CHESAPEAKE BAY STEWARDSHIP FUND 2018 PROGRAM REPORT OUR PROGRAM

The Stewardship Fund supports efforts by local communities, farmers and private landowners to restore polluted rivers and streams in the Chesapeake Bay region by advancing cost-effective and innovative solutions by providing financial and technical assistance.

For nearly 20 years, the National Fish and Wildlife With 2018 investments, NFWF’s grant-making in Foundation (NFWF) has supported local efforts to the region has now surpassed $160 million, with protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. more than $230 million in additional local matching Founded on a partnership with the U.S. Environmental resources. Together with local partners, NFWF’s Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Program, conservation impact in the region now stands at more programs have since grown to encompass funding than $400 million since 2000. and support from numerous federal agencies, state conservation programs, and leading corporate These impressive results do not mean the work is partners invested in a vibrant and sustainable future done. Data continues to demonstrate that the Bay for the region. watershed is rebounding after centuries of decline, but additional work is needed to finish the job and These resources and NFWF’s public-private funding sustain collective successes. model allow the Foundation to support local conservation and restoration actions through That’s why the Foundation continues to advance next a combination of competitive grants programs, generation approaches to watershed restoration, from dedicated capacity building for watershed partners, improving collaborative models for local action to and investments that help local partners identify and more farmer-led initiatives to restore the region’s soil deliver more effective results for their communities and water resources. and the natural resources that sustain them. Working together, the public and private sectors can get the job done.

ON THE COVER American black duck R I G H T The 2018 Chesapeake Executive Council Meeting LEFT Chesapeake Bay oysters was held in Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park in 31 Baltimore. OUR INVESTMENTS OUR IMPACT NFWF’s Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund includes a portfolio of grant programs designed to help local Through grants awarded in 2018, the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund will improve the health of communities clean up and restore polluted rivers and streams in the Chesapeake Bay region. Through a Chesapeake Bay watershed by working to restore local rivers and streams. partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund advances cost-effective and creative restoration solutions. Local Water Quality Investments 2018 Project Funding Snapshot 2018 Highlights 2.1 Million Of Nitrogen Avoided Annually • Awarded $512,591 to 11 grants through Pounds the Small Watershed Grants – Planning and Technical Assistance Program for planning and design work that enhances local capacity for restoration. 4.5 Million Of Phosphorus Avoided Annually EPA Innovative Nutrient Sediment Pounds Reduction (INSR) — $6,379,664 • Awarded $12.5 million to 38 grants through EPA Small Watershed Grants (SWG) — $4,514,930 the Small Watershed Grants – CBSF Grant Awards Implementation and Innovative Nutrient Altria — $846,127 and Sediment Reduction Grant Programs to Of Sediment Avoided Annually More than PA Department of Environmental implement restoration projects in the Bay. 800 Million $37.1 Million Total Protection (DEP) — $497,326 Pounds Fish and Wildlife Service — $200,000 • Supported the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Has gone to funding projects in 2018* Natural Resources Conservation Forum, Capacity Building Initiative in Service (NRCS) — $200,000 partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust, Of Riparian Habitat Restored Forest Service — $156,582 and the Land and Waters Initiative in 1,871 partnership with the Land Trust Alliance, Miles CSX — $60,000 to build capacity for new restoration and promote information sharing across the Bay. Of Impervious Surface Removed • Hosted the largest All-Bay Agricultural 1.6 Million Networking Forum in Lancaster, PA, bringing Square Feet together 200 practitioners, local government Local Match — $24.1 million employees, NGOs, and federal partners to share knowledge and expertise on Under BMPs for Nutrient Location of 2018 Stewardship Fund Implementation Grants conservation agricultural best practices. 790,979 Stewardship Fund Grant Awards — $13 million Acres and Sediment Reduction Previous Stewardship Fund Implementation Grants * This chart reflects grant awards only 53 OUR PROJECTS: CONNECTING COMMUNITIES TO CONSERVATION

In the Octoraro Watershed, connections and relationships with the Plain Sect community are being fostered to achieve conservation goals and a greater understanding of the benefits and needs for best management practices.

