.
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From the desk of...
Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland 
Climate change is real and now is the time to take action. As a member of President Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, I have been given the opportunity to advise the President on how federal agencies can best assist Maryland and our communities to understand, prepare for, and respond to climate change.
Now is your chance to help. We're asking key stakeholders, elected officials, and citizens who experience the impacts of climate change firsthand to provide observations and input on how the State and Federal governments can best plan for and respond to climate change. Please help us by providing your input through a series of quick and easy online surveys by topic by March 14, 2014.
How can the federal government make programs more modern, efficient, and effective? In what ways can the government better support climate preparedness and resilience efforts across Maryland and in our local communities? How can federal agencies provide useful climate preparedness tools and actionable information for Maryland and our citizens?
Climate change impacts all sectors of our economy, society, and environment. As severe weather events continue to grow in size and impact, the costs of inaction will only grow exponentially. Together, we can make the better choices these times demand.
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Eyes on the Bay Water Quality Website The University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and the Chesapeake Bay Program recently issued a report, New Insights, using data from Bay Program partners, including DNR's Resource Assessment Service. The report summarizes the changes in water quality resulting from nutrient reducing practices in more than 40 case studies across the watershed. According to the results, not only can pollution-reducing practices improve water quality in the Bay, these practices have already improved the health of many local rivers and streams.
BayStat Update
At its February 28 meeting, the BayStat team reviewed the above referenced New Insights report, which highlights evidence supporting best management practices - improving wastewater treatment plants, reducing nitrogen entering the atmosphere, planting cover crops and managing fertilizer. The team also discussed challenges to improving Bay health uncovered in the report's research, including lag times between when a restoration practice is put into place and when benefits are realized as well as greater stormwater runoff from expanding development. |
Explore and Restore your SchoolShed Update
 Have you ever wondered how melting snow impacts our local streams? The most common salt used for de-icing our roads and sidewalks, sodium chloride, directly affects the health of streams. DNR scientists recently completed a study examining this in the Savage River. They found that salt levels in the river tended to be highest following snow fall events, affecting many different freshwater animals. Learn more about monitoring and caring for our streams, and opportunities for teachers to engage students here. |
Your Government at Work 
Wanted: Your Opinions on Restoring the Chesapeake Bay
The public comment period for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Draft Agreement remains open through March 17. If you have not already done so, please take the time to review and comment on the new plan. Please provide your input to ensure the most comprehensive final plan is produced for Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Read more... |
 Video: Restoring the Bay
The Chesapeake Bay Program and its partners share a commitment to restoring the Bay watershed. How do scientists and citizens connect and collaborate in their work to protect the Chesapeake? Watch a video to learn more about the Bay Program's work to collect scientific data, restore vital habitats, monitor iconic fisheries and study environmental impacts, while sharing information and connecting communities with rivers and streams. View more... |
 Nomination Period Open for Annual Environmental Awards
Nominations are being accepted through 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... |
 Maryland's Midwinter Waterfowl Count Grows
Each winter, aerial survey teams of pilots and biologists from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and DNR make visual estimates of ducks, swans and geese along Maryland's Chesapeake Bay shoreline and Atlantic coast. This year the teams witnessed more than 905,000 waterfowl, 22 percent higher than those observed in January 2013 (739,600). Biologists attribute the higher count to the fact that many species flocked to Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay due to severe winter conditions to the north. Read more... |
 Board of Public Works Approves Funding for Clean Water and the Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $5.8 million in funding to upgrade sewage and drinking water systems as well as to build rain gardens and other controls to reduce polluted stormwater runoff in four counties. The Board also approved the issuance of up to $100 million in Bay Restoration Fund revenue bonds to provide nutrient removal upgrades at 67 major sewage treatment plants with a goal of reducing the amount by 7.5 million pounds per year by 2017. Read more... |
 Sponsors Sought for Maryland Bay Game Activity Book
DNR invites citizens, businesses and organizations to become a part of the 2014-2015 Maryland Bay Game through a variety of sponsorship opportunities! The publication is sought-after by tens of thousands of families, civic and community groups, scouting organizations, environmentalists and educators throughout Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region. One-quarter million print copies were distributed statewide in 2013. An electronic version of the Bay Game is also available on the DNR website, which receives over 1.5 million unique visitors annually. For more information or to become a sponsor, contact David Sloan at 410-260-8016 or dsloan@dnr.state.md.us. |
 Maryland Farmers Adhere to Strict Rules to Protect Water Quality
March 1 marks the start of the fertilizer season for farmers, and the Maryland Department of Agriculture wants to help citizens --- especially those who live or drive near farms --- understand what farming practices they can expect to see in the next few weeks. Farmers are using the most modern scientific tools and environmental practices to prevent nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay watershed and they are doing so according to a specially formulated, scientifically based plan designed for the crop needs on their land. Read more... |
 DNR Certifies New Clean Marina in Baltimore County
The Crescent Yacht Club in Essex is the latest Clean Marina certified by DNR. The facility earned the recognition for its work in preventing pollution and meeting regulations for more sustainable operations. The yacht club has worked to prevent illegal discharges by educating boaters on the associated regulations and environmental effects. Read more... |
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