On April 22, we will celebrate the 46th annual Earth Day. Our Chesapeake Bay Waterkeepers will be celebrating with some special events and activities (details below) throughout the week and the month.
We can tell you that your local Riverkeeper (or Shorekeeper or Coastkeeper) is busy monitoring water quality in the tributaries and rivers where you live, work and play.
This year, on Earth Day, the United States, China and some 120 countries from around the globe will sign on to the Paris Agreement, a climate protection treaty developed at the Paris Climate Summit in 2015.
Did you know that the 19 Waterkeepers from the Chesapeake Bay watershed are part of a global network from New York to California, Iraq to India? They are fighting for clean water, holding polluters accountable and advocating at all levels of government for policies that advance the goal of swimmable, drinkable, fishable water.
Visit our website calendar to keep up to date with our Waterkeepers activities and events!
Here’s what they are up to in your community (listed alphabetically by state):
Pennsylvania
- Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper
- Earth Day Festival: April 23, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Lewisburg. Join the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper at Riverfront Park to make gyoataku (fish prints) using smallmouth bass fish replicas.
• Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper
Maryland/DC
- Anacostia Riverkeeper
- Earth Day Boat Tours of the Anacostia: Thursday, April 21 to Saturday April 23, starting at 10 a.m. Tour the Anacostia River by boat with Anacostia Riverkeeper Emily Franc. Full tour is 2 hours, partial tour is 1 hour. Join an existing tour a schedule your group of up to 13 people.
- Assateague Coastkeeper
- Sonic Sea Film Screening on April 25 at 7 p.m. in Lewes. The oceans are not a silent world, but a dynamic symphony of sounds. Marine mammals depend on a delicate acoustic balance to hunt for food, find mates and detect predators. The film, narrated by Rachel McAdams, features interviews with marine experts and wildlife activists (like Sting!) who offer solutions.
- Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper
- STATE OF THE HARBOR Report Card release on May 9 at 10 a.m. at Columbus Park in Baltimore. Join Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper David Flores, Del. Brook Lierman, Councilman James Craft and Baltimore City Department of Public Works director James Craft for a report on how the waters in the Baltimore Harbor are faring. Stay for a tour of the historic Eastern Avenue Pumping Station.
- Chester Riverkeeper
- STATE OF THE RIVER Report Card Release: April 21, 5 p.m. at Washington College, Chestertown. Is the Chester River healthy? Getting better or worse? Chester Riverkeeper Isabel Junkin Hardesty and Watershed Manager Tim Trumbauer will give a presentation. Enjoy oysters and cocktails while learning about the health of the river
- Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (Choptank Riverkeeper and Miles/Wye Riverkeeper)
- Earth Day Film Screening “Beautiful Swimmers Revisited:”April 20 at 6 p.m in Easton. This documentary film celebrates the 40th anniversary of William Warner’s Pulitzer Prize winning book “Beautiful Swimmers,” which introduced readers to the blue crab. This book is considered by many to be the consummate work featuring the Chesapeake Bay. The film crew traveled from Baltimore Harbor to Virginia’s Tidewater to retrace the life cycle and story of the crab.
- STATE OF THE RIVERS Report Card Release Party, April 29, 5 p.m. at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, St. Michaels. Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy (Miles/Wye Riverkeeper and Choptank Riverkeeper) will release the extensive water quality data collected from last year. The results are assessed by Midshore Riverkeeper scientists from water quality samples taken by volunteer monitors on the Choptank River, Miles River, Wye River, Tred Avon River, Tuckahoe River, Harris Creek, Broad Creek, Island Creek, La Trappe Creek, and Eastern.
- Sassafras Riverkeeper
- STATE OF THE RIVER Report Card release on May 19, date and location TBD. Check their website for further details.
- South Riverkeeper
- STATE OF THE RIVER Report Card was released earlier this month (April 12, 2016).
- West/Rhode Riverkeeper
- Pigs & Pearls BBQ fundraiser on April 30 at 2 p.m. in Galesville. Enjoy resh shucked oysters from the West and Rhode Rivers, live music by Eastport Oyster boys and fun stuff for kids (pirate face painting and Bay educational activities).
Virginia
- Eastern Shorekeeper
- James River Association (Upper James Riverkeeper, Lower James Riverkeeper)
- Earth Day Volunteer Training: April 21, at 4 p.m., Riveredge park, Madison Heights. Make a commitment to improved water quality by training to become a volunteer water quality monitor on the James River.
- Potomac Riverkeeper Network (Upper Potomac Riverkeeper, Potomac Riverkeeper, Shenandoah Riverkeeper)
-
Mason Neck Eagle Festival: Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mason Neck Eagle Festival. Enjoy a day of celebration and learn about nature!
-
National Park Service Centennial: Saturday, April 23, 10 a.m. Join the Potomac Riverkeeper in celebrating the National Park Service 100 year anniversary.
-
Potomac Riverkeeper Network 2016 GALA: Join us Friday, May 13 from 6:30 pm-9:30 pm aboard the iconic paddlewheel boat, the Cherry Blossom, in Alexandria, VA to celebrate our success over food from Clyde’s, drinks, and a scenic cruise of the Potomac River!
-
EN 
ES