For Immediate Release: Monday, June 5, 2017
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmember Craig Rice will proclaim the second week in June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week in Montgomery County. The designation is intended to increase awareness of the importance of the Chesapeake Bay in Montgomery County and throughout the metropolitan area.
“I am proud of the innovative work of residents, stakeholders and neighboring municipalities who strive for cleaner, safer waterways,” said County Executive Ike Leggett. “The Chesapeake Bay is an important resource of our region, and we in Montgomery County will continue to do our part to protect and preserve the more than 1,500 miles of County streams that flow into the Anacostia and Potomac rivers and eventually into the Bay.”
Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania enacted legislation to celebrate this special week to increase awareness of the ecological and economic importance of the Chesapeake Bay to the region. The focused efforts encourage local governments and water utilities to highlight the steps they have taken to reduce pollutants from entering the Bay and the successes they have achieved by improving water quality.
“We have accomplished a lot over the past few decades, but know that there is still a lot of work left to be done,” said Rice. By partnering with our residents and businesses in implementing best practices such as green roofs, raingardens and recycling, we can all do our part in helping to clean and protect the Chesapeake Bay.” Rice served as chairperson for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Water Resources Policy committee in 2015 -2016 and continues to be active on the committee.
Residents are encouraged to commemorate this week by hosting special events, or participating in activities and educational programs designed to raise awareness and protect local resources, especially the Chesapeake Bay.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) works all year to protect and improve the County’s air, water and land. Residents are urged to take advantage of the dozens of services and outreach activities offered to help anyone looking to improve the environment. Every effort, whether small actions such as taking a reusable bag when shopping, or a much more time-intensive action such as organizing a large stream clean-up make a difference in the health of the Bay.
“To effectively sustain the Chesapeake Bay so we can all enjoy a swimmable, fishable and livable Bay you need to care, not only for our local waterways but also the Anacostia and Potomac watersheds, said DEP Director Lisa Feldt. “I encourage everyone to do their part to protect this important and beautiful natural resource.”
For more information about Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection’s water quality programming and how you can get involved, visit www.montgomerycountymd.gov/water.
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Release ID: 17-439