Bay Grasses > Education & Outreach

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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is committed to providing educational and outreach opportunities promoting environmental responsibility within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and contributing to restoration efforts throughout the region. Bay grass restoration efforts continue to increase in scale. There are several activities for students, educators, and citizens to become involved in related to these efforts Current education and outreach efforts and opportunities are detailed on this page.

Teacher/Student Opportunities
Bay Grasses in Classes Program
Maryland middle and high school students learn the importance of Chesapeake Bay grasses through a cooperative program between Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). Since 1998, over 1,568 classes and 40,970 students have been involved with Bay Grasses in Classes. As part of the Bay Grasses in Classes program, students grow bay grasses in the classroom for transplanting to select restoration areas in the Chesapeake Bay. The program, cooperatively developed by DNR and CBF, provides teacher instruction, curricula and equipment. Interested in having grasses in your classroom? Use the interest form to sign up.

Citizen Opportunities
a photo of water chestnut

Water Chestnut Harvesting
Water chestnut, (trapa natans), is an invasive exotic floating plant species recently rediscovered in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. While open water beds of water chestnut can be removed by mechanical harvesters, hand picking is required to eliminate plants from shoreline areas. Volunteer efforts typically occur in late June. For more information, contact Mark Lewandowski at the Department of Natural Resources (410)260-8630 or mlewandowski@dnr.state.md.us.

Eelgrass Seed Collection in Tangier Sound

With the help of volunteers from a number of different groups including: Maryland Conservation Corp., Ducks Unlimited, and St. Mary’s College.

There are areas of the Bay where water quality has improved sufficiently to support bay grasses, yet a lack of seeds prevents recolonization of these areas. Maryland DNR has undertaken a large scale restoration project that involves establishing large beds in these areas using seeds collected from a photo showing offload grass sequence

healthy beds in Tangier Sound.

DNR biologists recently completed another season of eelgrass seed collection in Tangier Sound near Crisfield, MD. Seed collection typically occurs between May 15 and June 15.

For more information, contact Katie Busch at the Department of Natural Resources (410) 260-8630 or kbusch@dnr.state.md.us.

SAV Restoration projects near you
In an effort to facilitate coordination of bay grass restoration efforts DNR maintains information on SAV species, planting techniques, monitoring techniques and an online database of SAV restoration projects in both Maryland and Virginia on the website.

Bay Grasses need clear water
Excess nutrients and sediment loading from various sources block light from reaching bay grasses. Much effort has been directed at reducing nutrient and sediment loadings to the bays, with some resulting in increased grass distribution. If you are interested in helping in this important effort, please contact your local Tributary Strategies Team. Maryland's Tributary Teams, comprised of local citizens, farmers, business leaders and government officials, appointed by the Governor, are working to keep your local waterways clean and healthy. As you may know, the health of the streams and rivers that flow through your neighborhood directly affect the health of the Chesapeake Bay. By controlling pollution upstream, in the streams and rivers that feed the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland's Tributary Teams are working to make a difference in our neighborhoods, our cities, towns, and the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information contact Mike Bilek at mbilek@dnr.state.md.us, 410-260-8988 toll free in Maryland 1-877-620-8DNR, extension 8988). Check out the website at: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/tribstrat/.

Other Opportunities at DNR
The Department of Natural Resources volunteer programs provide various ways for citizens to get involved in environmental restoration projects. You simply need a desire to improve Maryland's environment and a few minutes to spare. Volunteer opportunities with the Department of Natural Resources are conveniently located on one website. Browse other volunteer opportunities now.

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