Dear Friends,
Late last month, I had the privilege of joining the House Agriculture & Rural Affairs and Environmental & Natural Resource Protection committees in visiting the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s Philip Merrill Environmental Center. The facility is located in Annapolis, directly on the Bay, and has the distinction of being the first building to receive the U.S. Green Building Council's Platinum rating for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and its systems are a model for energy efficiency, innovative architecture, natural landscaping, and water conservation. Being the nerd that I am, I was thoroughly fascinated by their composting toilets and rainwater sink system.
CBF is working to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay and its 64,000-square-mile watershed, which spans six states and Washington, D.C.—including a significant portion of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1967, CBF’s mission is simple but ambitious: “Save the Bay.” Lore shared during our visit was that dedicated staff often slept in the office, which was a former church, as they were starting up the foundation. CBF operates offices and education centers in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Their work includes hands-on restoration, science-based advocacy, immersive environmental education, and strategic legal action to enforce clean water protections.
While it seems counterintuitive to leave the commonwealth to look at another state’s waterway, Pennsylvania plays a critical role in the health of the bay, as over half the water in the Bay comes from here, particularly through the Susquehanna River, which is the bay’s largest freshwater source. Unfortunately, this means Pennsylvania is also one of the largest contributors of pollution to the bay, especially from agricultural runoff, stormwater, and sediment erosion. CBF has invested heavily in Pennsylvania through large-scale tree planting programs, education on agricultural best practices, and restoration of streamside buffers to reduce runoff into local waterways. CBF is a driving force behind the Keystone 10-million Trees Partnership, a statewide initiative aiming to plant 10 million trees by the end of 2025, significantly improving local water quality and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay’s health.
CBF’s Pennsylvania office also works closely with state and local governments, farmers, and conservation partners to implement the Chesapeake Clean Water Blueprint, a federally backed plan to restore water quality by reducing nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment pollution. Pennsylvania has made progress, but we remain behind in our clean water commitments, prompting legal pressure and increased urgency from CBF and its allies in asking Pennsylvania to do more to protect our environment.
We started our tour by discussing the building, its design, and materials. While the building is now 25 years old, it’s constructed of materials I’d never heard of before, like parallam, galvalume, and hardipanel which are all products which utilize byproducts or recycled products and can be recycled. Most of the building was measured and drilled off site and will be easily recycled in the future. Parallam is an engineered wood product made from fast-growing, small-diameter trees, making it a more sustainable alternative to traditional solid-sawn lumber. By efficiently using nearly the entire log and reducing waste, it supports forest conservation and helps lower the carbon footprint of construction. Galvalume is a steel product coated with aluminum, zinc, and silicon, and has a long service life, often lasting 40 years or more. Its durability means fewer replacements over time, which helps conserve raw materials and reduce waste. In roofing and siding applications, Galvalume also reflects heat, improving energy efficiency in buildings and lowering cooling demands. Its longevity and recyclability make it a more sustainable choice than traditional galvanized steel, especially in areas with less aggressive weather or chemical exposure. Hardipanel is a durable exterior siding made from fiber cement—a blend of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers—which makes it resistant to fire, moisture, and pests. Its long lifespan and low maintenance reduce the need for frequent replacements, helping conserve resources over time. It uses abundant natural materials and can contribute to sustainable building practices by minimizing waste and supporting energy-efficient home envelopes.
After touring the building we boarded the Marguerite to explore the oyster reefs of the Severn River. CBF has planted millions of oysters in the Severn to restore water quality and improve habitat. I didn’t realize that a healthy oyster can filter around 50 gallons of water a day, and that when they push out debris they don’t need, they “package” it into a compact form that helps other marine life. The Chesapeake Oyster Alliance and CBF are on track to add 10 billion oysters to the Bay by the end of 2025.
For 50 years, CBF has educated people of all ages through immersive field experiences about the watershed and its stewardship. We benefitted from that expertise during our tour. On the Marguerite we were able to investigate the waters of the Bay, explore an oyster sanctuary reef, learn about CBF’s oyster restoration effort and perform water quality analysis to look at the current bay health and examine overall health trends. We were also able to participate in species collection and release, illustrating the biodiversity and population dynamics of the Bay in relation to overall Bay health. Though the Bay’s health is slowly improving, major challenges persist, including climate change, development, and federal funding cuts that threaten restoration momentum.
For Pennsylvanians, saving the Bay starts upstream, by protecting our own rivers, farms, and communities. Whether you’re interested in planting trees, advocating for clean water, or supporting policy reform, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation both here and in Maryland offers ways to make a difference both locally and regionally. This trip had meaning for me as I spent time with family down on the Chesapeake some summers and used to enjoy crabbing. During my time on the bay in the past, I remember seeing the impacts of overfishing. This time, I was able to bring a bit of the Chesapeake back home with me (although clearly not from CBF) for my family to enjoy and a lot of knowledge to help me be a better advocate for our regional environmental protection efforts.