Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts

We support Pennsylvania’s Conservation Districts who work for clean water and healthy soil every day.

Chesapeake Bay Links

This page lists a variety of agencies that offer educational materials on the Chesapeake Bay. Click on the link to go to the agency’s website.

Links to federal and state educational resources:

  • National Chesapeake Bay Program The Chesapeake Bay Program is a unique regional partnership that has led and directed the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay since 1983. The Chesapeake Bay Program partners include the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia; the District of Columbia; the Chesapeake Bay Commission, a tri-state legislative body; the Environmental Protection Agency, representing the federal government; and participating citizen advisory groups. The Chesapeake Bay Program’s comprehensive website includes general information about the Chesapeake Bay, pollutants and restoration efforts, and how to get involved.
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Chesapeake Bay Program Office The Chesapeake Bay Program Office supports the Chesapeake Bay Program, a unique regional partnership that has coordinated the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed since 1983.
  • Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Program The Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Fact sheets are available on this site pertaining to the Chesapeake Bay, wetlands, watersheds, and funding programs. Materials are centered around the issues of Pennsylvania’s role in the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Links to educational resources from other agencies:

  • Chesapeake Bay Commission The Chesapeake Bay Commission is a tri-state legislative commission which advises the General Assemblies of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania in cooperatively managing the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Commission has several legislative reports and studies available on its website including Cost-Effective Strategies For the Bay, 6 Smart Investments for Nutrient and Sediment Reduction.
  • National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Chesapeake Bay Office The NOAA Chesapeake Bay B-WET Program provides hands-on watershed education to students and teachers to foster stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay. NOAA B-WET supports the commitment of the Chesapeake Bay Program – a partnership for watershed restoration – to provide every student in the watershed with a meaningful watershed educational experience before graduation from high school.
  • PA Agricultural Ombudsman Program The Ombudsman are knowledgeable on statewide Nutrient Management Act regulations, federal CAFO regulations, and best management practices on farms.
  • Bay Backpack This online resource from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration & the Chesapeake Bay Program is for teachers and environmental educators to engage students in hands-on learning about the Chesapeake Bay and its local waterways.  Bay Backpack also houses resources on pollution, climate change, forests, farming, development and many other environmental topics.  Bay Backpack provides educators with the necessary resources to give their students a Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE), which are extensive projects that allow students to gain a deep understanding of environmental issues in the Chesapeake Bay and its local streams and rivers.
  • PA Center for Environmental Education PAEE offers thousands of resources on environmental education topics. Resources include Educational Resources, Research/Background Info, Products, and Service Providers.
  • Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network The Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network connects you with the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers through more than 160 exceptional parks, wildlife refuges, museums, sailing ships, historic communities, trails and more. Gateways are the special places where you can experience the authentic Chesapeake. This gateway included basic information about the Chesapeake Bay, history, and exploring the Bay.
  • Chesapeake Explorer App Chesapeake Explorer is a FREE app that helps you find and get to the places where you can experience the region’s beauty, history, heritage and relaxation firsthand. Find places nearby by activity, trail name, or type of site. Take a suggested tour, build your own tour, tag favorites, share photos of your visit or save places for visiting later.
  • Pennsylvania No-till Alliance The No-till Alliance provides education on no-till, cover crops, and soil health.