Ensure Healthy Watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay

Ensure Healthy Watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay

Safely apply fertilizer, manure, biosolids and other land-applied materials to protect water quality and soil health.

Soil compostition

Fertilizer is a necessity for growing crops on land, but can cause nutrient overload through runoff into our streams and rivers, and into the Bay. Learn about projects focusing on safely applying fertilizers and biosolids to the land and how that can help the Bay habitats.

Research in Safe Fertilization 

Develop stormwater management technologies in the built environment to protect and conserve water resources.

Stormwater Management project in Baltimore City

Stormwater runoff from the built environment can have a significant impact on the quality of our watershed. Developing new technologies to manage stormwater can help protect the Bay from harmful chemicals and debris.

Research in Stormwater Management 

Create environmentally aware communities to promote interest and participation in environmental stewardship.

Watershed Steward Academy

Maintaining a clean watershed and waterways takes participation from everyone in the community. Our research focuses on building awareness and appreciation for the Bay's unique resources. 

Research in Bay Communities 

Design land use management strategies to minimize negative environmental impacts.

Land Management strategies

Scientists are working to identify land management strategies designed to protect the Chesapeake Bay for both urban and rural environments. Learn more about the research projects focused on land use in the watershed region.

Research in Land Management 

Adapt in the face of climate change to address sea level rise and extreme weather.

Saltwater intrusion research

Climate change threatens our water quality and food security. Learn about current research addressing rising sea levels and extreme weather events and how it affects the Chesapeake Bay region.

Research in Climate Change 

Collaborate with partners across the watershed in the development of strategies for the protection of the Bay’s living resources.

Water Consortium

Working with other institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, industry partners, and the public, strengthens our ability to identify issues and implement solutions in environmentally and economically sustainable ways. Learn about collaborative research to protect the Bay's living resources.

Collaborative Research

Optimizing Nutrient Use in Agriculture

Cover crops and how they help the Chesapeake Bay.

Partnering Institutions

University of Maryland Extension

Chesapeake Bay

University of Maryland Extension

Includes Best Management Practices, Public Outreach Programs, and more!

Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology

Hughes Center

Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology

Providing environmentally sound agriculture and forestry through research, outreach and collaboration.

Maryland Sea Grant

coastal waterways

Maryland Sea Grant

Working to preserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland's coastal waterways.