CHESAPEAKE BAY GRANTS

AWARDED IN 2007

I. Informed Living Resource & Habitat Management

ADVOCACY

Island Press – ($25,000) Launch an outreach campaign, raising the importance of menhaden with the public and promoting policy discussions on the topic of over-harvesting, done through the release of the book, “The Most Important Fish in the Sea”.

The Nature Conservancy – ($75,000) Utilize the strengths of TNC and apply them to the Chesapeake Bay region, particularly focusing on fisheries policy and habitat protection and conservation as it relates to climate change, development, etc.

Coastal Conservation Association Virginia – ($1,000) General operating support.

Coastal Conservation Association Maryland – ($35,000) Support conservation and advocacy efforts in the promotion of coastal marine resources for the benefit of the general public.

SCIENCE

Northeastern Division, AFS – ($1,000) Support an international symposium on “Challenges for Diadromous Fisheries in a Dynamic Global Environment”.

Whirling Disease Foundation – ($5,000) Support their mission to manage the threat of whirling disease to our local fisheries.

Chesapeake Research Consortium – ($2,200) Support a technical peer review of “Lessons Learned from Chesapeake Bay large-scale SAV restoration and associated research, 2003-2006”.  The results will help drive future SAV restoration efforts.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation – ($8,200) Produce an inventory of historical acreage of orchards with likely ranges of arsenic application rates.  An assessment will be done regarding the relation to orchards and Shenandoah fish kills.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science – ($50,000) Support SAV restoration efforts, analyzing factors triggering SAV loss, initiating field studies on SAV recovery, analysis of existing restoration methodologies, and communicating findings.

Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia, Inc. – ($16,000) Determine the economic feasibility of watermen producing and planting spat on shell for the market production of oysters on leased grounds in Virginia.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science – ($86,000) Support the field comparison study between C. ariakensis and C. virginica, including data analysis and interpretation.

II. Decreased Nutrients & Sediments

WATERKEEPERS

Assateague Coastal Trust – ($25,000) Support the Assateague Coastkeeper program.

Chesapeake Rivers Association – ($30,000) Support the Severn Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

Earth Reports, Inc. – ($40,000) Support the Patuxent Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna, Inc. – ($35,000) Support the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

South River Federation – ($60,000) Support the South Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, Inc. – ($25,000) Support the Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

West/ Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc. – ($50,000) Support the West/ Rhode Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

Potomac Riverkeeper, Inc. – ($40,000) Support the Potomac Riverkeeper program/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

Potomac Riverkeeper, Inc. – ($15,000) Support the Shenandoah Riverkeeper program.

James River Association – ($30,000) Support the start-up of a new Upper James Riverkeeper program.

Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper – ($20,000) Support the Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper/ successful completion of a challenge grant.

AGRICULTURE

Technical Support

University System of MD Foundation – ($90,000) Management support for the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network to strengthen the economic sustainability of the farming community, targeting the management of excess manure through new technologies and markets, and enhanced technical assistance and outreach to farmers.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($100,000) Support the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network Agricultural Collaboration.  Pilot projects will be designed to be transferable, and will address building networks of community partnerships, advancing market-based approaches to managing animal waste, and enhancing assistance to farmers for innovative conservation practices. 

Chester River Association – ($30,000) Support a full-time on-the-ground farmer liaison in the Chester River watershed.  Intended to be a transferable pilot project, the program will focus on building relationships with the area farming community to increase their enrollment in state and federal conservation programs.

Lancaster Farmland Trust – ($55,000) Support the education of conservation practices to the Amish and Mennonite farmers that have land in conservation easements, protecting soils and improving water quality.

Funding

American Farmland Trust – ($75,000) Continue general operational support, encouraging healthy farming practices and protecting productive farmland, while improving and increasing environmental stewardship among agricultural stakeholders.

Chesapeake Bay Commission – ($47,200) Continue efforts to build a coordinated, region-wide voice on agriculture for the Chesapeake Bay region.  CBC will do this by working with a variety of stakeholders to fine-tune the agricultural priorities and communicate these through fact sheets and reports, emphasizing funding gaps and opportunities.

Environmental Working Group – ($50,000) Provide an interactive web-based mapping tool in the Chesapeake Bay that will aid in making the case for better targeting of limited conservation funds and the need to balance commodity and conservation program funding. 