Reducing pollution from farms is the top priority for Watershed Association and the University of the Chesapeake Bay restoration effort. Environmental Finance Center are working to farms send about 64 million pounds of nitrogen into implement BMPs on farms, develop messaging and the Bay every year and although that number has outreach events for farmers, and develop sustainable dropped since 1985, Lancaster County, home to many financing plans. A 2018 increase of $400,000 to the small or Plain Sect farmers, continues to have one of project allowed for inclusion of additional Plain Sect the highest per-acre loading rates for nitrogen in the farmers who have interest, thereby increasing project watershed. impact.

Aspects of the lifestyle and farming practices in the Jenna Mitchell, Pennsylvania state director for the county make it challenging to recruit participants Alliance, thinks farmers need choices and independent for government-funded conservation programs. funding. Through practices such as farmer breakfast But, according to Conservation District manager meetings for those interested in the cost-share Christopher Thompson, participation in Lancaster program and Plain Sect “champion” farmers (those County is on the rise. Some local farmers are taking that have already implemented BMPs in their MAP independent action and others are accepting Conservation Plans using NFWF cost-share funding), government assistance from nonprofits, including the Alliance is facilitating peer-to-peer discussions NFWF. where interested farmers can learn from each other about the benefits and need for BMP implementation. The watershed, located in southern In addition to information sharing between farmers Lancaster County, suffers from high nitrate pollution. and BMP installation on Plain Sect farms, the project Here the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, originally is also fostering a formal Source Water Protection supported by a 2016 NFWF grant of $749,000, is Collaborative to drive momentum and lead the working with 25 Plain Sect farmers. Through the continued implementation of agricultural BMPs on implementation of agricultural best management Plain Sect farms beyond the grant’s lifetime. practices (BMPs), the Alliance, the Octoraro

LEFT This field utilizes no-till farming, an example of an RIGHT The Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund allows for agricultural best management practice. partners to work with Plain Sect farmers to implement best 75 management practices. OUR PROJECTS: LEADERS IN REGIONAL COLLABORATION

The Upper Susquehanna Coalition serves as a model for successful regional partnerships implementing watershed restoration and educating local communities.

The Upper Susquehanna Coalition (USC) has created a Key to regional delivery of this expertise are the conservation playbook and provided the leadership to relationships that USC has built. The organization prove there is strength in numbers and teamwork. For works with a range of local organizations, creating USC, more than 30 years of experience in conservation an expansive resource to scale to implementation. work provides data and support that enables success Now with 30 years of data, there is a large reservoir at the local level. Best practices are shared and staffing of shared knowledge between members from more can be mobilized across counties and even state lines. than 21 districts.

The regional organization, representing one of the The USC exemplifies the regional priorities and shift largest aggregations of partners in the Chesapeake that the Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is moving Bay watershed, works toward sustainable agriculture towards, particularly with the Innovative Nutrient and best practices and stream protection. With funding Sediment Reduction Program. USC fosters a culture from INSR 2015 and 2016 awards, USC developed of teamwork, helping fellow counties within the one of the first model wetlands programs and coalition and offering expertise in areas where other became experts in wetland restoration. USC assisted counties may need it, including boots on the ground. in grant writing for public and private properties to The success in the Upper Susquehanna watershed support wetland protection. They are now replicating speaks to the success of USC and a regional the model into a stream focus area. A 2018 Small partnership model. Watershed Grants Implementation award to the Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation District of New York, the lead organization for the USC, will allow for the additional planting of riparian buffer acreage and the education of riparian buffer stewards for evaluation and assessment.

LEFT Underwater grasses in the in Corning, RIGHT Patrick Raney, a USC member, leads a plant walk to New York explore newly constructed wetlands at the Parslow Road 97 Conservation Area in Hartwick, New York. OUR PROJECTS: A NEW HOPEWELL

The city of Hopewell is working to increase urban tree coverage and create accessible watershed restoration projects, showcasing stream and wetland restoration to the public.

