Chesapeake Bay News

The Trust for Public Land’s Parks for People-Community Rivers program in Maryland is focused on the western Chesapeake Bay shoreline and tributaries of
the four major river systems-the Gunpowder, Patuxent, Patapsco, and Potomac.

Working with government agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels and with local organizations, The Trust for Public Land’s goal is to see
one-third of the land along these shores protected as parks and open space.

Through a GIS analysis, the program has identified over 230,000 acres of high-priority unprotected lands within a mile of the western shore of Chesapeake Bay and the four tributaries. the program is seeking to collaborate with public and private partners to collectively advance protection of these lands and create one of the greenest and most natural metropolitan river park systems in America.

To learn more, please visit: www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=22585&folder_id=628

Or contact: Tom Gilbert, Regional Conservation Services Director- tom.gilbert@tpl.org

Patuxent River Commissioner and Riverkeeper, Fred Tutman, was honored with the prestigious 2007 Bernie Fowler Award at Maryland’s 12th Annual Tributary Team meeting on February 9. The so-called “White Sneaker Award” is named for Senator Fowler, who initiated the annual Patuxent River wade-ins 20 years ago to test water turbidity and bring attention to declining water quality. The award is given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Bay health and habitat of a tributary team member.

“From growing up on a farm in Prince George’s County to traveling the world as a journalist, Fred’s life experience has made him uniquely sensitive to the fact that where we come from has a huge impact on how we view and care for our natural resources,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “By communicating and collaborating on both social justice and environmental justice issues, Fred has an extraordinary ability to bring people together – no matter what their background – to act toward our common goal of improving the Bay.”

“We’re fighting collectively not just for the Chesapeake Bay, but for a way for a way of life,” said Tutman upon receiving the award. “We become empowered when we contact our legislators and we are never going to give up.”

In addition to his current Patuxent River responsibilities, for the past two decades Tutman has served as the President of the Conservation Federation of Maryland, President of the Patuxent River Civic Association and a member of DNR’s Outdoor Caucus. He also co-founded the Environmental Fund for Maryland.