CHESAPEAKE BAY GRANTS

AWARDED IN 2008

I. Informed Living Resource & Habitat Management

ADVOCACY

ReClam the Bay, Inc. – ($10,000) Support a Program Coordinator to involve and educate the public about water quality and the importance of shellfish.

The Nature Conservancy – ($80,000) Support TNC’s Chesapeake Bay Initiative, expanding their efforts in the Bay region to focus on aquatic conservation goals.  Work will concentrate on oyster policy, improved harvest controls for high priority species and dam operating licenses to allow fish passage.

Trout Unlimited, Inc. – ($35,000) Support a new Chesapeake Bay Coordinator and the launching of the Chesapeake Bay Coldwater Conservation Initiative.  The coordinator will organize TU members and other sportsmen as advocates for protection and restoration projects, in partnership with land trusts, other non-profits and state agencies.

Science Communication Network – ($2,000) Support the network to conduct a communications messaging project on the scientific reports on the introduction of the Asian oyster in Chesapeake Bay.

Pinchot Institute for Conservation – ($45,000) Form a guiding coalition of experts to advise the development of the Bay Bank and oversee its implementation in 2008. Conduct outreach targeted to private forest landowners, potential buyers of ecosystem services, and new project partners. Collaborate with partners to ensure that the Bay Bank integrates the best available tools and resources into its development.

Chesapeake Research Consortium – ($10,000) Support the CRC Regional Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) Conference designed to explore options for increasing EBM across the watershed.  The CRC conference will examine ways to bring scientists and managers together to inform actions and decisions that impact the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem at all levels of government.

Potomac Conservancy – ($10,000) Support an Intersex Fish Awareness Campaign to mobilize citizens to voice their concerns and urge support for scientific research into the causes and potential public health impacts.

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.

FISHERIES MANAGEMENT

Oyster Reef Keepers of Virginia, Inc. – ($10,000) Determine the economic feasibility of watermen producing and planting spat on shell for the market production of oysters on leased grounds in Virginia.

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – ($5,000) Support a native aquaculture project with a few Tangier Island watermen.  The project will aim to maintain the watermen culture while offering the community a viable option for future economic success.  CBF will oversee monitoring and recordkeeping to get clear, measurable and quantifiable results.

Chesapeake Research Consortium – ($25,000) Support the development of a Maryland Oyster Aquaculture Business plan to lay the framework for a sustainable oyster aquaculture industry.  A business plan will be provided for potential implementation and demonstration project development.

Treasurer of Virginia – ($10,000) Support the development of an extensive catalog that will include reports and data related to the fish kill investigations.

Chesapeake Research Consortium – ($19,500) Support a project to investigate possible endocrine disrupting compounds and their effect on oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay.  Researchers will meet and develop recommendations.

Environmental Defense Fund – ($175,000) Support a new project to safeguard fisheries and marine ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s coastal waters through catch share management programs.  EDF will work closely with MD DNR and local watermen.

National Coalition for Marine Conservation – ($25,000) Support the participation in the development of the 2009 menhaden stock assessment and the menhaden fishery management plan.  An effort to see that all available scientific information is considered and catch limits meet predator needs first, before allocating fish to the fisheries.

SCIENCE

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.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science – ($50,000)    Fill gaps in current funding for projects addressing native oysters.  Key areas of research will address improved data and predictive tools that identify those conditions that may inhibit or enhance reproductive success of C. virginica.

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science - ($50,000) Provide Presidential discretionary funds to support unexpected opportunities that come before UMCES in order to allow them more flexibility in addressing areas of basic and applied environmental research.

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center - ($20,000) Provide partial support to continue the

work of a Chesapeake Bay Research Coordinator, who will ensure SERC’s research is communicated in a timely and effective manner to contribute to sound management and environmental policy in the Chesapeake Bay region. 

II. Decreased Nutrients & Sediments

WATERKEEPERS

Waterkeeper Alliance – ($35,000) Help support the establishment of a Chesapeake Revolving Litigation Fund.  The Fund will expand the capacity of the Waterkeepers to discuss litigation opportunities, collaborate, and engage in litigation that will hold polluters accountable and improve compliance with environmental laws.