Hopewell, Virginia overlooks the confluence of the “Hopewell wants to be listed as a ‘Tree City, USA’ and beautiful James and Appomattox rivers. In 2016, with we are looking at the tree population right now for a $200,000 Small Watershed Grant, the city began improved canopies,” Jurczyk added. “Studies show efforts to augment its industrial base to become more that people are more willing to stay in town and are walkable and livable. Funding for new permeable attracted to tree-lined areas.” paver stones, a concerted urban garden planting effort, and reduction of runoff from an industrial Chesapeake Bay Foundation assisted in planting over rooftop and parking lot comprised the prioritized 100 trees for erosion control and canopy. projects. A 2018 Small Watershed Grants Implementation In comparison to other rivers feeding the Chesapeake project, “Expanding Green Infrastructure, Urban Bay, the James River watershed is relatively successful, Stream, and Tree Canopy Restoration in Hopewell with the highest level of dissolved oxygen of all (VA),” will continue and expand the work began tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay. However, the with the 2016 SWG award. With the new award, industrial base of Hopewell, as well as the nutrient Chesapeake Bay Foundation will implement large- MAP runoff from farming in the area, have been a cause scale stream restoration and wetland enhancement for concern. Today, city planners are teaming with the on an eroding stream channel, re-establish floodplain Chesapeake Bay Foundation to revitalize Hopewell. wetlands adjacent to the stream channel, plant 250 urban trees, and create “conservation corners” to “Hopewell has some of the most beautiful natural install green features in residential areas with poorly areas with bluffs over the water, a marina and parks,” draining soils. said Ann Jurczyk, Virginia outreach and advocacy manager with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “This is also a really good time for revitalizing downtown – and planners are starting to realize that Hopewell has beautiful assets being right on the water.”

LEFT The industrial legacy of Hopewell, as well as nutrient RIGHT Trees provide many benefits for water quality, runoff from farming in the area, continues to cause including reducing stormwater runoff and preventing 119 concern. erosion. OURPAGE 2018 TITLE GRANTS

The Cheapeake Bay Stewardship Fund is working to achieve the shared goals of the Chesapeake Bay Program partnership on issues critical to sustained restoration success.

MULTISTATE with local nonprofits, conservation organizations, regional and state organizations while implementing and social scientists to increase adoption of 250 acres of best management practices in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation targeted best management practices in priority Choptank watershed. Mountains to Bay Grazing Alliance: subwatersheds. Grant Amount: $999,629 A Collaborative to Increase Rotational Grazing Grant Amount: $998,094 (MD, PA, VA, WV) Stroud Water Research Center Expand and strengthen a network of private Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake Soil Health Conservation, Engagement and Technical and public partners to promote the adoption One Water Partnership (MD, PA) Assistance (MD, PA, VA) of rotational grazing systems that enhance soil Replicate proven partnerships with secular and Partner with Cover Crop Coaching to increase health, protect and improve water quality, and religious institutions, and engage new partners in access to technical expertise on soil health and contribute to farm economic viability. Project will strategic regions to scale up the engagement of the increase adoption rates. Project will enable Cover include on-farm demonstrations, peer-to-peer faith community in watershed restoration efforts Crop Coaching to direct farmer meetings, host dialog, establishment of local grazing groups, and in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Project will engage train-the-trainer events, and increase outreach to development of outreach materials that highlight nonprofits, local governments, citizen stewardship landowners renting cropland to tenant farmers. the economic and soil health benefits of grazing. groups, and faith-based institutions to enable 36 Grant Amount: $199,976 Grant Amount: $850,350 congregations to install green infrastructure with measurable impacts on local water quality. Ridge to Reefs University of Montana Grant Amount: $1,000,000 Implementing Targeted Nutrient Management in Targeted Implementation in the Chesapeake Bay the Shenandoah Valley and Eastern Shore (MD, VA) Watershed through Data Analysis and Partnership Shorerivers Construct four denitrifying bioreactors and 3.6 acres Couple proprietary databases of farmer interests Envision the Choptank: Expanding and Scaling-Up of nontidal wetlands in priority watersheds with with advanced behavior change models and Regional Partnership (MD, DE) high nutrient loads in Maryland and Virginia. Project messaging approaches to improve effectiveness Strengthen and expand the Envision the Choptank will improve farms environmental performance, of agricultural conservation outreach programs partnership by identifying specific locations for treat legacy nutrients, and will benefit American in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Project will best management practices on agricultural lands, black duck wintering habitat and eastern brook leverage watershed-wide data sets and coordination providing training and education on high impact trout recovery. restoration techniques, and expanding landowner Grant Amount: $199,787 partnerships and technical assistance offerings. LEFT Blue heron in the Chesapeake Bay Project will continue to build the partnership of 17 12 1311 OUR 2018 GRANTS OURPAGE 20182017 TITLE GRANTS

