What can you do to help water clarity in the Chesapeake Bay?

Here are some things you can do to improve water clarity in the Bay:

• Plant trees. Not only are trees beautiful, but they provide numerous environmental benefits.
  • Trees reduce soil erosion and control run-off from your yard. Reducing erosion and preventing run-off will reduce not only the amount of sediments entering the streams, creeks, rivers, and the Bay, but also the amount of nutrients and toxic chemicals entering the watershed.
  • Trees clean our drinking water by filtering polluted run-off (which makes our water safer and 40 times cleaner
• Reduce your use of electricity. This will reduce the amount that needs to be generated by fossil fuel power plants which will, in turn, cause reductions in the amount of nutrients and toxic substances entering the watershed (and save you money too!)
• Use fertilizer wisely. Have your soil tested and ask for recommendations for the best time and amount of fertilizer to apply for your particular landscaping needs. Never apply more than is needed. Reducing your fertilizer use will decrease nutrient inputs to the watershed and will save you money.
• Reduce run-off from your property.
  • Make sure gutters and sprinklers drain into grass or gravel areas to reduce run-off and to increase absorption of rainwater.
  • Spread mulch on bare ground to help prevent erosion and runoff.
• Forest protection and restoration.
  • Organize or volunteer for streamside forest restoration and stream monitoring projects in your community.
  • Encourage your local government to incorporate forest conservation and stream corridor protection in local land use planning and zoning.
  • Call your state forestry agency or the U.S. Forest Service if you have questions about forest in your area.
• Bay Grass protection. Bay grass can improve water clarity by trapping sediments and decreasing erosion.
  • Boaters should observe the no-wake laws and steer clear of shallow water grass beds.
  • Several organizations offer restoration projects in which the public can participate. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation offers restoration activities, including efforts to plant bay grasses, at many different locations. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources also sponsor events and educational programs and projects to promote SAV restoration.
    • Participate in a wade-in

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