Waterkeeper Alliance – ($19,000) Supported a 2-day facilitated strategic planning session among all 15 established Chesapeake Waterkeepers to establish a shared vision of collaborative work and outline collaborative priorities for the coming year.

Sassafras River Association – ($20,000) Support the establishment of a new Sassafras Riverkeeper.

Assateague Coastal Trust – ($25,000) Continue support of the Assateague Coastkeeper program.

Baltimore Harbor Waterkeeper, Inc. – ($30,000) Continue support of the Baltimore Harborkeeper program.

Earth Reports, Inc. – ($42,000) Continue support of the Patuxent Riverkeeper program.

Potomac Riverkeerper, Inc. – ($40,000) Continue support of the Potomac Riverkeeper program.

Potomac Riverkeeper, Inc. – ($20,000) Continue support of the Shenandoah Riverkeeper program.

Chesapeake Rivers Association – ($35,000) Continue support of the Severn Riverkeeper program.

South River Federation – ($55,000) Continue support of the South Riverkeeper program.

Stewards of the Lower Susquehanna, Inc. – ($40,000) Continue support of the Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper program.

West/ Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc. – ($50,000) Continue support of the West/ Rhode Riverkeeper program.

James River Association – ($30,000) Continue support of the new Upper James Riverkeeper program.

Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper – ($35,000) Continue support of the Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper program at $25,000.  The remaining $10,000 is allocated to the Ghostpot recovery program.

Choptank River Eastern Bay Conservancy – ($35,000) Support the establishment of a new Choptank Riverkeeper.

AGRICULTURE

Environmental Defense Fund - ($75,000) Support a full time staff person dedicated entirely to the Chesapeake Bay, with emphasis on agricultural conservation and ecosystem services projects. 

Environmental Defense Fund - ($75,000) Educate the farming community on cost effective tools that determine optimal applications of nitrogen on corn fields.  Support the use of aerial photographs of fields of participating farmers in Lancaster and Chester Counties (PA) to verify the effectiveness of soil and cornstalk tests. 

LEAD MD – ($25,000) Identify and develop leaders within the agriculture, natural resources and rural communities.  Support seminars and study tours designed to increase participants’ understanding and broaden their perspective on the technologies, business practices and environmental issues affecting agriculture. 

Maryland Center for AgroEcology - ($25,000) Establish 80-100 acres of switchgrass riparian buffers on Eastern shore cropland to evaluate nutrient uptake, energy capture, carbon sequestration and habitat effects during the first three years of establishment. Assess environmental benefits as well as opportunities to provide an energy source.

Environment Maryland -  ($200,000) Engage corporate partners in an initiative to achieve market driven changes in manure and nutrient management.  A new nonprofit, Water Stewardship, will be created to develop and implement a water quality assessment, verification and continuous improvement program. 

University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science - ($40,000) As a key component of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network (CBFN), activities are focused on strengthening the economic sustainability of Chesapeake agriculture, while reducing nutrient and sediment pollution. Two critical areas being targeted are: 1) improved management of excess manure through the use of innovative technologies and the development of new markets; and 2) enhanced technical assistance and outreach, with a strong reliance on farmer-to-farmer networks as agents of change.

University of Delaware - ($1,000) Support a symposium on Carbon Sequestration on Farm and Forestland that will explore the opportunities for carbon trading/offset programs that can benefit the Chesapeake region’s farms and forests.  

Lancaster Farmland Trust - ($55,000) Increase the adoption of conservation practices for protecting soils and improving water quality by Plain Sect farmers whose land is under conservation easements.

Environmental Working Group -  ($50,000) Support the Chesapeake Sustainable Agriculture Program to accelerate EWG’s work in the Chesapeake to strengthen current approaches to solving agricultural water quality problems and to make public institutions and officials accountable for their agricultural-environmental policies.

University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center - ($5,000) Support a scientific review of research related to stockpiling of poultry litter for presentation to an “Eastern Shore Agriculture Collaborative Meeting on Poultry Manure Management”.   Findings and recommendations will serve as a contribution to the Maryland Animal Feeding Operation general permit formulation process.

Chesapeake Bay Commission – ($30,000)  Support the Bay Commission’s work to publish annual agendas highlighting Bay restoration opportunities and to further educate and engage federal decision-makers in Bay restoration activities.