Mosley & Associates – ($146,000 – grant related expenditure) Contracted with Mosley & Associates to perform reviews of agricultural programs in MD, DE, VA and PA to evaluate agricultural programs - what funding is provided for these activities, what information is collected, how the information is maintained, what information is available to the public, and what efforts are made to monitor funding and the resulting effects.  They will assemble and analyze results of reviews from all states in a comparative analysis, providing a final report of results and recommendations. 

Environmental Defense – ($100,000) Provide funding for a staff person dedicated to Chesapeake Bay restoration issues.  Identify policy changes and on-the-ground projects that will advance agricultural conservation.  Support analyses of emerging challenges and opportunities for Chesapeake agriculture, such as biofuels production and use.

Environmental Defense – ($40,000) Educate the farm community on cost effective tools to determine optimal applications of nitrogen on corn fields. Support aerial photography of fields of participating farmers as a means to verify the effectiveness of cornstalk nitrate tests.

Enforcement

Environmental Integrity Project – ($75,000) Support of the CAFO Enforcement Project.  EIP continues to monitor and challenge attempts by industries to retain exemptions or immunity from regulations.  As the farming landscape shifts from small family farms to large facilities, regulatory oversight becomes increasingly important.

Progression

LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($25,000) Expand the LEAD (Leadership, Education, Action and Developing) agricultural training to include curriculum on environmental issues and solutions.  Young agricultural professionals exposed to the training will expand their leadership abilities, develop an active network, and increase their understanding of critical public issues.

Chesapeake Bay Commission – ($15,000) Support the design and planning of a Cellulosic Biofuels Summit in the fall of 2008.  The Chesapeake Executive Council agreed that this summit is necessary to evaluate the production of cellulosic biofuels in the Bay region. 

AIR

Energy Policy

American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy – ($25,000) Develop a white paper on policy and program options for reducing energy demands on the State of Maryland and its citizens.

Maryland PIRG Foundation – ($25,000) Implement a statewide campaign in Maryland to promote energy policies focused on energy efficiency and conservation.  This will be done through partnerships, education of decision makers and providing expert testimonies. 

University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($80,000) Support Maryland activities related to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Commission on Climate Change.  This grant supports a partnership between the U of MD and MDE, and includes retention of a consulting firm with extensive experience related to market-based trading programs.

University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($20,000) Support the staffing of the Science and Technical Working Group of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change.  The result will be a Comprehensive Climate Impact Assessment report.

American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy – ($100,000) Support an analysis of Maryland’s potential for electrical energy efficiency, including an assessment of economic and environmental benefits.

Advocacy

National Parks Conservation Association – ($100,000) Continue support of their “Clean Air for Parks, People and the Chesapeake Bay” campaign, educating the media, decision makers and advocates on the need and benefits of healthy air.

Clean Air Watch – ($20,000) Support a watchdog organization focusing on strong clean-air laws and regulations through media education and grassroots advocacy.  Provide rebuttals to criticism by groups attacking environmental protection.

Environmental Integrity Project – ($65,000) Support EIP in its assistance and oversight of Maryland as it moves to meet responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act and the State Healthy Air Act. 

Chesapeake Climate Action Network – ($25,000) Support CCAN in its efforts to broaden the network of citizens who are informed advocates for global warming solutions. 

STORMWATER

Advocacy

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – ($35,000) – Work with state and local government officials to strengthen stormwater management policy and permits.

Herring Run Watershed Association – ($19,500) – A study of attitudes and behaviors among residents of the Patapsco/ Back River watershed, aimed at gaining a full understanding of how the public perceives stormwater runoff, and what messages will result in action. 

Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Inc. – ($50,000) Work with partners to bring a unified voice for watershed protection to Montgomery County officials.  Negotiation for strong stormwater programs and protection, to be used as model for the rest of Maryland.

Environment Maryland Research and Policy Center – ($120,000) Support a new Chesapeake Stormwater Network, led by Tom Schueler, to align and integrate the efforts of individuals working on stormwater across the Bay region.

James River Association – ($35,770) Provide legal, technical and advocacy efforts to improve Virginia’s stormwater regulations, for both stormwater construction permits and MS4 permits. 