College of William and Mary, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA to assist in meeting National Pollutant Dischare South River Federation St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Congregation Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts Virginia Institute of Marine Science Elimination System permit requirements. Project Stream and Habitat Restoration in Kings Branch Flat Micro-Bioretention at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Increasing Consistent Training for Local Soil Farm Resiliency Education for At-Risk Coastal Department of Energy and Environment will engage elected officials, community leaders, Creek Greenway Natural Area (MD) Catholic Church (MD) Conservation Districts (MD) and Riparian Agricultural Lands (MD, VA) Freshwater Mussel Restoration in the Anacostia (DC) citizens, staff and businesses resulting in the Restore a rapidly eroding 3,270 linear foot stream Construct three micro-bioretention facilities in St. Increase the planning, design and technical College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Improve and study water quality conditions in planning, selection, and design of stormwater bank and enhance non-tidal wetlands, thereby Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church’s parking assistance capacity of Maryland’s soil conservation Marine Science will host a series of workshops Kingman Lake, Nash Run and Watts Branch using retrofit best management practices. reconnecting the floodplain. Project will reduce lot. Project will capture and treat stormwater and districts, which provide services in agricultural with to develop a strategy and work plan for three native species of freshwater mussels: eastern Grant Amount: $146,100 nutrient and sediment pollution loads, benefit local pollutants that run off from the parking lot into and urban landscapes through consistent training. managing farming landscapes, outline projects elliptio, alewife floater and eastern pondmussel. residents and visitors by protecting hiking trails in Jones Falls River and Baltimore Harbor. Project will increase the capacity for conservation that could be undertaken for piloting practices, Project will educate 400 young people per year on Town of New Market the Kings Branch Flat Creek Greenway Natural Area, Grant Amount: $136,677 planning and implementation in order to increase develop proposals for implementation, and target the importance of freshwater mussels for ecosystem Converting a Fire Pond into a Step Pool Storm and restore lost habitat and stream functions. conservation and reach Maryland’s Phase III potential sites. Project will address farmlands at services and develop a freshwater mussel restoration Conveyance in the Town of New Market (MD) Grant Amount: $199,650 South River Federation Watershed Implementation Plan goals. risk to rising sea levels and will bring together plan for the District of Columbia based on work Retrofit the Town of New Market’s fire pond, Living Shoreline and Oyster Reef Ball Restoration Grant Amount: $45,296 agricultural economists, experts on alternative performed during this grant and prior to this grant. converting the pond into a step pool storm Nanticoke Watershed Alliance in the Turnbull Community (MD) cropping systems, and ecosystem specialists to Grant Amount: $200,000 conveyance system to mitigate future flood risk. Cambridge Residential Stewardship Initiative II (MD) Stabilize 748 feet of shoreline through rock sills and Carroll County Government - provide expertise on how to transition vulnerable Project will capture and treat runoff from 25.8 acres Work with local partners to install 10 best oyster reef balls; reef balls will be placed along the Bureau of Resource Management agricultural landscapes. MARYLAND of land and will improve local water quality and management practices on residential lands in the bottom of rock sills and set with oyster spat to study Stormwater Retrofit Design Grant Amount: $49,994 nutrient and sediment loads. Choptank River Watershed, complete a community oyster population success. Project will prevent 97 at Woodsyde Estates (MD) Baltimore Tree Trust Grant Amount: $150,159 needs survey and a stormwater financing feasibility pounds of nitrogen, 56 pounds of phosphorus, and Design the retrofit of two existing stormwater DELAWARE Trees for Public Health in the study, and engage local decision makers in 144 tons of sediment from reaching the South River management facilities in the Woodsyde Estates Harris Creek Watershed (MD) Blue Water Baltimore stormwater management. Project will reduce nutrient annually. subdivision to provide water quality treatment for University of Maryland Expand the urban tree canopy and remove Green Infrastructure and and sediment loads entering the Choptank River and Grant Amount: $117,125 59 acres of drainage area and design a stabilization Environmental Finance Center impervious surfaces, focusing on planting trees along Water Quality Monitoring in Gwynns Falls (MD) increase future funding options for stormwater best and restoration of 1,600 linear feet of steam Leveraging Partnership and Data in the Nanticoke streets in neighborhoods identified as concrete-laden, Implement green infrastructure in Gwynns Falls, management practice implementation. Epping Forest within the South Branch of the Patapsco River. for Stormwater Best Management Practices (DE) with critically low tree coverage. Project will result planting 700 new trees and constructing stormwater Grant Amount: $109,871 Retrofitting Epping Forest’s Project design, when implemented, will improve Use existing collaborative structures in the watershed in 275 newly planted street trees and the removal of retrofits to treat 2 acres of impervious surfaces. Community Clubhouse (MD) water quality as well as provide protection of the to collect and analyze data about demographics 8,800 square feet of impervious surface. Project will engage residents on local environmental St. Mary’s River Watershed Association Retrofit Epping Forest’s community clubhouse downstream receiving stream. and landownership to identify needed changes and Grant Amount: $200,000 issues and will link water quality monitoring data to Oyster Reef Restoration in the St. Mary’s River drainage ditch by widening the ditch. Project will Grant Amount: $50,000 gaps. Project will assist Nanticoke Watershed Alliance restoration activities at 14 non-tidal locations while Shellfish Sanctuary (MD) improve water quality in the adjacent Severn River in developing recommendations for stormwater Low Impact Development Center studying pre- and post-pollution levels at large-scale Construct and install 5 acres of three-dimensional and will address localized flooding and erosion Shorerivers management to increase participation in programs Supporting Community-Based restoration project sites. reef structures and traditional oyster restoration problems. Reconnecting Floodplains and Stream and implementation, meet total maximum daily load Municipality Stormwater Retrofit Plans Grant Amount: $200,000 structures in the St. Mary’s River Shellfish Sanctuary. Grant Amount: $131,000 Restoration in the Upper Sassafras (MD) goals across regulated and unregulated parts of the in Prince George’s County (MD) Project will engage 200 volunteers on site and an Produce a fully permitted stream and wetland region, and fit the communities’ financing capacity. Create partnerships and provide capacity to the additional 600 STEM and public school students. restoration design that addresses an eroding 4,800 Grant Amount: $49,996 12 municipalities within the Anacostia Watershed Grant Amount: $71,436 linear foot stretch of forested perennial stream in 14 1513 OUR 2018 GRANTS

