help clean up Chesapeake Bay

[kd3pc]

Guys and Gals,

It is time to step up and contact your congressman, dock mates and crew so that everyone is on board with pushing our legislators to pass this important Clean Water bill. We need to get all people who enjoy the Bay for fishing, sailing, water sports and the like to get their elected and local officials on board and understanding what it will mean to finally get the Bay in shape. There have been promises since the 70's and it appears that the stars are in line to do something this spring!!

I know the state of VA has worked to preserve menhaden fishing, control surface run-off and streams and river pollution, and they are working with local governments, farmers and agriculture to get this passed. We ALL need to do our part, and we as sailors know it is important, but if you have friends or family in farming, marinas, and other local business - please pass along this message that they too, contact their representatives and urge them to work with us.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has good information for you to research and become more informed about all the details at

Thanks and please pass this along...

[lapworth]

They have been trying to start these oyster beds here in MD I dont think it is going very well. What sould I wright to my congressman besides " hey clean up the bay like you and the feds said you would ".

[kd3pc]

Lapworth

That is exactly what I am trying to get going...a grassroots campaign to let the pols know that there are a lot of us who would like ACTION. We have been told since the 70's it would be done.

We have a perfect chance this spring with Obama's executive order, the EPA, the clean water act (H.R.3852: Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress) and a lot of localities watching their tourism and fishing going away.

Cardin and Cummings of MD are the sponsors and are trying to get this done.

We need everyone's help in passing the word.

[PalmettoSailor]

I think the Bay might actually get some much needed attention this time round.

I had mixed emotions about the decision last year not to introduce the more hearty asian oysters. Restoring the native species will be a long hard slog even if it proves to be within the provence of man. The bay desperately needs filtering as well as a reduction in agricultural run off that causes the algal blooms creating huge dead zones in the bay. Hopefully the efforts to restore native oysters will gain ground and begin to make a noticiable impact but I still have a hard time thinking there will be enough to make much of a difference in my life time.

[kd3pc]

Midlife and the group,

I too was leary of the asian oysters, but after talking with Congressman Wittman (he knows oysters) and looking at what VIMS and ODU are doing with genetic sterilization and spreading the spat out things may be safe. They all agree chemical sterilization would be reversed by that old Nag - Mother Nature in no time at all.

I have asked Wittman and Sen Warner on more lenient laws to allow even homeowners to put out native oysters in their waterfront..not for harvest but merely to get them going again, healthier and filtering.....will have to see ....

but I too think you are right, this is OUR chance to make a real change in getting the bay cleaned up...

else it will be the same as the 70's....over and over...
dave

[nickmerc]

Instead of asking the government to fund yet more programs and to enact legislation on businesses and farms and individuals, why not get more involved ourselves? Donate money and/or time to private foundations that are working toward saving the Bay. I was able to convince my marina management to volunteer our dock space for cages of oyster spat. We have enough usable space (even with boats in thier slips) to take all of the cages the DNR has available for the Annapolis area. Two things that can be done here to increase the scope of this program. Have more people/marinas donate under dock space and have people and businesses donate money or supplies to the oyster spat program.

The big issue with the Bay is not so much the companies that dump waste into it, but all of the runoff form the HUGE watershed. There are people who live many miles away from the Bay that are affecting it. All of the runoff from all of the farms and neigbourhoods and towns in PA, MD, and VA that goes into the Bay has to be taken care of. Working to clean up these tributaries before the water even gets to the Bay will be a huge boon to the cause. Why not have private citizens educate these people about what effect they have on the Bay and what they can do to help?

For the companies that are dumping waste into the Bay make it known to the public and boycott them. Put pressure on them in the media to clean up thier act. If the cost of lost business is high enough they will respond. If investors can be convinced to not give them money due to a bad image that will also have an effect on the business.

Government levied fines can be ignored or not paid. Sometimes the fines are cheaper than correcting the issue. Plus, as we have seen recently, many senators and congressmen will sell thier vote to make constituents happy. These constituents are often businesses who contribute to campaigns. The price may very well be a relaxation of these laws or a havey decrease in any fines.

What I am saying is if you are really that concerned about the Bay, or any other cause, do not wait for the government to do the work for you. Get out there yourself and make it happen.
________
KID PAXIL

[lapworth]

You have a good piont there Nick. I am going to get my hands dirty but I think I will still be able to give my congress a shout. Thats why I vote right?