A red-winged blackbird perches above wetlands along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
A restored stretch of Big Spring Run is seen in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to landowner Matthew Kirchner. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
A restored stretch of Big Spring Run is seen in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to landowner Matthew Kirchner. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Rushes bloom along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Buttonbush blooms along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Cattails grow along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Joe-pye weed blooms along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
A red-winged blackbird perches above wetlands along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Daisy fleabane blooms along a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
A stream crossing is part of a restored stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to landowner Matthew Kirchner. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Max Kirchner, 9, collects a grasshopper on his family's farm, near a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to the boy's father, landowner Matthew Kirchner. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Max Kirchner, 9, collects a grasshopper while his brother Sam, 6, watches on his family's farm, near a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to the boy's father, landowner Matthew Kirchner. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Sam Kirchner, 6, climbs a tree on his family's farm, which includes a stretch of Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, Sam's father. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Lyla Kirchner, 8, looks for crayfish in a stretch of Big Spring Run on her family's property in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, Lyla's father. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program)
The Chesapeake Bay Program's photographic archive is available for media and non-commercial use at no charge.
To request permission to use this image, send an email briefly describing the use to CBP multimedia manager Will Parson (wparson@chesapeakebay.net). Please do not attach jpegs to your request. Instead, reference the corresponding Flickr URL of the image. Once permission is granted, a photo credit mentioning the Chesapeake Bay Program is mandatory.
The photograph may not be manipulated and may not be used in any way that suggests approval or endorsement of the Chesapeake Bay Program. Requestors should also respect the publicity rights of individuals photographed, and seek their consent if necessary.. (Download on Flickr)
Matthew and Megan Kirchner pose with their children on a stretch of their property that includes Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the property along with an adjacent farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
Matthew and Megan Kirchner pose with their children on a stretch of their property that includes Big Spring Run in Lancaster County, Pa., on July 25, 2020. Before a massive restoration effort in 2011, the stream ran like "chocolate milk" because of sediment erosion, according to Matthew Kirchner, who purchased the property along with an adjacent farm and permitted restoration to continue. When 20,000 tons of legacy sediment were removed, it allowed natural wetlands to quickly return and better handle storm flows. "It's like a filter system," Kirchner said. (Photo by Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program). (Download on Flickr)
×
