Montgomery County Encourages Residents to Participate in Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week; Take a Selfie for the Bay

For Immediate Release: Friday, June 1, 2018

Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmember Craig Rice proclaimed the first week of June as Chesapeake Bay Awareness Week in Montgomery County. Residents are encouraged to celebrate by participating in Chesapeake Bay awareness activities or visiting a local waterway. 

“There are more than 1,500 miles of rivers and streams in Montgomery County that flow into the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers, and eventually into the Bay,” said Leggett. “Every County resident and business can play a role in keeping the Bay a healthy and beautiful resource for us all to enjoy.”

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has scheduled the following Chesapeake Bay Awareness activities:

• June 2 – White Oak Community Day at the White Oak Community Recreation Center – noon to 4 p.m.
• June 3 – Spring Confidential Paper Shredding and Recycling/Reusable Clothing and Household Items Reuse Event at Poolesville High School - 10 to 2 p.m.
• June 6 – Conservation Landscape Grant Project Ribbon Cutting at Derwood Station 2 Homeowners Association – 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• June 6 – Montgomery County Multi-family Recycling Seminar at the Hyatt Recency in Bethesda - 10 to 2 p.m.
• June 6 – Stormwater Summit for Homeowners – Brookside Gardens - 6:30-8 p.m.
• June 7 and 8 – Montgomery County Bioblitz at Brookside Nature Center with Glenallen Elementary – 10 to 2 p.m.

“Every effort, whether small actions such as recycling and using a reusable bag whenever possible, or a more time-intensive action such as organizing a large stream clean-up can make a difference in the health of the Bay,” said Rice. “You don’t have to travel far to enjoy and celebrate the Bay waterways – just head to one of our local streams to recreate, volunteer, or observe wildlife.”

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 as a volunteer in activities that positively impact the environment.  

Rice will announce the release of a public service announcement on Saturday, June 2. An advance preview of the announcement is available at https://youtu.be/HrBYLOMQqJU

Along with participating in community events, residents are encouraged to take selfies at any of the hundreds of rivers or streams in the Chesapeake Bay watershed (stretching from New York to Virginia, including all of Montgomery County). After taking the selfie, post it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #OneChesapeake, and #WatershedAware to let everyone know why you love the Chesapeake Bay and how you enjoy spending time outdoors near our waterways.

For more information about the work that DEP does all year long to protect and improve the County’s air, water and land go to the DEP website.

Release ID: 18-582
Media Contact: Judy Stiles 240-777-6536