the headwaters of the Sassafras River. Project will facilitate management activities. Park, including three rain gardens, a vegetated result in designs for a stream that receives runoff Grant Amount: $200,000 permeable pavement lot, a rain water harvesting from surrounding highways and a weigh station, as system for stormwater re-use, and a riparian well as 370 acres of surrounding agricultural land. The Nature Conservancy buffer. Project will manage upland urban runoff Grant Amount: $47,025 Stream Restoration and Brook Trout Habitat and will become part of the maintenance program Improvement in the (NY) for the park/recreational area. The project also CityScape Engineering The Nature Conservancy will improve two culverts, provides opportunity for education and examples Developing a Privately-Managed Upland conduct streambank restoration on a key tributary, for additional community green infrastructure Restoration Plan for Gwynns Falls (MD) and increase river management capacity training redevelopment. Perform a minimum of 16 green infrastructure and continuous water quality monitoring to inform Grant Amount: $195,000 audits and individual restoration site plans, strategic interventions in the watershed. Project providing a capital improvement planning tool for will improve brook trout habitat and increase Capital Resource Conservation individual property owners, including anticipated connectivity to and between already identified and Development Area Council costs for design, construction and maintenance of high-quality eastern brook trout habitat. Increasing Rotational Grazing and Crop Cover best management practices with recommended Grant Amount: $178,076 Practices through Farmer and Community funding mechanisms. Engagement (PA) Grant Amount: $32,939 PENNSYLVANIA Support the adoption of cover crop grazing and other rotational grazing practices both on four NEW YORK Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay study farms and an additional six to ten farms, Turkey Hill Clean Water Partnership: Building a transitioning land to rotational grazing. Project will Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation Market-Driven Model for Conservation Action (PA) result in 200 acres of best management practices District of New York Build on existing partnership with Turkey Hill and innovation in rotational grazing. Sustainable Streamside Buffer Establishment Dairy and the Maryland and Virginia Milk Grant Amount: $194,431 in the Upper Susquehanna (NY) Producers Cooperative Association to accelerate Support the Upper Susquehanna Coalition Buffer conservation planning and practice implementation. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Program to plant additional riparian buffer acreage Project will provide farmers with technical and Fish Passage Improvement and Culvert and facilitate management on riparian buffer financial assistance necessary to meet Turkey Hill Replacement in the Upper practice acres. Project will educate and manage commitments for sustainable milk production. Watershed (PA) riparian buffer stewards to evaluate and assess Grant Amount: $1,000,000 Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will replace four buffers throughout the watershed to determine culverts at priority locations for native brook trout plant survival and management needs and to Blair County Conservation District populations in the upper Sinnemahoning Creek Lakemont Park Green Infrastructure and Urban watershed. Project will result in 4 miles of stream Runoff Management (PA) opened to fish passage and restored. LEFT Blue crab Construct green infrastructure in Lakemont Grant Amount: $136,466 16 1715 OUR 2018 GRANTS OUR 2018 GRANTS