Chesapeake Bay Commission – ($10,000) Support publication of the final Chesapeake Cellulosic Biofuels project’s recommendations and actions report and advance the project’s recommendations to the Chesapeake Executive Council.

PennFuture – ($75,000) Strengthen public support for and enforcement of clean water laws in the Chesapeake Bay watershed of Pennsylvania.  Focus will be on agriculture compliance under the Nutrient Management Act and stormwater in those counties that have no plans.

Environmental Integrity Project - ($75,000) Support efforts to improve enforcement of environmental laws that are already on the books, including Clean Water Act provisions addressing Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s). 

Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology, Inc. – ($20,000) Successful match of a challenge grant to build their fellowship program.  Funds will be used to support future graduate students working on issues of Maryland’s working lands.

University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($10,000) Sponsor a new web-site that will help facilitate transactions of local food.  The Environmental Finance Center is launching Foodtrader.org that will allow buyers and sellers to connect online to purchase newly harvested high quality food.  This web-site will help develop innovative tools to expand market opportunities for Maryland’s agricultural sector.

AIR

Energy Policy

Maryland Public Interest Research Group – (50,000) Continue direct advocacy and organizing efforts to ensure new state energy efficiency goals are met.  Serve as the fiscal agent for continued support of a key partner, American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE).

Chesapeake Climate Action Network – ($50,000) Continue to organize and educate the grassroots community by hiring a new, full-time field organizer to create support for a national solution to the climate crisis that specifically promotes safe energy choices. Work to produce and distribute nationally the radio show Earthbeat, America’s only climate-specific radio show and featuring CCAN director Mike Tidwell as co-host.

Advocacy

Clean Air Watch – ($30,000) Support Clean Air Watch’s core mission of educating the media about the need for clean air as well as the need for strong clean air laws and regulations.  Work closely to help allied groups achieve this objective as well.

Southern Environmental Law Clinic – ($55,000) $30,000 is allocated to the challenge of a Wise County conventional power plant; $25,000 is allocated to engage their top water specialist in strategic discussions surrounding TMDLs and Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts.

National Parks Conservation Association – ($100,000) Support NPCA’s air quality advocacy work in Maryland and Virginia, seeking to establish and ensure enforcement of modern pollution control standards on all power plants, while informing and empowering citizens to be effective advocates.

Environmental Integrity Project – ($65,000) Support EIP in overseeing Maryland’s actions in meeting its responsibilities under the federal Clean Air Act and the state Healthy Air Act. 

STORMWATER

Advocacy

Clean Water Fund – ($90,000) Support the Baltimore Initiative, focusing on empowering citizens and businesses to invest in their community, while educating locally elected officials to the issues surrounding stormwater management.  $15,000 is allocated to messaging and media training through Action Media.

Baltimore Community Foundation – ($25,000) Support the “Cleaner Greener Baltimore Initiative”, a multi-media campaign to promote awareness and motivation on keeping Baltimore clean.  Stormwater messaging will be an integral part of the campaign, along with City government leading by example.

Center for Watershed Protection – ($50,000) Monitoring and determining illicit discharge sites, training local watershed groups to assist with this investigation, reporting findings to MDE and the Attorney General’s office. 

Audubon Naturalist Society of the Central Atlantic States, Inc. – ($75,000) Support strong stormwater requirements by raising public awareness of stream health trends that reflect Smart Growth policies.

Herring Run Watershed Association – ($35,000) Support the “Advancing Runoff Awareness” campaign in the Baltimore City and County.  This project will bring attention to the problems caused by stormwater and seek solutions to those problems by consulting with elected officials, business groups and community leaders.

Environment Research and Policy Center – ($100,000) Support the Chesapeake Stormwater Network, an advocacy campaign to reform Bay-wide stormwater regulations, permits, design manuals and policies.  The Network will help align and integrate efforts of individuals working on stormwater across the Bay region.

Alliance for Community Education – ($10,000) Support a project to continue education and advocacy on stormwater in Anne Arundel County.  The Alliance has worked towards expanding public awareness and commitment by educating the public and area politicians on stormwater problems and solutions.

