Press Release

The third annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week will take place June 2-10, 2018. While this week has been officially designated in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, events will take place throughout the entire watershed to raise awareness about this valuable economic and environmental resource—a national treasure that directly connects over 18 million residents.

Events spanning the watershed from Delaware to the District of Columbia can be found on Chesapeake Network. Organizations may also submit their own events to be added to the calendar. Here are some highlights of what’s happening during Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week:

• Lancaster Water Week: Celebrate the unique waterways of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, learn about the challenges it faces and the opportunities that can be created at events running June 1-9, 2018.
• Cheers to the Chesapeake: Join the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay as they kick off their partnership with the Richmond Symphony during the Festival of the River: Three Days of Art, Music and Environment on June 8, 2018.
• Kingman Island Bluegrass & Folk Festival: Celebrate the ‘Year of the Anacostia’ on June 9, 2018 by listening to dozens of bands, sampling delicious food and drink and supporting the continued restoration and maintenance of the Anacostia River and Kingman Island.
• Back to the Bay Day: Join in the fun with free games, educational activities, environmental booths and more at Brown’s Island in Richmond, Virginia on June 9, 2018.
• Senator Bernie Fowler’s Patuxent River Wade-in: Wade into the Patuxent River with former Senator Bernie Fowler and other dignitaries in Saint Leonard, Maryland during the 30th anniversary of this event to check water quality on June 10, 2018.

In 2016, the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative commission that advises members of the general assemblies of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia on matters of Bay-wide concern, championed the idea of designating a week in June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week. The designation encourages all who reside in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia to commemorate Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week with events, activities and educational programs to acknowledge the significance of the Chesapeake Bay.

Valued for its commercial and recreational value, the Chesapeake Bay is the nation’s largest estuary, whose 64,000 square mile watershed includes Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and West Virginia.

Follow the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Program, Choose Clean Water Coalition, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Virginia Conservation Network and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on social media during June 2-10 for facts, events and fun happening around the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Quotes

“The Chesapeake Bay Program thanks the legislatures of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia for the recognition of this national treasure. We are encouraged by the signs of resilience we are seeing throughout the Bay watershed—a direct result of the commitment of our many partners. Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week will only help to further educate and inform the 18 million residents that call this region home about the local waterways in their backyards and how to help us as we continue in our journey to a clean Bay.”

• Jim Edward, Acting Director, Chesapeake Bay Program

“DEP joins in celebrating the Chesapeake Bay Watershed for the countless benefits it provides to Pennsylvania and the entire region, from drinking water and food to agricultural and business uses, to abundant recreation experiences, and we champion the many Pennsylvania community partners working with us year round to restore the health of its streams and rivers.”

• Patrick McDonnell, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

“The health of the Chesapeake Bay has turned the corner. In fact, it’s one of the largest ecosystems in the world that has made significant progress. Crabs are back. Water quality is improving. Dolphins are using the Bay in ways never seen before. Sea grasses are being observed in locations where they have not been seen for decades. Real progress is being made and we must continue to restoration effort. Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is a time to celebrate and enjoy the fruits of this progress while committing as a community to ensure that these improvements continue.”

• Dr. Peter Goodwin, President, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science

“Investing our local tax and utility dollars in important water infrastructure is paying off for everyone. We can see that years of investments by local governments and utilities to reduce pollutants in local streams and the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers are making a big difference. The Chesapeake Bay and our local waters are showing clear signs of water quality improvements, and we’re thrilled to join the entire watershed in celebrating this progress while acknowledging that there is still hard work to be done by all.”

• Libby Garvey, Chesapeake Bay and Water Resources Policy Committee Chairman, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and Board Member, Arlington County, Commonwealth of Virginia

“Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is a great way for every one of us to take a moment to celebrate this incredible national treasure. There are many ways for individuals to participate, whether it’s sightseeing in a kayak, planting a tree, or enjoying music in a natural setting. Everyone has a part to play in the cleanup of this important resource, and the activities during this week offer fun opportunities to learn how you can be a good steward of the waterways in your community.”

• Kate Fritz, Executive Director, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay

“Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity for residents of the Chesapeake Bay watershed to connect with their local watershed organizations. Many of our Coalition members have organized opportunities for people to celebrate, including kayak trips, tree plantings, and more. We encourage everyone to visit the Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week website to find an event near them!”

• Chanté Coleman, Director, Choose Clean Water Coalition

“The Chesapeake Bay is one of America’s greatest treasures. Made up of a network of hundreds of thousands of rivers and streams that drain over 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay is a vital source of recreation, food, and drinking water for millions of American families. Recent studies have shown that federal, state, and local efforts to restore the Chesapeake Bay into an economically and recreationally viable resource are working. Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week gives families the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the progress we’ve made to date through this regional effort. It’s imperative that we continue prioritizing the Chesapeake Bay’s cleanup by investing in the programs and initiatives—at all levels of government—that have real, impactful results.”

• Pat Calvert, Policy and Campaigns Manager, Virginia Conservation Network