10th Anniversary Celebration - Waterkeepers Chesapeake

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Waterkeepers Chesapeake’s successes are impressive despite our small size because we harness the collective power of our Waterkeepers to address the most pressing water pollution issues our communities face.

2025

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Hanover Foods, a food processing and canning plant south of the state capital, must pay $1.1 million in penalties and improve its wastewater treatment system as part of a consent decree with EPA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Hanover Foods violated its water pollution control permit on hundreds of occasions between 2016 and 2021, including by exceeding its limits for releasing pollution into Oil Creek, which flows to Codorus Creek, a popular fishing stream, and then the Susquehanna River. On September 24, 2021, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Environmental Integrity Project sued Hanover Foods in federal court for failure to comply with the Clean Water Act and then began working with EPA and Pennsylvania DEP to address the violations. Learn more.

2025

Waterkeepers Chesapeake & Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

On October 2, 2025, Governor Wes Moore announced a settlement agreement between Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association, Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), and Constellation Energy, and terms of a revised Water Quality Certification for Conowingo Dam. Constellation has agreed to fund and implement operational improvements and environmental projects valued at $341 million to meet enforceable water quality standards by reducing and mitigating the impacts associated with the dam’s discharge and operation on the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The agreement clears the way for the re-licensing and continued operation of the dam’s hydroelectric facility on the Susquehanna River. The terms of the agreement include operational improvements and upfront and ongoing annual payments for water quality and resiliency projects, trash and debris removal, wildlife passage, freshwater mussel restoration, dredging, and invasive species management. Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Association and Waterkeepers Chesapeake have an ongoing role in aspects of the implementation of the certification and settlement agreement going forward for the next 50 years in partnership with MDE. Learn more.

2025

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

On March 31, 2025, the court ruled in favor of Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper. Its lawsuit showed that Republic Services’ Modern Landfill violated the federal Clean Water Act 419 times from July 2019 through April 2023. This court decision confirms the landfill's liability for violating its permit, including unpermitted discharges of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the forever chemicals.

2024

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued proposal to list the eastern hellbender as an endangered species throughout its range under the Endangered Species Act. This long-overdue action was taken after a lawsuit filed by Center for Biological Diversity on behalf of Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, and Waterkeeper Alliance.

2024

Potomac Riverkeeper

Potomac Riverkeeper Network and the State of Maryland have reached a settlement in their lawsuit against St. Mary’s County’s Metropolitan Commission (MetCom) to halt persistent and illegal discharges of raw sewage from its sanitary sewer system into the Potomac River and its tributaries. The settlement requires MetCom to take immediate action to upgrade pump stations that have been the source of repeated sewage spills and other long-term measures, and requires MetCom to pay a civil penalty of $250,500, with half of that amount directed to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission to conduct a supplemental environmental project to restore oysters in the Potomac River.

2024

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Maryland Waterkeepers

Waterkeepers Chesapeake and Maryland Waterkeepers working with partners, passed Protecting State Waters From PFAS Pollution. The bill requires the Department of the Environment (MDE) to identify significant industrial users that use PFAS chemicals by October 1, 2024, develop PFAS monitoring and testing criteria by January 1, 2025, and develop PFAS action levels and mitigation plans by June 1, 2025.

2024

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Maryland Waterkeepers

In a move to restore justice after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett v EPA decision last year, Maryland passed the Clean Water Justice Act. The Supreme Court decision removed Clean Water Act protection for intermittent and ephemeral streams and most wetlands. That decision essentially eliminated the public’s right under the Clean Water Act to bring a lawsuit against polluters of those types of waterways. While Maryland has strong laws protecting wetlands and waterways, the public does not have a right under state law to enforce clean water protections. This bill restores that right under state law, allowing communities harmed by water pollution in these waterways to enforce Maryland’s waterways and wetlands protection laws.

2024

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper entered a settlement agreement with Fleischmann’s Vinegar Company for alleged pollution violations into the Jones Falls. Ongoing acetic acid discharges and other pollution caused two fish kills. Fleischmann’s has agreed to begin decommissioning activities at the facility immediately, continue monitoring in the Jones Falls to establish no more pollution is entering the waterway, and pay more than $1.3M to resolve the case, including $865,000 to fund environmentally beneficial projects to restore the Jones Falls stream, $25,000 in penalties to the U.S. Treasury, as well as funds to reimburse Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper for fees and costs associated with the case.

2024

Potomac Riverkeeper

The U.S. Navy settled a lawsuit with Potomac Riverkeeper Network and NRDC requiring them to obtain a Clean Water Act permit to minimize the pollution impacts from its weapons testing in the Potomac, which has gone on for more than 100 years.

2023

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper

Blue Water Baltimore with their attorneys from Chesapeake Legal Alliance secured a settlement in their Patapsco and Back River Waste Water Treatment Plants case. Baltimore City will pay $4.75 million in penalties, replace and repair necessary equipment, submit quarterly progress reports, and hold annual public meetings to report on their progress. The settlement is the largest civil penalty for a water pollution violation in at least 25 years and one of the largest ever civil penalties for a violation of any Maryland environmental law.