American Rivers – ($38,000) Provide assistance in the effort to establish strong stormwater management regulations and a model ordinance in Maryland, and assist in the establishment of a Pennsylvania statewide model stormwater ordinance and its adoption by townships.

Natural Resources Defense Council – ($40,000) Work on strengthening stormwater standards in the Patuxent River watershed, while also targeting larger pollution sources through compliance action.

James River Association – ($35,000) Support a project to advocate for stronger stormwater regulations for construction and MS4 permits and strengthen a volunteer program to increase compliance of sediment and erosion controls.

Anacostia Watershed Society – ($30,000) Support a project to advocate for more effective stormwater standards in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, MD; the use of Low Impact Development by municipalities, businesses and schools; and to educate the community on how to take action against stormwater pollution.

Alice Ferguson Foundation – ($15,000) Support an initiative to address stormwater in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers by focusing on a trash free Potomac by 2013.  To date more than 100 elected officials have signed onto the “Trash Treaty”.

Education

Green Treks Network, Inc. – ($35,000) Continue support of a social marketing project designed to encourage municipalities to adopt regulations and promote the implementation of stormwater BMPs throughout Pennsylvania.  StormwaterPA.org will be an online resource center, including video case study success stories.

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) Promote emerging conservation practices and technology to large landowners and local governments through the use of targeted demonstration projects and partnerships. 

Advocacy

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy – ($75,000) Provide on-the-ground mentoring and coaching to local government officials on modifications of local comprehensive plans, annexations and priority funding areas. 

Virginia Conservation Network – ($20,000) Support a strong Virginia-wide common agenda among the network’s more than 100 conservation, environmental and smart growth members. 

Arnold Preservation Council – ($10,000) Support the Growth Action Network, formed in 2007 to address the problem of growth without adequate infrastructure in Anne Arundel County. The network is comprised of over 40 organizations and individuals. 

Center for Public Integrity – ($75,000) Support the continuation of a project evaluating campaign contributions by sprawl industry groups to local government officials and state legislators.  The project will take place in 6 communities, subject in recent years to extreme development pressures.

Valley Conservation Council – ($35,000) Expand their capacity to deliver high quality land conservation services and land use planning programs to landowners.  VCC set a goal to work with public and private partners to preserve 100,000 acres in Shenandoah Valley.

Valleys Planning Council – ($25,000) Support “special projects” – hiring of experts and legal advisors to assist in legal challenges against development proposals that appear to be in conflict with environmental standards in the Baltimore, MD area.

James River Association – ($40,000) Utilizing a review of code and ordinances in 45 counties and cities of the James River Watershed to seek policy changes at the local level.  This is being done by developing recommendations and working one-on-one with several targeted jurisdictions.

1000 Friends of Maryland – ($85,000) Increase the capacity of 1000 Friends so they can more strategically and thoroughly influence local government action, resulting in on-the-ground changes to land use patterns. 

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy – ($75,000) Increase ESLC’s capacity to respond and be proactive about land use planning with 6 counties on the Eastern Shore.  This will help ESLC be more available to citizens and government officials.

Dorchester Citizens for Planned Growth – ($5,000) Support the participation in the planning processes of Dorchester County and the City of Cambridge, both of which are presently developing comprehensive plans.

Piedmont Environmental Council – ($20,000) Support the Shenandoah Valley Network to help communities plan for better growth and development.  This is done by increasing capacity of local citizen groups and local governments to adopt good comprehensive plans and zoning ordinances.  SVN serves as a resource center for local conservation groups on land use, land protection and transportation issues in 7 Virginia Shenandoah counties. 

Piedmont Environmental Council – ($25,000) Support the Coalition for Smarter Growth in their Fairfax County Campaign.  The goal of the campaign is to use a grassroots organizer to focus new, walkable developments near transit stations and in existing commercial corridors; to reduce land consumption; retrofit strormwater controls; and reduce traffic and pollution.

Potomac Conservancy – ($30,000) Support the Conservancy’s Land and Water Policy Initiative.  The goals are to work on state level funding for land conservation, BMP installation and other water quality programs; and in 5 priority counties to advocate policies that reduce stormwater runoff, protect and restore forests and trees and serve as models for other counties.

