EPA903-F-03-OOI
                 CBP/TRS 266/03
                 March 2003
   THE
CHESAPEAKE
BAY PROGRAM
   Leading the
   Restoration of the
   Bay and its Rivers
  Chesapeake Bay Program
   A Watershed Partnership

  www.chesapeakebay.net
  800-YOUR-BAY

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The
Chesapeake Bay

 Ihe Chesapeake Bay is the largest
cstuarv in North America. More
     j
than  100,000 creeks, streams
and rivers in parts of Maryland,
Virginia, Pennsylvania, \\''est
Virginia, New York, Delaware
and the District ot Columbia
eventually drain into the Bay.

The Chesapeake and its rivers
have  been an important part in
the regions culture, economy
and history. And today,  the Bay
remains an important recreation.il
and economic resource lor the
region.
        The Chesapeake
            Bay Program
             has become
             a model for
         other estuarine
              restoration
                programs
          The Chesapeake Bay
          watershed covers
          64,000 square miles in
          parts of six states and the
          District of Columbia.
         Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay Watershed

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What is the

Chesapeake Bay Program?

The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique, regional
partnership leading and directing the protection and
restoration of the Bay. Formed in 1^83, ihe Bay Program
coordinates efforts among the states of Maryland,
Virginia, and Pennsylvania; the District of Columbia;
the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a iri-state legislative
body; and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
which represents the federal government.  I he partnership
welcomed Delaware, New York and West Virginia as
"headwaters partners" in 2002 to better coordinate
efforts in all parts of the watershed.
The Bay Program works on a watershedwide level with
researchers, policymakers and resource managers from
universities, conservation organizations, business and
industry, and local, state and federal governments to
implement programs to insure the future health and
sustainability of the Bay. As a result, the Chesapeake Bay
Program has become a model for other estuarine restora-
tion programs across the nation  and throughout  ihe
world. A great deal of the Programs success is due to its
emphasis on reaching across state boundaries to coopera-
tively develop restoration programs aimed at improving
the entire Bay watershed.


What's the  Bay Program's plan for
bringing  back  the  Bay?
In the most recent  Bay protection and restoration agree-
ment, Chesapeake2000, Bay Program  partners outlined
some 100 commitments that will guide Bay restoration
well into the 21st century. Chesapeake2000 aims to
protect and  restore the Bay and  its rivers by addressing
five key areas:
• protecting living resources
" restoring vital habitat
" improving water quality
• encouraging sound land use
• expanding community stewardship.

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BOOKMARK   THE   BAY!
Are you fishing for Chesapeake Bay
information on the
internet?
Bookmark the Chesapeake Bay Program website at
www.chesapeakebay.net for the latest news and
information on the Bay and its restoration.
www.chesapeakebay.net is the most thorough and
informative website about ( 'hesapeake Bay.
You can learn about:
* Bay Facts and History
• Chesapeake Bay Plants and Animals
• Chesapeake Bay Habit.us
• Chesapeake Bay Water Quality
• Chesapeake Land and People
• Bay Restoration
• Bay Pollutants
• Local Watershed Issues
* How to Get  Involved in Improving
  Local Water Quality
 www.chesapeakebay.net makes learning
 about the Bay fun and easy by allowing visitors
 to browse the site according to their interests.

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                0
The site is specifically
tailored to:
• Citizens
• Teachers
• Students
• Watershed
  Organizations
• Businesses
    —*         . •
• Xocat Governments
• Scientists •

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Are you
fishing for
Chesapeake Bay
information on
the internet?

Be sure to visit the
Chesapeake Bay Program
website, your up-to-date
source of news and
information about the Bay
and its restoration.
www.chesapeakebay.net

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BAY  FACTS

• More than 3,600 species of plants and
  animals call the Chesapeake Bay
  watershed home.

• The Chesapeake Bay is the largest
  estuary in North America and one of
  the most productive in the world.

• The Bay's drainage basin covers
  64,000 square miles, including parts
  of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia,
  New York, West Virginia and Delaware
  plus all of the District of Columbia.

* Everyone in the watershed lives just a
  few minutes from one of the 100,000
  streams and rivers that feed into the  Bay.

* The biggest problem facing the  Bay is
  nutrient pollution. When too much
  nitrogen and phosphorus flow into the
  Bay, the entire ecosystem can be thrown
  out of balance. Nutrients enter  the Bay in
  many ways, including runoff from farm
  fields, suburban lawns and storm drains,
  and the discharge from wastewater
  treatment facilities.

• Excess nutrients cause algal blooms
  which block sunlight needed by Bay
  grasses to grow. And, as algae die and
  decompose, they deplete oxygen
  needed by the fish, crabs and oysters
  that live in the Bay.

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What can  I do to  help
the Chesapeake Bay?

• Minimize your impacts on the land and
  waterways around you. With nearly
  16 million people living on the land that
  drains into the Bay, each person's individual
  actions have an impact on the quality of
  their local waters and the Bay. By simply
  changing a few activities we do everyday,
  each one of us can help keep our local
  waters clean. As a start, drive fewer miles,
  recycle, or use less water.

• Join your local community watershed
  organization. Throughout the watershed,
  hundreds of local groups are doing their
  part to improve  local waters . . . give them
  a hand! Visit the Bay Program website for a
  listing of organizations in your part of the
  watershed.

• Learn more about Bay issues. Call the Bay
  Program at 800-YOUR-BAY or e-mail us at
  bayinfo@chesapeakebay.net for more infor-
  mation about the Bay and its restoration.
  Chesapeake Bay Program
    A Watershrd Partnership
  Chesapeake Bay Program
  410 Severn Avenue • Suite 109
  Annapolis, MD 21403
  www.chesapeakebay.net
  800-YOUR-BAY
  Cover photo—M.E. Warren

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