Chesapeake Bay Program launches new, improved website

The Chesapeake Bay Program has launched a new, improved version of its website, www.chesapeakebay.net. The new Bay Program website provides students, educators and members of the public with the latest information about Bay science, wildlife, pollution pressures and restoration efforts.

Some of the new and improved features on ChesapeakeBay.net include:

• More than 20 “issue” pages that detail the major topics and problems facing the Bay and its watershed. Each issue page includes background information, frequently asked questions, photos and videos, and the latest scientific data on that topic. The Learn the Issues section is alphabetized for easy browsing. Issues include agriculture, bay grasses, blue crabs, nutrients and population growth.
• A Chesapeake Bay blog, updated every week with the latest Bay-related news. The blog also includes several features such as Tributary Tuesday, Watershed Wednesday and From the Field. These features aim to share restoration success stories and uncover special places throughout the Bay region.
• An improved photo library with hundreds of high-resolution images of the Bay and its watershed, wildlife and pollution problems. All of the Bay Program’s images are free for use by students, educators and other non-commercial users.
• A video library that contains dozens of short, informative videos on Bay science, restoration and ways people can help the Bay and its rivers.
• An improved Bay Field Guide with more than 200 plants and animals that are found in the Bay region. Each species page includes photos, videos and life history information. The Bay Program adds a new species each month through its “Critter of the Month” feature.
• A comprehensive frequently asked questions section that contains hundreds of popular questions and answers about the Bay.
• A database of more than 600 local watershed groups that offer volunteer opportunities to help the Bay and its local streams. You can search the database by your location to find the group that’s closest to you.
• A Chesapeake Bay history timeline that covers important historic geologic, cultural and political events dating from 35 million years ago to today.

Take some time to explore our new site, and let us know what you think! You can also connect with the Bay Program on Twitter and Facebook.