Local organizations celebrate Chesapeake Bay Awareness week
The Avenue News — By Kaitlin Kulich — June 4, 2020
"The fifth annual Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is June 6 to the 14, and local organizations are raising awareness about this valuable economic and environmental resource—a national treasure that directly connects over 18 million residents.
Typically, Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week is marked by a wide variety of events spanning the Bay’s 64,000 square-mile watershed. This year’s celebration will look a bit different, as watershed residents continue to socially distance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local organizations work to protect the Bay all year round
This year’s theme highlights the many creeks, rivers and streams that thread through the Chesapeake Bay region. These tributaries send fresh water into the Bay, offer vital habitat to aquatic plants and animals and provide people with public access points where they can fish, boat and swim.
Despite not being able to gather together, the Back river Restoration Committee and the Gunpowder Valley Conservation (GVC) are still helping people enjoy and celebrate the Chesapeake Bay every day.
“Awareness about the Chesapeake Bay begins at home! In the Avenue News circulation area, we are connected to the Chesapeake by local rivers including Big Gunpowder Falls, Bird River, and Middle River,” Amy Young, GVC Communications Manager said via email.
“Homeowners can reduce water pollution to these local waterways by installing rain barrels and adding native plants to their landscapes. The Gunpowder Valley Conservancy is always seeking volunteers to help plant trees and participate in stream clean-ups in eastern Baltimore County. Our volunteer work will begin again later this summer in small groups adhering to current Covid-19 protocols.”
Established in 2009, the Back River Restoration Committee (BRRC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring the health of tidal the portion of the Back River watershed.
“The Back River has been known for years as one of the most polluted rivers in Maryland, but we are out to change that reputation,” it says on the organizations website.
“The river is naturally rebounding with a little help from Mother Nature and the continual upgrades of the Waste Water Treatment facility. In 2011, Back River was one of only two areas marked as “improved” by the Chesapeake Bay Program’s report card.
We believe the time for recovery is now. Our organization is built on a hands-on approach to tackling issues facing our river, and we follow that up with a strong volunteer base ready to join in this fight. We had over 800 volunteers participate in our first year of operation and the number continues to grow.”
BRRC is hosting it’s annual Golf Tournament on Wednesday September 2 from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Rocky Point Golf Course.
“Hosting these types of events are critical in supporting our efforts to cleanup Back River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay,” it says on the organizations website. . ."
Read the full article at The Avenue News
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