2023

Potomac Riverkeeper

Potomac Riverkeeper Network settled a case with the City of Alexandria to stop and remediate coal tar residue that has been seeping into the Potomac River for decades near Alexandra’s Founders Park. The settlement includes commitments by the City to remediate coal tar contamination at the site of the former Alexandria Town Gas company, and provides $300,000 to fund a mussel restoration project on the Potomac shoreline and to pay other costs incurred by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network, including future costs for monitoring compliance.

2023

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

In response to a lawsuit filed by five conservation groups, a federal judge found that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s 2019 denial of Endangered Species Act protection for the eastern hellbender salamander was arbitrary and unlawful and instructed the agency to make a new decision consistent with law. Nearly 80% of hellbender populations have already been lost or are in decline and that threats are likely to intensify.

2023

Gunpowder Riverkeeper

Gunpowder Riverkeeper argued against a permit allowing a wastewater treatment plant in Carroll County to discharge water into a stream flowing into Baltimore County’s Western Run that would eventually end up in the Loch Raven Reservoir. The lawsuit was dropped in exchange for the plant adhering to tighter testing and transparency in reporting—a precedent that changed the public notice requirement for more than 150 similarly sized wastewater plants statewide. The plant also agreed to contribute $20,000 to GRK’s work to promote clean water.

2023

Gunpowder Riverkeeper

To resolve a lawsuit brought in 2020 by Gunpowder Riverkeeper, the EPA offered a settlement agreement to sample fish from the Gunpowder River and two of its creeks for polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.

2023

Waterkeepers Chesapeake

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will publish updated water pollution control standards for slaughterhouses and animal rendering facilities by August 2025, following a lawsuit filed by community and conservation organizations late last year. Proposed standards are due before the end of 2023.

2023

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Due to Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper's legal intervention and water quality monitoring data, Pennsylvania and the EPA entered a consent decree to require Harrisburg to create a long-term control plan by Dec. 31, 2024, to reduce sewage overflows into the Susquehanna River.

2022

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper, Sassafras Riverkeeper

The U.S. Court of Appeals issued an opinion vacating licensing of the Conowingo Dam and remanded it back to FERC. The court agreed with Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper and ShoreRivers' argument that FERC exceeded its authority when it approved a 50-year license without including the Water Quality Certification that Maryland issued in 2018.

2022

Choptank Riverkeeper

Valley Protein chicken rendering plant agreed to fix wastewater treatment violations and curb polluted runoff after Choptank Riverkeeper reported violations in 2021 and filed lawsuit in 2022.

2022

Shenandoah Riverkeeper

The Virginia State Water Control Board approved new state water quality standards in 2022 for chlorophyll-a to measure algae in the Shenandoah River basin, after Shenandoah Riverkeeper's 8-year campaign documenting algal blooms.

2022

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

In 2022, Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper settled a lawsuit against Keystone Protein Co which was discharging wastewater into a tributary of the Susquehanna River. The settlement requires $1M for restoration and remediation of Pennsylvania streams.

2022

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Maryland Waterkeepers

Waterkeepers Chesapeake with a broad coalition of Waterkeepers and community groups, passed landmark clean water legislation in Maryland:

Environmental Enforcement bill (SB492/649) – requires MDE to clear the backlog of “zombie permits” and update them by 2026, and to inspect facilities deemed in significant noncompliance.
Environmental Justice Screening bill (SB818/HB1200) – requires disclosure of existing pollution sources when a permit is being requested for a new polluting facility, and that this information be provided to communities early in the permitting process.
The George “Walter” Taylor Act (SB273/HB275) – restricts the use and disposal of PFAS.

2022

Waterkeepers Chesapeake

Waterkeepers Chesapeake launched the Clean Water Act 50th Anniversary Campaign (CWA50) in 2022 to harnessed the power and promise of the Clean Water Act for a cleaner, more justice future by mobilizing communities through storytelling (champions), events (celebrations), and tools for collective action, such as the CWAPlaybook.org, and championed legislation to address today’s pollution, climate and justice challenges. Learn more.

2022

Choptank Riverkeeper

After Choptank Riverkeeper's challenge of wastewater discharge permit for spray irrigation and huge public opposition, MDE issued permit that limits discharge to 100,000 gallons, nearly one sixth of the proposed amount, and reduces the size of the development from nearly 2,500 buildings to 400.

2022

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Federal judge in 2022 allowed Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper into negotiations between state and federal regulators and Harrisburg on stopping raw sewage from flowing into the Susquehanna River.

2021

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Hanover Foods forced to address violations including excessive levels of contaminants, floating solids and scum in a tributary of the Susquehanna River after Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper filed lawsuit in 2021.

2021

Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Maryland Waterkeepers

Waterkeepers Chesapeake with a broad coalition of Waterkeepers and community groups, passed landmark clean water legislation in Maryland:

Citizen Intervention bill (SB334/HB76) – gives people and communities who have been harmed by water pollution the ability to legally intervene in a CWA lawsuit brought by the state in state court. Read more.
Climate Adaptation bill (SB227/HB295) – requires MDE to update stormwater design standards with the most recent precipitation data available.
Environmental Enforcement Reporting Act (SB324/HB204) – enhances transparency by requiring Maryland to keep — and make accessible to the public — electronic records of enforcement and water pollution data.

