Chesapeake Conservancy

Last updated
Chesapeake Conservancy
Chesapeake Conservancy Inc.
Type Nonprofit
26-2271377
Legal status 501(c)(3)
Headquarters Annapolis, Maryland
Board Chair
Randall W. Larrimore
President & CEO
Joel Dunn
Website https://www.chesapeakeconservancy.org

Chesapeake Conservancy is a non-profit organisation, whose aim is to use technology and advocacy to support conservation of the Chesapeake Bay estuary on the east coast of the United States. [1] The group is based in Annapolis, Maryland. [1]

Contents

History

In December 2016, the organisation announced that Robert Stanton, former director of the National Park Service, and Anne Scott, a philanthropic investment manager, had joined the board of directors, replacing outgoing board members Patrick Noonan, Stephen Adkins and Lloyd Beatty, Jr. [2]

Board of directors

The current board of directors of the conservancy includes: [3]

  • President and CEO: Joel E. Dunn
  • Chair: Randall W. Larrimore
  • Vice Chair: Mark Belton
  • Treasurer: Leslie Delgran
  • Secretary: Marc Guenter Bunting
  • Maite Arce
  • Thad Bench
  • Michael Brubaker
  • Matthew Earl
  • Colin Harrington
  • Verna Harrison
  • Jeffery More
  • Stephanie Meeks
  • John G. Neely
  • Dr. Mamie A. Parker
  • John J. Reynolds
  • Chief G. Anne Richardson, Rappahannock Tribe
  • Jeff Sabot
  • Nancy B. Walters, PhD
  • Molly Joseph Ward
  • Beattra Wilson

Honorary Board Members

Emeritus Directors

Projects

High-Resolution Land Cover

Chesapeake Conservancy used topographical mapping to create the Chesapeake Bay High-Resolution Land Cover Project, a high-resolution map of natural and man-made objects spanning the bay's 64,000 square mile watershed. [4] Initially a small-scale pilot program, using mapping to update the United States Geological Survey's existing land-change model of the bay, the Conservancy subsequently formed a partnership with the University of Vermont and WorldView Solutions to extrapolate the method to the whole bay. [4] The map has square meter resolution, substantially improving the previous 30-square-meter resolution data. [5] The data was then converted into a web-based application for public use, released in late 2016, [5] allowing those involved in conservation of the bay to locate optimal locations for tree buffers and other measures aimed at reducing soil and nutrient pollution in the bay's watershed. The Conservancy refers to this method as "precision conservation". [5] The Chesapeake Bay Program then combined the mapping data with land use data from the area to inform other conservation measures and attempts to improve land use, [4] as well as monitoring water pollution. [5] Chesapeake Conservancy also developed other applications to combine with different kinds of data, such as municipal stormwater reports. In 2014, the Conservancy received a grant from Microsoft, as well as access to their Azure cloud computing service, which drastically increased the speed of the web-based application. [4] A deep neural network model developed by Chesapeake Conservancy and Microsoft allowed the data used in creating the map to be updated at more frequent intervals, which will allow researchers to track changes such as deforestation, urbanization, and the impact of climate change. [6]

In 2018, Chesapeake Conservancy was awarded $1.1 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to support its land cover project and to expand a pilot program that maps how water moves across the landscape. The land cover project uses aerial images and computer programming to identify natural and man-made objects across the watershed. Updating the previous 2013/14 land cover dataset to more recent years, aids states, counties and local jurisdictions to see how development shapes the watershed over time. To map how water moves across the land, the Conservancy uses existing United States Geological Survey lidar data, which is collected by a plane bouncing a laser to the ground to collect the height of objects. Combining this information with the updated land cover map will help to precisely locate areas where restoration projects will be the most efficient. [7]

Return of Native American land

In 2017, the conservancy worked with former Virginia Senator John Warner to return an area of land adjacent to the Rappahannock River to the Rappahannock Native Americans who had been forcibly moved from the area in the 17th century. [8]