Lancaster Farmland Trust in both the regulated and unregulated parts of WEST VIRGINIA Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay site and stormwater management projects. Project oyster restoration on the river bottom, living Engaging the Plain Sect Community and Market for municipalities. Project will develop a partner Expand the RVA H20 Regional Partnership will reduce nutrient and sediment loads discharging shorelines and grasses to reduce shoreline erosion, Clean Water (PA) structure for program delivery and will translate Trout Unlimited to Scale-Up Green Infrastructure in Richmond (VA) into the James River and will demonstrate effective and green infrastructure to address polluted Lancaster Farmland Trust will increase adoption of pollution reduction goals to the local level while Securing and Expanding Brook Trout Habitat in the Enhance the structure and function of the RVA stormwater management practices. stormwater runoff. Project will engage schools farm conservation practices through engaging Plain providing a sustainable financing strategy to Cacapon and Potomac South Branch (WV) H20 regional water management partnership to Grant Amount: $200,000 and community volunteers in restoration work, Sect community leaders, creating learning farms to support initiation and continued implementation of Strengthen and expand stronghold patches of brook implement stormwater best management practices educating the community about the importance of provide peer-to-peer understanding and enthusiasm programming throughout the watershed. trout by restoring in-stream and riparian habitat, in the City of Richmonds. Project will bring together Chesapeake Bay Foundation water quality. for conservation, and implementing best management Grant Amount: $49,950 mitigating barriers to aquatic organism passage, the Richmond region government agencies and Restoration of the Eastern Oyster Grant Amount: $91,573 practices on farms. Project will engage market demand and increasing the number of agricultural producers local partners to implement green infrastructure, in the Lynnhaven River (VA) for sustainability via dairy supply chain players under Tioga County Conservation District of implementing streamside best management with a specific focus on local public school sites and Establish 2.5 acres of new oyster reef, construct Northern Neck Planning District Commission increasing pressure from consumers to address Pennsylvania practices. Project will restore riparian forest buffers education. and plant 200 reef balls, and place 5.5 million Low Impact Stormwater Retrofit sustainability and create replicable model that can Identifying and Designing Restoration in Tier II and fish passage, recruit 200 volunteers to assist in Grant Amount: $999,963 young oysters in the Lynnhaven River. The project in the Town of Warsaw (VA) scale more broadly across the watershed. Eastern Brook Trout Patches (PA) environmental stewardship projects, and provide will be conducted in partnership with Lynnhaven Convert an abandoned and paved shopping center Grant Amount: $198,463 Identify, prioritize, design and permit habitat conservation planning and technical assistance to James River Association River Now oyster reef construction, enhancing the to a stormwater pond with green space, rain restoration projects within two Tier II eastern brook 30 new landowners. Formalizing and Growing the Middle population of native eastern oysters and engaging gardens, bioretention areas, walking trails, native National Wildlife Federation trout patches, the Tioga River and Babb Creek. Grant Amount: $192,934 and Upper James Riparian Consortium (VA) approximately 500 volunteers in a wide array of plants and interpretive signage. Project will be a Train the Trainer: Increasing Efficiency of Project will enhance the ability of the Tioga County Formalize an existing multi-party partnership hands-on oyster restoration activities. living and visible demonstration site that invites Agricultural Outreach (PA) Conservation District to implement effective priority VIRGINIA structure designed to improve coordination and Grant Amount: $199,987 pedestrians into the downtown area and informs National Wildlife Federation will host a webinar habitat restoration and sediment reduction projects, delivery of riparian conservation programs and residents, students and visitors of the positive series and six messaging and communications motivate individuals and local governments to The Elizabeth River Project practices in the middle and upper James River Lynnhaven River Now impact of green infrastructure. training events for agricultural outreach implement projects, and increase benefits to water Increase Collective Impact on the Elizabeth River watershed. Project will utilize a consortium model Restoration of the Eastern Oyster Grant Amount: $200,000 professionals within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed quality and eastern brook trout habitat. through Strengthened Partnership (VA) to build individual organizational capacity of in the Lynnhaven River Western Branch (VA) in Pennsylvania. Project will increase the efficiency Grant Amount: $37,640 Reinvoigorate the Elizabeth River Project partners, coordinate project prioritization, and Construct a 3-acre oyster reef using crushed Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission of agricultural outreach professionals by providing partnership to further coordinated stormwater implement 200 acres of riparian buffers. concrete substrate, the first alternative- Engaging Local Landowners the tools and cultural frameworks needed to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy management and ecosystem restoration in Grant Amount: $750,000 substrate reef, in the Lynnhaven River. Project in Living Shorelines and Shoreline Management (VA) influence farmers to use water-quality best Unassessed Waters Initiative (PA) - IV Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia supports an overall goal of 60 acres reef habitat Target landowners with contiguous repetitive loss management practices. Conduct 1,000 fish surveys on previously Beach, Virginia. Project will establish a leadership Science Museum of Virginia Foundation in the Lynnhaven River, in partnership with the properties to create a 500- to 700-foot stretch of Grant Amount: $49,750 unassessed streams, coordinating priorities, data roundtable and summit to formally adopt a new Stormwater Pollutant Mitigation and Green Chesapeake Bay Foundation. living shoreline and develop rural coastal flooding collection, and data management. Project will watershed action plan, explore regional financing Infrastructure at the Science Museum of Virginia Grant Amount: $200,000 resiliency plans utilizing sand from other dredging University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center provide data on previously unassessed streams in options, and improve coordination of green Mitigate sewer overflow events by removing 3 acres projects. Project will improve coastal resiliency and Continuing Momentum to Reduce Stormwater order to ensure proper stream classification, which infrastructure projects at a variety of scales. of impervious surface, installing an advanced Friends of the Rappahannock mitigation efforts, while simultaneously improving Pollution in the Oxford Region (PA) is vital to successfully protecting Pennsylvania’s Grant Amount: $750,000 bioretention system, enhancing existing green Oyster, Shoreline, and Stream Restoration water quality and managing shoreline erosion and Support the Oxford Regional Planning Committee water resources. stormwater infrastructure education and outreach, in the Rappahannock Tidal Tributaries (VA) marsh loss. in their efforts to address stormwater pollution Grant Amount: $50,000 and developing a predictive model of future green Restore Carter’s Creek and Urbanna Creek through Grant Amount: $199,914 18 1917 OUR 2018 GRANTS