SEPTIC SYSTEMS

Caroline County Environmental Health – ($35,000) Support an on-the-ground physical survey of approximately 1530 improved properties utilizing on-site sewage disposal systems (OSDS).  A database containing OSDS information will be developed and homeowners will receive information on properly maintaining their systems.

III. Engaged Public

LEADERSHIP

PA Parks and Forests Foundation – ($15,000) Support the Symposium of State Natural Resource Agency Leaders, hosted by Pennsylvania in June 2008.  Mr. Paul Hawken served as the keynote speaker, highlighting land resources and climate change.

Environmental Leadership Program – ($24,000) Support the launch of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Network.  This will be the 4th regional network.  ELP provides training for individuals early in their careers with the support and guidance to rise to key public leadership positions.

Public Interest Projects – ($7,000) Sponsor participants from Maryland and Virginia to attend the June 2008 Peer-to-Peer Networking Event, hosted by The Beldon Fund.

Leadership Anne Arundel – ($6,000) Support two individuals to attend the LAA Flagship Class of 2009, adding an environment viewpoint during the training sessions and programs. 

Center for Progressive Reform – ($43,000) Track development of a Chesapeake Bay Program accountability mechanism and prepare recommendations on reviving the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts among the Program and its partners.

Institute for Conservation Leadership – ($7,700) Support two tuitions for the “Leading from Within” training; a five-month training designed to strengthen participants’ leadership skills and increase their effectiveness as leaders.

FUNDING ENHANCEMENT

Northeast Midwest Institute – ($25,000) Support the NEMW’s role, providing organizational support to the Congressional Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force.  Activities include budget and bill tracking, policy analysis, preparation of Hill briefings, and responding to requests.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($15,000) Dues and Coordination support for the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network.  CBT serves as the fiscal agent for the network.

Environmental Grantmakers Association – ($10,000) Support the annual fall retreat of EGA members.  The retreat engages attendees in sessions and networking opportunities so they may gain a stronger awareness and understanding of issues, obstacles, and opportunities that affect environmental grantmaking.

James River Association – ($25,000) Support the Healthy Rivers Initiative, a partnership of 30 Virginia river conservation groups, whose goal is educate legislators on the importance of non-point source programs, particularly agriculture.

Environmental Grantmakers Association – ($5,000) Support EGA’s 2009 Federal Policy Briefing.  The event will create the opportunity for multiple foundations to learn about upcoming opportunities and discuss how collectively an environmental agenda should be successfully advanced.

Piedmont Environmental Council – ($20,000) Provide general operations support to PEC  to protect the land, waters and communities of Virginia’s nine-county northern piedmont region, specifically focusing on those efforts that contribute to meeting Chesapeake Bay water quality goals.

Biophilia Foundation – ($2,000) Support the South River Greenway Conference to advance land protection efforts that will contribute to sustained and improved water quality within an ecologically important area. 

Forest Trends – ($10,000) Sponsor the Katoomba meeting focused on market-based tools to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  

University System of Maryland Foundation, Inc. – ($17,500) Support the collaborative efforts of the MD DNR and the U of MD Center for Environmental Science to develop a strategy to achieve a sustainable future for Maryland.  Initial efforts will bring high level leaders, both within and out of State government, to a common understanding of the need and agreement on necessary approaches, and to develop and implement a strategic approach for DNR that serves as a model for Maryland State Government in general. 

CAPACITY BUILDING

EarthReports, Inc. – ($36,000) Support the Patuxent Riverkeeper through organizational capacity growth, including Board development, strategic planning and fundraising.  As part of this grant, the Executive Director will participate in the Institute for Conservation Leadership’s Executive Director training program.

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – ($15,000) Support the Alliance through a leadership change, more specifically a financial analysis and a new funding plan.

University of MD Baltimore Foundation, Inc. – ($50,000) Support the capacity of the Maryland Environmental Law Clinic.  Through the establishment of a Fellowship program, they will be more posed to work towards successful resolution of open cases while increasing the number of open cases/ matters.

River Network – ($25,000) Maintain a full-time Chesapeake Bay Regional Office to provide area groups with organizational, technical and networking assistance. 

Wetlands Watch – ($46,000) Build the capacity of the only organization working at the local government level on wetlands protection in Virginia.  The goal is to develop a statewide wetlands management strategy.

