Note : The Anne Arundel County Department of Health warns that all natural bodies of water can contain bacteria , viruses or other harmful microorganisms and advises against swimming to any individual who has an ear infection , a perforated eardrum , open cuts , scratches or skin lesions , or a compromised immune system . Do not swim in water areas where there is a fish kill or where there are any dead animals .
2 . Pump Out , Don ’ t Dump Out !! Speaking of fecal matter … The Chesapeake Bay may in theory be a drain , and it may in fact flush millions of gallons of water each day , but it is not a toilet . ◗ Please Pump ! Imagine what happens when hundreds of recreationalists nonchalantly dump days ’ worth of sewage directly into the water . It adds up pretty quickly ! Most area marinas have pump out stations , many of which are free .
3 . Don ’ t drain boat chemicals , detergents or fuel into the water . Boaters like to use all sorts of soaps and conditioners to make their vessels pretty . And who doesn ’ t want to make sure they fuel up to the very last drop for a day on the bay ? But the harsh detergents and petro-chemicals in these products drain into the water , where they kill wildlife and add to pollution . Think about it : Would you like to swim through a chemical bath ? ◗ Use environmentally friendly boat products . Demand that your local marina to do the same . And please , don ’ t top off and spill over !
4 . Don ’ t Violate Fishing Regulations When you cut an old line and let it drop into the water , you put wildlife at risk . And it goes without saying that you diminish our resources when you take home undersize fish .
5 . Don ’ t underestimate the power of a rain barrel The force and volume of water pouring off roofs , driveways , sidewalks and streets during a quick and powerful Mid- Atlantic rainstorm brings pollution , sediment and erosion to streams and rivers . Think about ways you can minimize stormwater run off . Capturing the first half-inch of rain can actually capture up to 90 % of the pollution washing off your roof . ◗ Install a rainbarrel . There is a lot of talk about the cost of saving the Bay , but rainbarrels are inexpensive , easy to install and provide an immediate fix .
“ If you can get 30 % homes and businesses to take some kind of moderating measures [ like rainbarrels ], if you can get the city to take some mitigating measures , it would have a tremendous and instant healthy impact on streams ”, Zolper says . Visit www . barrelsbythebay . org , www . rainbarrelsannapolis and www . arlingtonecho . org , all sources for rain barrel purchases , installation and information .
6 . Don ’ t be Apathetic One person can make a difference for the Bay ! People naturally want to take care of a treasure they have invested in ; we care more when we have skin in the game ! Consider these small but important actions you could take to help the Bay : ◗ Have your home and property assessed by an Anne Arundel County Watershed Master Steward . Learn more at www . aaswa . org . ◗ Next winter , contact the Department of Natural Resources to order free native trees and plants through their Backyard Buffers program . ◗ Enjoy Chesapeake seafood ! ◗ Visit a Chesapeake farm and place your dollar vote for local farm products . ◗ Volunteer ! There are literally countless ways to get involved . ◗ Try your hand at catching Blue Catfish or Snakehead , two non-native species that are taking over Bay waterways . ◗ Email the Master Gardeners ’ “ Bay-Wise ” team for a free lawn visit and consultation : getbaywise2012 @ yahoo . com
7 . Don ’ t Stay Away ◗ Enjoy a Bay front park close to you . There are countless under-utilized city , county , state and federal parks in Chesapeake country . ◗ Try paddleboarding , kayaking or other sport in on or around the water . Check out our list of put-ins on page 20 . ◗ Pack a picnic , take a hike , go geocaching , take a nap in the sunshine , stroll along your favorite waterfront esplanade . ◗ Visit one of the excellent Chesapeake heritage museums in the area : Calvert Marine Museum , Annapolis Maritime Museum and Chesapeake Maritime Museum , all in Maryland , or the Deltaville Maritime Museum in Virginia . Baltimore and Norfolk have aquariums that include Chesapeake exhibits .
Story & Photos by : Diana Love
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GREENBOOK | SUMMER 2016