Help Save The Chesapeake -- Be a Bay Hero

Air pollution and urban/suburban runoff are responsible for 40% of the nitrogen that is killing the Bay.  While there has been quite a bit of progress reducing the pollution from wastewater treatment plants and farms, little progress has been made on reducing air pollution and the pollution from urban/suburban runoff is actually increasing.
 

The two types of pollution where little or no progress is being made are primarily caused by individual actions.  For example, if we fertilize our lawns, urban/suburban runoff becomes more polluted.  If we drive more miles, air pollution increases.  It is impossible to restore the Bay to health without reducing the amount of pollution that individuals contribute to the Bay.

The fact is that every single one of us is doing things that pollute the Chesapeake Bay and very few of us are taking steps to reduce our impact.  Fortunately, there are a lot of things we can do that will make a difference:

Reducing pollution from your yard or neighborhood:

• We can reduce or eliminate lawn fertilizer use
• We can upgrade older septic systems and decrease nitrogen pollutants by half.  The State of Maryland will even cover most or all of the cost of the upgrade
• We can pick up dog poop and other animal waste
• We can install rain barrels
• We can build rain gardens in our yards and around our church, school or business parking lots
• We can grow oysters under our pier

Reducing air pollution:

• We can plant trees
• We can drive fuel-efficient cars
• We can drive fewer miles
• We can reduce our energy consumption 

Become a Bay Hero

What gets measured gets done.  Take three minutes to tell us what steps you will personally take to clean up the Bay, and we'll tell you how many pounds of pollution you will save from reaching the Chesapeake Bay over the next 20 years.  Record the actions you take, and we'll keep you updated about the pounds of pollution you have personally saved from the Bay so far.  

Sign up now
 

Curious how we calculate the amount of pollution you are saving?

 
Want to Be a Bay Superhero?

Recruit others to become Bay Heroes, and watch the amount of pollution saved from the Bay grow exponentially as a result of your influence!