Chesapeake Bay Trust – ($200,000) Support the Chesapeake Bay Funders’ Network’s Capacity Building Initiative.  The initiative provides grants and technical assistance to participating watershed organization and Riverkeepers, on a competitive basis.

REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

National Wildlife Federation – ($100,000) Support the establishment of a new Chesapeake Bay Mid-Atlantic office with a full-time Director and staff.  This will expand NWF’s role to focus on regional efforts.

Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works – ($50,000) Support the creation of a Watershed Stewards Academy, an army of stewards throughout the 324 sub-watersheds in Anne Arundel County who will educate and lead homeowners, businesses and community groups within their community.

Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay – ($10,000) Support the launch of an on-line Chesapeake Watershed Network.  The on-line community of organizations and individuals will facilitate networking and cooperation among participants by providing tools, resources and connections to help members further their efforts.

WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Chester River Association – ($10,000) Administratively support three other regional watershed organizations.  Chester River Association will maintain membership and financial records, allowing the other groups to focus more on programmatic responsibilities.

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.

River Network – ($7,000) Support a strategic planning process to identify priorities and help focus and connect grassroot actions.

OUTREACH AND AWARENESS

River Network - ($2,000) Provide scholarship funds to groups from the Chesapeake region, to supplement their attendance at the 2008 River Rally; intensive, interactive 4-day training and networking opportunity for environmental groups.  

River Network – ($13,000) Sponsor the 2009 May River Rally, to be held in Baltimore, Maryland ($10,000) and provide scholarship funds to groups within the Chesapeake region ($3,000).

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) – ($5,000) Assist with the replacement of canoes that were destroyed in June 2008 storms.  Without emergency funds to replace the canoes, summer camps and public programs throughout the remaining portion of 2008 would have been curtailed to shore-side activities only. 

Maryland Stream Restoration Association – ($10,000) Sponsor a Stream Restoration Effectiveness Monitoring Charrette in an effort to develop a consensus on a comprehensive monitoring program for Maryland.

ADVOCACY

PA Clean Water Fund – ($45,000) Support the establishment of a Clean Water Fund office in the PA State Capitol of Harrisburg.  This will expand the presence of advocates working on water quality state policy and regulation implementation and enforcement.

VA LCV Education Fund – ($80,000) Enhance conservation priorities by educating decision makers and supporting voter participation campaigns.  The grant will also strengthen the capacity of the VA LCV Education Fund, furthering their effectiveness among conservation partners, engaged voters and elected officials.

MD LCV Education Fund – ($150,000) Support the capacity of the MD LCV Education Fun while they work to grow their own organization and strengthen the MD environmental community through the development of a “common agenda”.

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 Organizing Project – ($10,000) Support a statewide grassroots organization dedicated to empowering people in local communities.  The goal is to get more people participating in civic engagement activities, build relationships across issue and constituency lines, and a stronger progressive voice.

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Inc. – ($50,000) Support a campaign to educate and activate sportsmen and union members to advocate for smart transportation infrastructure for conservation of fish and wildlife habitat.

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.

Alliance for Justice – ($9,000) Support an organization that provides nonprofit advocacy resources and trainings.

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

Maryland Public Broadcasting Foundation, Inc. – ($45,000) Partially support an hour segment produced by MPT on the topic of growth.  The program will visit the roots of sprawl, how development occurs, and confront its many consequences.  “Maryland’s Sprawl Problem” is expected to be aired in February 2009.

Society of Environmental Journalists – ($35,000) Support an organization dedicated to improving the quality, accuracy and visibility of environmental reporting, resulting in heightened public understanding of environmental issues.  The Annual SEJ conference will be held in Roanoke, Virginia in October 2008.

Society of Environmental Journalists – ($1,000) Support the coordination and hosting of Chesapeake field trips during the annual meeting, in 2008 held in Roanoke, Virginia.

Catticus Corporation – ($5,000) Support the completion of a one-hour documentary outlining the career and life-long goals of Bernie Fowler, former Maryland State Senator and a pioneer of the environmental movement in Maryland.

Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital – ($10,000) Support the 17th annual Environmental Film Festival; a 12-day event that will present more than 100 films on a variety of environmental topics and themes. 

Chesapeake Media Service – ($73,400) 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.