| Chesapeake Bay and its many Maryland tributaries | | | | preserve this beautiful area for future generations. |
| offer some of the most beautiful waterfront areas in | | | | Boaters for the Bay is a free program that invites |
| the country. It's no surprise that this area is popular | | | | local boaters to take up the challenge to leave |
| with the boating population - many home owners | | | | waters cleaner and healthier for future generations |
| here enjoy waterfront access. However, some may | | | | As advocates for the Bay, boaters commit to litter |
| be surprised to know that local boaters are actually | | | | free and pollution free boating and keep watch for |
| helping to clean up local waters. | | | | abnormal water conditions and marine anomalies. The |
| Chesapeake Bay is threatened by a number of | | | | Foundation offers several tips for responsible boating |
| sources of pollution that cause excessive levels of | | | | including ideas on how to prevent fuel and oil spills, |
| nitrogen and phosphorus in the water. This causes | | | | and safer maintenance ideas. The group also |
| rapid growth of algae, known as algal blooms, which | | | | encourages boaters to dispose of hazardous waste, |
| blocking sunlight to the detriment of beneficial plant | | | | sewage and garbage properly, to use phosphate-free |
| life. The algal blooms present a further threat to | | | | soap, and to reduce grey water discharges. The |
| shellfish, fish and even humans by lowering the | | | | Chesapeake Bay Foundation offers more tips and |
| water's oxygen levels and sometimes releasing | | | | lots of information about the Bay's geography, plants |
| harmful toxins. Algal blooms are a cause or | | | | and animals on their website. |
| contributor to dead zones in the Bay - areas where | | | | You don't have to be a boater to help the Bay - we |
| aquatic life cannot survive because there is so little | | | | all benefit from a cleaner waterway. Whether you |
| oxygen. These zones were experienced in about 40 | | | | are a thinking of moving to the area, or are a |
| per cent of the Bay last summer. | | | | longtime resident, there are many ways that you can |
| However, home owners and local residents are trying | | | | get involved. Working together to improve the |
| to improve the water. In association with the | | | | neighborhood not only increases the value of our |
| Chesapeake Bay Foundation, boaters are taking a | | | | properties, it can also increase the quality of our |
| pledge to protect the Bay in order to defend the | | | | relationships and our sense of community. |
| area's threatened fish, crab and oysters, and to | | | | |