Pledge to Pick Up

As summer finally approaches, many of us are dreaming of long, warm days on the Chesapeake Bay.

The Chesapeake Bay is one of America's greatest natural resources. Sadly, overdevelopment and pollution have placed an incredible strain on the Chesapeake's fragile ecosystem and overall survival.

In 2013, the Chesapeake Bay Trust removed 25 tons of trash and 3 acres of invasive species from area streams and rivers. Forests in the watershed, which greatly improve water quality, are being reduced at a rate of 100 acres per day.

But as a resident of the watershed, your actions can help restore the Bay.

When you're enjoying your lazy summer days, remember to properly remove all your trash when you leave the outdoors. This small act may seem inconsequential, but if every visitor took the time to properly dispose of his or her trash, there would be many tons less trash to clean up every year. The time and resources spent cleaning up garbage could instead be dedicated to planting trees, rehabilitating animal populations, and even cleaning up the Bay itself.

Take the pledge: I will do my part to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean by picking up all my trash before I leave.