Alliance for Community Education – ($25,000) Continue educating the public and area politicians on the problems and solutions of stormwater.  This project has been focused on Anne Arundel County, Maryland and will broadened state-wide. 

GreenTreks Network, Inc. – ($30,000) Support a communications project on stormwater best management practices, targeting municipal officials, engineers and developers with the goal of implementing BMPs in the Pennsylvania stormwater manual.

Enforcement

Maryland Department of the Environment – ($25,000) – Support training of local college and law students to review self-inspection construction permit reports.  This volunteer enforcement corp. will help monitor compliance, with a goal of reducing runoff from construction sites. 

LIVING SHORELINES

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($75,000) Support the continued partnership with CBT, NOAA and NFWF to provide grants for living shoreline projects throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. 

LAND PROTECTION AND GROWTH

Conservation Education

Burke Environmental Associates, LLC – ($92,000) – Change behavior of private landowners and local governments, by providing concise guidance using photographs and designs to convey sound conservation and restoration practices. 

Maryland Environmental Trust – ($15,000) – Launch phase one of a coordinated outreach and education strategy to highlight the 2007 Federal tax benefits for donations of voluntary conservation easements in Southern Maryland.

Advocacy

National Audubon Society – ($50,000) – Expand the Audubon’s membership to Chesapeake Bay issues, engaging members to act as advocates for the protection of critical wildlife habitat on the four lower shore counties of Maryland.

Center for Public Integrity – ($75,000) – Support investigative reporting to evaluate campaign contributions given by development industry groups to local government officials and state legislators to see if there are any links between political interests and land use decisions.

James River Association – ($39,650) Continue work at a targeted county and city level on revising development codes and ordinances.  This will be done by building awareness and support among elected officials and planning staff, supporting partners with the same objectives, and providing recommendations for change.

1000 Friends of Maryland – ($85,000) Support general operations within the organization as they build their capacity to work more on-the-ground and at the local levels, addressing growth and land use issues throughout the state of Maryland.

Valleys Planning Council – ($25,000) Support a group in northwest Baltimore County, Maryland to facilitate the hiring of experts and legal advisors to assist in legal challenges against development proposals that are in conflict with present environmental standards.

Wetlands Watch – ($52,000) Support the capacity of the only organization in Virginia dedicated solely to wetlands advocacy.  The organization works to ensure that wetlands laws and regulations are followed; educate the public and community leaders about the value of wetlands; and advocate for policy that ensures wetlands conservation and protection.

1000 Friends of Maryland – ($25,000) Support the Partners for Open Space, a coalition of over 155 organizations with the common goal of ensuring that the Maryland real estate transfer tax is used for its intended purpose of land conservation and park development.

Piedmont Environmental Council – ($17,500) Support the Shenandoah Valley Network, in their mission of helping communities plan for better growth.  This is done by increasing the capacity of local citizens groups and holding local governments accountable.

Piedmont Environmental Council – ($50,000) Support the Coalition for Smarter Growth through 2 initiatives.  A Fairfax County Smart Growth Campaign will provide a county coordinator who can build civic capacity and support transit-oriented development and walkable communities.  A Virginia Circuit Rider will provide technical support needed to train and motivate citizen planners/ activists in more Virginia jurisdictions.

III. Engaged Public

LEADERSHIP

University Systems of Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($10,000) A leadership gift for the Reginald V. Truitt Environmental Award Ceremony, honoring Senator Paul Sarbanes for his dedication to Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($5,000) Support their annual “Treasure the Chesapeake” event.

Leadership Anne Arundel – ($5,400) Support two individuals to attend the LAA Flagship Class of 2008, adding an environment viewpoint during the training sessions and programs. 

Potomac Conservancy – ($1,000) Sponsorship of a reception honoring the leadership of Mr. Will Baker, President of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

The Beldon Fund – ($5,000) Support Maryland and Virginia participants in the annual Beldon Fund “Peer-to-Peer Gathering”.  The meeting encourages environmental leaders to collaborate and share lessons learned. 

The Conservation Fund – ($50,000) Support a National Conservation Leadership Institute for leaders in fish and wildlife conservation and management, developing a new generation of conservation leaders representing the government, non-profit, and corporate communities. 

Scenic Rivers Land Trust – ($1,000) Sponsor their 2007 “Profile in Stewardship”, honoring the leadership and dedication of Governor Harry R. Hughes.