Town of Woodstock simulation road-stream crossings for full aquatic PROJECT LiNK: Stormwater Management organism passage in Piedmont. Project will improve in Shenandoah Towns (VA) instream habitat by restoring 0.30 riparian acres Construct two biofiltration projects, incorporate of habitat, reconnecting 4 miles of stream, and permeable pavers into a retrofit of court square removing two barriers to fish passage. area, and foster broader adoption and better Grant Amount: $199,057 maintenance of stormwater facilities by the localities in the Shenandoah River Friendly Towns Valley Conservation Council collaboration through a series of related outreach Land Conservation and Nutrient Management and training efforts. Project will demonstrate Planning in the Central Shenandoah Valley (VA) benefits of green infrastructure in Shenandoah Provide technical assistance to 10 or more farm localities. landowners with donated conservation easements Grant Amount: $200,000 through the creation of nutrient management or resource management plans. Project will Chesapeake Bay Foundation permanently protect property and secure buffers/ Expanding Green Infrastructure, Urban Stream livestock exclusion on 6 to 10 miles of streams and and Tree Canopy Restoration in Hopewell (VA) associated buffers. Implement large-scale stream restoration and Grant Amount: $199,063 wetland enhancement on an eroding stream channel be, re-establish floodplain wetlands Environmental Concern adjacent to the stream channel, plant 250 urban From Design to Construction: Scaling-Up to Meet trees, and create “conservation corners” to install Demand for Living Shorelines on the Lower Bay (VA) green features in residential areas with poorly Increase the capacity of the Elizabeth River Project draining soils. Project will engage more than 250 for in-house design and construction of living community volunteers and develop Meaningful shorelines, rain gardens, wetlands, and other green Watershed Education Experiences for students infrastructure. Project will address a lack of available to takes advantage of the large-scale stormwater and affordable construction firms to meet an management project proximity. increasing demand for this work on the lower bay. Grant Amount: $199,999 Grant Amount: $50,000

