Stewardship Workgroup

The Stewardship Workgroup seeks to increase the number and diversity of trained and mobilized volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance the health of their local watersheds. The workgroup supports cross-jurisdictional coordination, public attitudes research and knowledge sharing to increase stewardship in the Chesapeake Bay region.

Meetings

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Unplug Appliances

Unplug appliances like coffeemakers, toasters and televisions when no one is using them. For harder to reach outlets, plug devices into a power strip that can easily be switched off.

In Your Home

Adjust Your Thermostat

Much of our home energy is supplied by coal, the burning of which sends pollutants into the air. If possible, set your thermostat at 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer to cut down on your energy use.

In Your Home

Use Toxic-free Personal Products

Use eco-friendly lotions, cosmetics and perfumes to keep toxic chemicals from washing off of our bodies and into our waterways.

In Your Home

Dispose of Medicine Properly

To keep medicine out of our waterways, don't pour expired or leftover drugs down the sink or flush them down the toilet. Instead, return unused medicine to a consumer drug return location or foul your medication with coffee grounds or cat litter and put it in the trash.

In Your Home

Save Water When Flushing

Put a sand-filled jug in your toilet tank. You'll save about one half-gallon of water with each flush.

In Your Home

Fix Leaky Faucets

Fix leaky toilets and faucets. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water per day.

In Your Home

Use Mercury-free Thermometers

Use mercury-free, non-toxic thermometers. Mercury thermometers should be disposed of at a household hazardous waste facility.

In Your Home

Use Reusable Products

Instead of single-use products, use reusable cloth items like canvas grocery bags, cloth napkins or cloth diapers.

In Your Home

Use Toxic-free Cleaning Products

Use eco-friendly cleaning products to keep toxic chemicals out of our waterways. Plain soap and water can rid surfaces of bacteria and are safer for our water supply.

In Your Home

Dispose of Chemicals Properly

Follow safe (and legal) disposal methods for household chemicals like paint or motor oil.

In Your Home

Install a Low-flow Showerhead

Installing a low-flow showerhead can help save about one gallon of water per minute.

In Your Home

Take Shorter Showers

Take shorter showers. By cutting your shower time by five minutes, you can save 10 to 12 gallons of water per shower.

In Your Home

Conserve Water in the Kitchen

Scraping or wiping off your dishes before putting them in the dishwasher allows you to skip the pre-wash cycle and only run your dishwasher when it's full. Bonus tip: Try washing fruits and vegetables in a large bowl or tub of water rather than under the faucet.

In Your Home

Recycle Your Electronics

Each year, between 22 and 55 tons of electronics enter the waste stream. Most end up in an incinerator or a landfill, but you can help keep our air, land and water clean by recycling your mobile phone, personal computer and other electronic devices.

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In Your Home

Save Shower Water

Put a bucket in the shower to catch water as it warms up. Use the extra water for plants or pet bowls.

In Your Home

Keep Your Drain Fat-free

Don't pour fat, oil or grease down your drain, where they can clog pipes and lead to sewage overflows over time.

In Your Home

Turn Off the Faucet

Save water and the Bay by turning off the faucet while you shave, brush your teeth and wash dishes.

In Your Home

Conserve Water

To save water, only run your washing machine when it is full. Also, most of the energy required for washing clothes is spent heating water. To save energy, set your washing machine to cold water or the woolens setting.

In Your Home

About

The long-term success and sustainability of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort will ultimately depend on the actions and support of the over 17 million residents of the region who call the watershed home. The cumulative impact of these millions of individuals can both positively and negatively affect the health of lands and waterways. Hundreds of local conservation organizations, in addition to a growing number of community associations, religious institutions, and others, are leading efforts at the local scale to engage and empower residents to restore local streams, reduce pollution, protect the environment and improve their communities. The efforts of these groups and of community leaders also result in an ever-increasing number of residents adopting behaviors and taking individual actions that ultimately reduce our collective impact on the Bay.

The 2014 Agreement contained a Stewardship Outcome to, “Increase the number and diversity of trained and mobilized resident volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance the health of their local watersheds." The Stewardship team has formed to facilitate the implementation of this Stewardship Outcome. The team includes representation from federal, state, local and non-profit partners responsible and committed to stewardship activities.

Projects

Chesapeake Steward Map

In Progress

The goal of the Chesapeake Steward Map is to increase connections and collaborative partnerships among stewards across the Chesapeake region. The map helps identify hubs and gaps in connectivity and highlights opportunities to facilitate strategic connections for sharing knowledge and resources.

Publications

Our Watershed Agreement Goals & Outcomes

Engaged Communities Goal

Our Members