Mussels in the Mainstream Oysters get a lot of buzz in the Chesapeake Bay region, but freshwater mussels provide many of the same ecosystem services in the 64,000-square-mile watershed that feeds into the Bay. These unsung water quality and habitat heroes are finally getting some mainstream recognition, with their inclusion in the 2025 Chesapeake [...]
Growing Resilience: Healthy Forests in the Chesapeake Watershed and Beyond Healthy forests are essential to clean water, resilient communities, thriving rural economies, and a healthy environment. Mounting stressors, such as invasive species, pests, disease, and a changing climate, are threatening our forests. Even when stressed, a healthy forest is more likely to provide environmental [...]
Casting a Wider Net: How Inclusive Recreation Fuels Chesapeake Bay Restoration Successful restoration in the Chesapeake Bay takes more than policy and science – it takes people! When outdoor recreation is welcoming to everyone, it builds a broader base of stewards invested in the health of local waterways and the Bay. What does this look [...]
Sharing the Shallows: Managing Chesapeake Bay Restoration Priorities The shallow water habitats of the Chesapeake Bay are highly valued for recreation, restoration, economic impact, and more. However, priorities such as submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) restoration, oyster reef construction, building living shorelines, and public access can sometimes compete for the same limited space and resources. [...]
Restoring Positivity: Chesapeake Bay Watershed Success Stories The restoration of the Chesapeake Bay has been and will continue to be a herculean effort by many, and the work ahead of us often overshadows the successes to date. Pausing to celebrate our successes reminds us all how far we have come and is a learning [...]
Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to Advance Chesapeake Bay Research and Management The Chesapeake Bay is globally recognized for its long-term, science-based restoration effort, but informed decision making across the seven jurisdictions of the watershed requires a lot of data and modeling. Artificial intelligence (AI) and associated machine learning (ML) applications have emerged as powerful tools [...]
When Restoration Bears Fruit: Food Forests in the Bay Watershed As the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort increasingly emphasizes green infrastructure and community engagement, the creation of local foraging opportunities benefits both the environment and communities. Food forests go beyond basic gardening; they are thoughtfully designed, low-maintenance, perennial-based agroforestry systems designed to mimic a natural [...]
Greener Workforce, Greener Chesapeake Bay Watershed A healthy and thriving Chesapeake Bay watershed requires people power; increasing workforce development for green career pathways drives restoration as well as economically secure, strong communities. Organizations across the watershed are working to support students and professionals at all levels to grow a workforce with the skills and [...]
A Creative Spark: How Artists in Residence Ignite Bright Ideas Artist residencies offer a chance to work in a new environment surrounded by fresh perspectives. Within residencies hosted at research institutions, this kindling of new ideas goes both ways; artistic perspectives can illuminate complex technical challenges and inspire new approaches to research and engagement. [...]
Sowing Seeds, Growing Relationships: Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Agriculture Agriculture is vital to the Chesapeake Bay watershed’s economy and communities, feeding millions and giving many small towns their signature charming, rural character. However, farmland is often viewed only as a source of pollution, with farmers asked to voluntarily change practices that affect their livelihoods [...]