Gunpowder Valley Conservation, Inc. – ($500) Tribute to a great environmental leader, Jo Owen, by supporting a tree planting in her honor.

University System of MD Foundation, Inc. – ($40,000) Support the University’s Center for Environmental Science through the President’s discretionary fund.  Monies will support unexpected opportunities and will extend scientific knowledge of the Chesapeake to environmental and resource management.

Leadership Anne Arundel – ($1,500) Support the 2007 Environmental Session for the 2007-2008 Flagship Class.  This will expose the present class to regional environmental concerns and facilitate a discussion on strategies to meet Anne Arundel County’s environmental challenges.

Chesapeake Research Consortium – ($5,000) Provide professional development funds for the Chesapeake Bay Program Staffers.

FUNDING ENHANCEMENT

Northeast Midwest Institute – ($25,000) Support their Chesapeake Bay Watershed Program – keeping Congressional members informed through coordinated briefings and field trips, maintaining a web-based budget database, facilitating discussions to address Mid-Atlantic stormwater issues.  Support the work of the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force.

Friends of MD State Forests and Parks, Inc. – ($17,000) Support the Maryland State Park Services’ Funding study group effort to address the fiscal deficiencies in the budget.  The study group will formulate the funding strategy to meet the legislative mandate to fully fund the state park system.

University System of MD Foundation, Inc. – ($61,000) Support a partnership between the University and DNR to determine how and where funding can be changed, enhanced and developed.  An analysis with recommendations will be conducted.

James River Association – ($25,000) Support the Healthy Rivers Initiative, a partnership of 30 Virginia river conservation groups.  The group’s goal is to build support for nonpoint source programs, building a coalition of conservation and agricultural leaders.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – ($20,000) Support the consulting firm, Action Media, to develop a comprehensive communications strategy on Chesapeake Bay funding in the State of Maryland.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

MSSA Scholarship Foundation – ($3,000) Support the Maryland Saltwater Sportfishermen’s Association Scholarship Foundation.

Environmental Grantmakers Association – ($10,000) Support of EGA’s 2007 fall retreat.  The conference provides valuable sessions on philanthropy and environmental issues, and allows networking among EGA members.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – ($2,000,000) General operational support, part of a 6-year pledge for 40x2010 campaign.

The Conservation Fund – ($8,000) Support the new “Friends of the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail”, promoting the first U.S. watertrail and the opportunities it will provide in conservation and citizen stewardship.

CAPACITY BUILDING

The Everglades Foundation – ($50,000) Build a relationship with another national treasure, the Everglades.  Support their annual benefit, with proceeds going to the preservation and restoration of the Everglades.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($20,000) Expand the scope of the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network to focus on growth and land-use through the addition of an expert on the topic.  The goal is to educate the funders on the topic and possibly develop a partnership initiative.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($200,000) Support the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network Capacity Building Initiative.  The program works to strengthen the capacity of individual watershed organizations, thereby enhancing the role of the entire environmental nonprofit community.

Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center – ($50,000) Year 5 of a 5-year challenge grant to build capacity within the organization.  Their mission is to promote environmental stewardship at their 510-acre site, through education, restoration and conservation.

Harp Photography – ($10,000) As a partner of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, contract with Harp Photography to develop a 16 page, full color case statement introducing the network in time for the 2008 Council on Foundations Summit and Annapolis site-tour.

River Network – ($25,000) Support a new Chesapeake Regional Office.  River Network will work one-on-one with several groups and serve as a resource for the broad river conservation organizations on topics of fundraising, board development, memberships, etc.

WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Maryland Coastal Bays Foundation, Inc. – ($20,000) – Support the focus of improving water quality, restoring fish and wildlife populations, improving recreation and navigation, and ensuring sound development and planning in our Maryland Coastal Bays.

Center for Watershed Protection – ($50,000) Provide general operational support to a national organization, providing them the flexibility to respond to requests of technical assistance and training for local watershed organizations.

Nanticoke Watershed Alliance – ($10,000) General operating support to continue building the capacity of the organization and to enhance the mission of conserving the natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the Nanticoke River and its watershed.

Chester River Association – ($6,000)  Providing support to the Sassafras River Association (a volunteer organization) through CRA, thereby eliminating duplication of administrative tasks, resulting in a stronger focus on advocacy and outreach.