The Piedmont Environmental Council Reconnecting and Restoring Brook Trout Habitat at Public Road-Stream Crossings (VA) RIGHT Eastern brook trout Bald eagle flying over the Chesapeake Bay Replace restrictive culverts with improved stream- 20 2119 Priority Watersheds American Black Duck Eastern Brook Priority Culvert High Priority Watersheds Trout Patches 2018 BUSINESS PLAN UPDATE Chesapeake Watershed Shoreline

Priority Water Quality Subwatersheds In 2014, the federal government and watershed jurisdictions renewed their commitments to Chesapeake watershed ABD High Priority Watersheds restoration and protection through the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, outlining shared goals and outcomes across a broad range of conservation and community engagement efforts. The 2018 update to the 2012

Business Plan is aimed at maximizing alignment of NFWF’s Chesapeake Bay investments with the new agreement. EBT Patches Stronghold Tier I NFWF is committed to the vision of “an a reflection of accelerated progress, new data and EASTERN BROOK TROUT Stronghold Tier II environmentally and economically sustainable information have allowed NFWF to better focus its Stronghold Tier III Chesapeake Bay watershed” set forth in the investments, and revised partner goals adopted in the Maintain and increase eastern brook trout populations Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. To that end, 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement warrant in six stronghold patches. NFWF’s Chesapeake Bay Business Plan has been better reflection in NFWF’s own strategic program. Oyster Restoration Priority Culverts developed to provide measurable contributions to AMERICAN BLACK DUCK Tributaries goals and outcomes of the Chesapeake Bay Program Specifically, NFWF will focus investments on achieving and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement the following outcomes: Increase wetland habitat and available food to associated with: support 5,000 wintering black ducks, or 5 percent of WATER QUALITY the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement goal for 1. Water quality improvement through nutrient and wintering black duck populations. sedimentMAP reduction to serve as the foundation Reduce: 1) nitrogen pollution by 10 million pounds for healthy fisheries, habitats and communities annually, or 13 percent of the nitrogen load reduction RIVER HERRING across the Chesapeake Bay region; required by the Chesapeake Bay TMDL; 2) phosphorus pollution by 1 million pounds annually, or roughly 25% Restore access and use of 200 additional miles of high 2. Restoring and protecting key Chesapeake Bay of the phosphorus load reduction required by the quality migratory habitat, or roughly 10 percent of the species and their habitats; and Chesapeake Bay TMDL; and 3) sediment pollution by Chesapeake Bay Program goal. 200 million pounds annually, or 6% of the sediment 3. Fostering an engaged and diverse citizen and load reduction required by the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. To view the full Chesapeake Bay Business Plan, visit stakeholder presence that will build upon and https://bit.ly/chesapeakebizplan. sustain progress. CAPACITY AND PLANNING

The Business Plan update revises goals and outcomes Motivate 40,000 individuals in the watershed to adopt established in 2012. Progress to date has allowed behaviors that benefit water quality, species and NFWF to increase selected goals and outcomes as habitats. 1921 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHESAPEAKE BAY STEWARDSHIP FUND, PLEASE CALL: 202-857-0166 OR VISIT: WWW.NFWF.ORG/CHESAPEAKE

NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM 1133 Fifteenth Street NW, Suite 1000 410 Severn Avenue / Suite 112 Washington, DC 20005 Annapolis, Maryland 21403 (202) 857-0166 Tel: (800) YOUR-BAY www.nfwf.org/chesapeake Fax: (410) 267-5777 www.chesapeakebay.net

*THE VIEWS AND CONCLUSIONS CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT ARE THOSE OF THE NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: Will Parsons, Chesapeake FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS REPRESENTING THE Bay Program (p. 1, 4, 6, 7, 9); Jeff Swinehart, OPINIONS OR POLICIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. MENTION OF TRADE NAMES OR COMMERCIAL Lancaster Farmland Trust (p. 5); Chesapeake PRODUCTS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THEIR ENDORSEMENT BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. Bay Program (p. 8); All other images by iStock