2023 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey shows increase in adult crab population

BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), estimates 323 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2023, an increase from last year’s low of 227 million crabs. The number of spawning age female crabs increased from 97 million crabs […]

NOW YOU KNOW: Delegates stand up to protect Chesapeake Bay

The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. On Friday, March 24th, Baltimore City and County announced in a press conference that they were considering accepting at least 675,000 gallons of toxic water from the East Palestine, Ohio, railroad chemical disaster last month. The toxic waste was to ultimately be sent to the beleaguered Back […]

Ohio waste water not coming to Baltimore after Mayor Scott denies permit

BALTIMORE, MD—The contaminated waste water from East Palestine, Ohio that was set to be processed at the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant will no longer be coming to Baltimore. On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Baltimore City Department of Public Works was notified by Clean Harbors Environmental Services that it was selected by the Environmental Protection Agency to accept, […]

Elected officials speak out after EPA selects Back River Wastewater Treatment Plan to treat wastewater from Ohio train derailment

UPDATE: Officials say the contaminated waste water from Ohio will no longer be coming to Baltimore. Original story below… NOTTINGHAM MD—Elected officials are speaking out after it was announced that the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant would be treating wastewater from the recent Norfolk Southern train derailment in Ohio. On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Baltimore City Department of Public […]

Comptroller Lierman encourages Marylanders to take advantage of Shop Maryland Energy Weekend, enjoy exemption of the state sales tax on qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Comptroller Brooke Lierman is reminding Marylanders that, for those looking to replace an appliance, there’s no better time than Shop Maryland Energy Weekend. Shop Maryland Energy Weekend takes place February 18 through 20, and Maryland residents can take advantage of great deals, including exemption of the state’s sales tax on qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances. During Presidents’ Day weekend, the […]

Attorney General Brown supports EPA proposal to strengthen regulation of methane emissions

BALTIMORE, MD—Attorney General Brown has submitted comments, as part of a multistate coalition, supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) supplemental proposal to strengthen regulation of emissions from new, modified, and reconstructed facilities in the oil and natural gas sector, and to, for the first time, regulate methane emissions from existing facilities, which comprise the majority of the emissions in this […]

Chesapeake Bay Foundation encouraged by changes to protect declining Chesapeake blue crab population, issues statement on dead zone forecast

BALTIMORE, MD—In response to the lowest abundance of crabs ever counted in the 33-year history of the Chesapeake Bay’s winter blue crab dredge survey, fishery managers at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Virginia Marine Resources Commission this week adopted new regulations designed to reduce the crab harvest. The regulations aim to help the overall Chesapeake crab population rebound. […]