2021

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper filed suit in 2020 against Verso Corp, for discharges into the river of a toxic black waste liquid called “black liquor." In 2021, Verso agreed to remove all coal and equipment from the site, thus halting all operations.

2021

Assateague Coastkeeper

Assateague Coastkeeper lawsuit led to a 2021 order requiring Maryland to regulate ammonia emissions from large poultry farms that contribute to nitrogen deposition.

2021

Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper

As part of a March 2021 settlement agreement with Talen Energy involving the Montour Power Plant's coal ash contamination, Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper will be conducting quarterly surface water sampling in Montour County waterways for 29 years. Results of that testing will be recorded and shared publicly on this page so that residents can stay informed of the quality of local creeks and any concerns that may occur.

2019

Anacostia Riverkeeper

In 2019, Court agreed with Anacostia Riverkeeper that EPA improperly approved a TMDL that did not etablish daily maximum discharge limits for E coli.

2019

Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper

Talen Energy’s Brunner Island Generating Station required to correct toxic heavy metals from seeping from coal ash ponds, pay $1M civil penalty, and contribute $100K to reduce local water pollution after Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper filed intent to sue in 2018.

2019

Choptank Riverkeeper

Choptank Riverkeeper worked to pass a law in Maryland to permanently protect and restore the 5 large-scale oyster restoration sanctuaries which are all part of the Choptank River complex.

2019

Patuxent Riverkeeper

Shenandoah Riverkeeper has cut the number of cattle directly accessing the river, and defecating into it, by half, drastically reducing nutrient pollution. A 2019 report pressured Virginia legislators to pass a law allowing state officials to mandate streamside livestock fencing.

2019

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper

In 2019, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper's efforts saved Tom’s Creek in Adams County, PA, from sedimentary runoff from Specialty Granules (SGI) quarry. SGI agreed to install a state of the art system to filter sediment and pollution out of its stormwater before release.

2019

Potomac & James Riverkeepers

In 2019, years of pressure from Potomac and James Riverkeepers resulted in Virginia passed legislation requiring that all 28 million tons of legacy coal ash in the Commonwealth be moved from leaking coal ash ponds and recycled or safely landfilled.

2019

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper

Upper Potomac Riverkeeper’s multi-year effort, as part of a larger coalition, succeeded in 2019 by stopping the construction of the dangerous and unnecessary Potomac Pipeline, which would have threatened the safety of residents and the river.

2019

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper

In 2019, Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper won a lawsuit against EPA for failure to evaluate whether stormwater from commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities is contributing to water quality degradation in the Back River.

2018

Assateague Coastkeeper

In 2018, Assateague Coastkeeper won a challenge against Maryland to reverse a permit approval for a proposed poultry concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) -- first time such a reversal of a flawed permit was made.

2017

Potomac Riverkeeper

In 2017, Potomac Riverkeeper convinced Alexandria, VA to go beyond minimum federal requirements and approve a plan to eliminate 70 million gallons of sewage and stormwater discharges to the Potomac River each year.

2017

Shenandoah Riverkeeper

In 2017, Shenandoah Riverkeeper succeeded in compelling the Virginia Dept of Environmental Quality to dramatically improve the Massanutten Sewage Treatment Plant permit and halt nutrient trading at the facility.

2017

Waterkeepers Chesapeake

In March 2017, Maryland passed a statewide ban on fracking. Waterkeepers Chesapeake was a leading organization of the Don’t Frack Maryland Coalition. Maryland was the third state to ban fracking, but the first state with gas reserves to pass a ban through the legislature. The passage of this bill came as a result of a massive statewide and people-powered campaign involving thousands of Marylanders in rallies, marches, petition deliveries, and phone calls to legislators. Learn more.

2016

Potomac Riverkeeper

Potomac Riverkeeper filed suit in 2016 challenging the EPA’s inadequate bacteria standards for protecting people swimming and paddling in the Potomac from sewage pollution and obtained a favorable ruling in 2019, vacating the standards and requiring new ones be issued.

2016

Patuxent Riverkeeper

Patuxent Riverkeeper won a civil rights agreement in 2016 requiring Maryland agencies to widen the scope of their environmental fairness analysis when reviewing applications to build new fossil fuels plants and broadens the role that overburdened communities have in the process.

2016

Gunpowder Riverkeeper

In 2016, the Gunpowder Riverkeeper used legal action to halt a natural gas pipeline that would have crossed over 80 streams and endangered drinking water for up to 1.5 million people.

2015

Potomac Riverkeeper

Potomac Riverkeeper enforcement action in 2015 requires to WSSC Drinking Water Plant to eliminate discharge of 2M lbs of sediment, aluminum, and other pollutants andto undertake $1 million of environmental projects to reduce sediment in the river.