Champions of the Chesapeake

Each year, the organization gives out Champions of the Chesapeake awards to recognize individuals for their contribution to conservation of the bay, its environment, and its resources. [1] In 2017 the award was given to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. [1] In 2018 the award was given to Ecosystem Investment Partners, [9] The Conservation Fund, [10] and The Department of Defense's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesapeake Bay</span> Estuary in the U.S. states of Maryland and Virginia

The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. The Bay is located in the Mid-Atlantic region and is primarily separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the Delmarva Peninsula, including parts of the Eastern Shore of Maryland, the Eastern Shore of Virginia, and the state of Delaware. The mouth of the Bay at its southern point is located between Cape Henry and Cape Charles. With its northern portion in Maryland and the southern part in Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay is a very important feature for the ecology and economy of those two states, as well as others surrounding within its watershed. More than 150 major rivers and streams flow into the Bay's 64,299-square-mile (166,534 km2) drainage basin, which covers parts of six states, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, and all of Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Estuarine Research Reserve</span> Network of 30 protected areas in the US

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System is a network of 30 protected areas established by partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and coastal states. The reserves represent different biogeographic regions of the United States. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System protects more than 1.3 million acres of coastal and estuarine habitats for long-term research, water-quality monitoring, education, and coastal stewardship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anacostia River</span> River in Maryland and the District of Columbia, United States

The Anacostia River is a river in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. It flows from Prince George's County in Maryland into Washington, D.C., where it joins with the Washington Channel and ultimately empties into the Potomac River at Buzzard Point. It is about 8.7 miles (14.0 km) long. The name "Anacostia" derives from the area's early history as Nacotchtank, a settlement of Necostan or Anacostan Native Americans on the banks of the Anacostia River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rappahannock River</span> River in Virginia, United States

The Rappahannock River is a river in eastern Virginia, in the United States, approximately 195 miles (314 km) in length. It traverses the entire northern part of the state, from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west where it rises, across the Piedmont to the Fall Line, and onward through the coastal plain to flow into the Chesapeake Bay, south of the Potomac River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Creek (Potomac River tributary)</span> Tributary of the Potomac River in Maryland and Washington, D.C., United States

Rock Creek is a free-flowing tributary of the Potomac River that empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The 32.6-mile (52.5 km) creek drains about 76.5 square miles (198 km2). Its final quarter-mile is affected by tides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monocacy River</span> River in Maryland, United States

The Monocacy River is a free-flowing left tributary to the Potomac River, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean via the Chesapeake Bay. The river is 58.5 miles (94.1 km) long, with a drainage area of about 970 square miles (2,500 km2). It is the largest Maryland tributary to the Potomac.

The Jordan River is a 12.5-mile-long (20.1 km) headwater tributary of the Rappahannock River in northern Virginia in the United States. It rises in Shenandoah National Park and flows for its entire length in northern Rappahannock County. The river generally flows eastward and joins the Rappahannock River from the west. It is part of the watershed of Chesapeake Bay, via the Rappahannock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazel River</span>

The Hazel River is a 47.8-mile-long (76.9 km) tributary of the Rappahannock River in northern Virginia in the United States. Via the Rappahannock, it is part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. It rises in Shenandoah National Park and flows generally eastwardly through Rappahannock and Culpeper counties. It joins the Rappahannock River from the west about 3 miles (5 km) northwest of Remington. The Hazel's largest tributaries are the Hughes River, which joins it at the border of Rappahannock and Culpeper counties, and the Thornton River, which joins it in Culpeper County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mattawoman Creek</span> Coastal plain tributary in Maryland, United States

Mattawoman Creek is a 30.0-mile-long (48.3 km) coastal-plain tributary to the tidal Potomac River with a mouth at Indian Head, Maryland, 20 miles (32 km) downstream of Washington, D.C. It comprises a 23-mile (37 km) river flowing through Prince George's and Charles counties and a 7-mile (11 km) tidal-freshwater estuary in Charles County. About three-fourths of its 94-square-mile (240 km2) watershed lies in Charles County, with the remainder in Prince George's County immediately to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rouge National Urban Park</span> National urban park in Ontario, Canada

Rouge National Urban Park is a national urban park in Ontario, Canada. The park is centred around the Rouge River and its tributaries in the Greater Toronto Area. The southern portion of the park is situated around the mouth of the river in Toronto, and extends northwards into Markham, Pickering, Uxbridge, and Whitchurch-Stouffville.