AWARENESS

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – ($40,000) Develop a strategy to broaden and accelerate the implementation of Chesapeake Bay education programs through the “No Child Left Inside” initiative.  With evidence showing that environmental education improves academic performance, the goal is to demonstrate that Bay education programs can align with federal and state standards.

Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences – ($5,000) Support the creation of seven water trails in and around Smith Island, allowing visitors the experience to appreciate the natural environment of Smith Island while contributing to the island’s financial stability.

Izaak WaltonLeague of America – ($10,000) General operating support to assist the League’s goal of protecting our country’s natural heritage and improving outdoor recreation opportunities for the public.

Council on Foundations – ($5,000) As part of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, support the upcoming 2008 Conference in the National Capital Region.  The grant will be allocated to support a site visit by COF members to the Bay and CBF building to focus on innovative activities in the Chesapeake region.

ADVOCACY

Trout Unlimited – ($35,000) Hire a Chesapeake Bay Coordinator to educate and organize Trout Unlimited members.  Organize anglers to become advocates for and participate in the protection and restoration of lands and waters that influence the health of the Bay, connecting healthy riparian lands to healthy fish populations and streams.

Maryland LCV Education Fund – ($200,000) Build capacity support so MD LCV Education Fund will have the capability to build a strong environmental community that has skilled leaders, powerful tools, a cohesive public message and solid membership lists.  A deliverable will be a “common agenda” for the Chesapeake environmental community.

Environmental Integrity Project – ($50,000) Provide general operating support to EIP to give them the opportunity to react to enforcement work in Maryland, while working on a comprehensive strategic and fundraising plan.

Friends of the Rappahannock – ($30,000) Support capacity building within the organization, while enhancing their work on low impact development and riparian forest buffer preservation.

Virginia LCV Education Fund – ($60,000) Two-part support: (1) Focus on increasing and mobilizing advocates within communities at the grass roots level; (2) “Direct Action Training” – teach candidates and officials how to talk about environmental issues in a way that resonates with constituents.  Both parts will raise the importance of environmental priorities in the public debate. 

Earthjustice – ($30,000) – Support their Mid-Atlantic Initiative, focusing on litigation and regulatory action to reduce polluted stormwater runoff, reduce emissions from power plants and strengthen local water quality standards, such as combined sewer overflows.

Potomac Conservancy – ($30,000) Support the “Land and Water Policy Initiative”, focusing on land conservation in West Virginia, funding in Virginia and stormwater regulations and enforcement in Maryland.

Alliance for Justice – ($10,000) Support the Alliance for Justice in their work to assist non-profits and foundations with IRS regulations and interpretations.

Environment Maryland – ($12,000) Hire a part-time Program Coordinator to support the Alliance for Global Warming Solutions.  The coordinator’s assistance will enhance the Alliance’s ability to succeed in meeting their mission: science-based reductions of global warming pollution by at least 20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050.

Water Advocates – ($10,000) Support an organization focused on advocacy and improved funding of clean drinking water sources.

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Maryland Public Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. – ($45,000) Support production of a 30-minute segment focusing on the threat to Maryland’s critical areas.  The project includes re-packaging of the segment for distribution to local environmental organizations.

Society of Environmental Journalists – ($25,000) Support an organization dedicated to improving the quality, accuracy and visibility of environmental reporting, resulting in heightened public understanding of environmental issues.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($20,000) Support the “Voices of the Chesapeake Bay” program in a year-long watershed wide journey to record stories of restoration.  Local interviews will help spread the word of efforts and the need to take action.  The focus is to elevate the Bay stewardship commitment by making stories personal.

Northeastern PA Educational TV Assn. – ($10,000) Support production of a segment, “Hope for Polluted Waters”, focusing on Acid Mine Drainage streams in Pennsylvania.  The segment will raise awareness of local stream protection and restoration.

ETV Endowment of South Carolina – ($25,000) Support research, in-depth reporting, and field investigations to develop a national prime-time PBS documentary on the Chesapeake Bay.  Work will be done through Hedrick Smith Productions, Inc.

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – ($56,000) Continue support of The Bay Journal.  Expansion of its content and geographical scope will result in enhanced outreach and education about issues and events that affect the Chesapeake Bay region.