The Chesapeake Bay restoration effort is large according to many measures: the 150+ rivers that drain into it as the largest estuary in the US, the billions of dollars spent, the 64,000 mi2 extent of the watershed, and the 18 million people who live in that watershed. The people are perhaps the most critical part of the effort, though public participation is rarely prioritized. What does the public participation process look like and why is it critical to the health of the Bay?

Speakers:

• Rachel Felver, Director of Communications, Chesapeake Bay Program
• Rob Beach, Vice President for Communications, Chesapeake Bay Foundation