The Sierra Nevada Alliance is a network of conservation groups encompassing 24 watersheds of the 650 kilometer-long Sierra Nevada in California and Nevada. Beginning in 1993, the Alliance protects and restores Sierra Nevada lands, watersheds, wildlife and communities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chesapeake Bay Program</span> Organization implementing a plan to remediate ecosystem damage

The Chesapeake Bay Program is the regional partnership that directs and conducts the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay in the United States. As a partnership, the Chesapeake Bay Program brings together members of various state, federal, academic and local watershed organizations to build and adopt policies that support Chesapeake Bay restoration. By combining the resources and unique strengths of each individual organization, the Chesapeake Bay Program is able to follow a unified plan for restoration. The program office is located in Annapolis, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiques Creek</span> River in Pennsylvania, United States

Chiques Creek is a 31.6-mile-long (50.9 km) tributary of the Susquehanna River in Lebanon and Lancaster counties, Pennsylvania in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles River</span> River in Maryland, United States of America

The Miles River is a 12.9-mile-long (20.8 km) tidal river in Talbot County, Maryland. It is a tributary of the Eastern Bay and is thus part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Watts Branch is a tributary stream of the Potomac River in Montgomery County, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Seneca Creek</span> Stream in Montgomery County, Maryland

Little Seneca Creek is an 14.0-mile-long (22.5 km) stream in Montgomery County, Maryland, roughly 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vflo</span>

Vflo is a commercially available, physics-based distributed hydrologic model generated by Vieux & Associates, Inc. Vflo uses radar rainfall data for hydrologic input to simulate distributed runoff. Vflo employs GIS maps for parameterization via a desktop interface. The model is suited for distributed hydrologic forecasting in post-analysis and in continuous operations. Vflo output is in the form of hydrographs at selected drainage network grids, as well as distributed runoff maps covering the watershed. Model applications include civil infrastructure operations and maintenance, stormwater prediction and emergency management, continuous and short-term surface water runoff, recharge estimation, soil moisture monitoring, land use planning, water quality monitoring, and water resources management.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tenmile Creek (Maryland)</span>

Tenmile Creek is a tributary stream of Little Seneca Creek in Montgomery County, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lititz Run</span> Stream in Pennsylvania, USA

Lititz Run is a 7.2-mile-long (11.6 km) tributary of the Conestoga River in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in the United States.

Fones Cliff, is an historic site along the Rappahannock river. It is a sandstone bluff in Richmond County, Virginia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Governor Larry Hogan Named "Champion of the Chesapeake" By Chesapeake Conservancy". Office of Governor Larry Hogan. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. ↑ Brockett, Megan (19 December 2016). "Chesapeake Conservancy announces new board members". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Board of Directors". Chesapeake Conservancy. Retrieved 2021-03-08.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Saiyid, Amena (4 January 2018). "High-Tech Tools Help Map Chesapeake Bay Restoration". Bloomberg Environment. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Brockett, Megan (4 January 2017). "Chesapeake Conservancy mapping ways to strengthen conservation". Capital Gazette. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ↑ "Pixel-Level Land Cover Classification Using the Geo AI Data Science Virtual Machine and Batch AI". Microsoft Machine Learning Blog. Microsoft. 12 March 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Pacella, Rachael. "Chesapeake Conservancy gets $1.1 million to bolster mapping data aimed at stormwater cleanup". capitalgazette.com. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  8. ↑ "Rappahannock River Property Donated Back to American Indian Tribe". Chesapeake Bay Magazine. 4 December 2017. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "Ecosystem Investment Partners Receives Chesapeake Conservancy's "Champion Of The Chesapeake" Award". Ecosystem Investment Partners. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  10. ↑ "The Fund Named 2018 "Champion of the Chesapeake"". The Conservation Fund. Archived from the original on 2019-03-29. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
  11. ↑ "Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, U.S. Department of Defense". www.repi.mil. Retrieved 2019-03-29.
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