Chesapeake Bay

The health of the Chesapeake Bay begins upstream in the forests of the Appalachians, which safeguard drinking water for millions of people. We are working to protect, connect and improve the management of these globally significant forests and waters to conserve biodiversity and safeguard local communities.

Stronger storms are overwhelming outdated infrastructure, making runoff the fastest growing source of Bay pollution. We partner with communities to improve stormwater management using data, technology, nature-based solutions and realtime tools that reduce flooding, protect water quality and help neighborhoods adapt to a changing climate.

Food production—on land and in water—is deeply tied to the health of the Bay. Agriculture contributes the largest amount of nutrients to the Bay and is a primary driver of dead zones, where animals and plants can’t survive. We work with farmers, aquaculture growers and their trusted advisors to pilot new incentives and technologies, support diversified agricultural systems and restore habitat in key locations.  

Oysters are a keystone species that filter water, support fisheries and protect shorelines. We’re restoring them at scale and developing business models that reward more oysters in the water. During COVID, we bought 1.5 million oysters from aquaculture farmers and placed them in sanctuaries to build reefs.

Wetlands from the headwaters to marshes that fringe the Bay filter pollution, reduce flooding, protect coasts and provide vital habitat across the Chesapeake watershed. We’re partnering with conservation groups, agencies and businesses to restore wetlands in key locations and develop new financing models that scale this essential work.

The Bay is a vital nursery for iconic fish such as striped bass, American shad, Atlantic sturgeon and Atlantic menhaden who spend portions of their lives in the Bay and portions offshore in the ocean. Commercial and recreational fisheries play an integral role in the culture and economy of Chesapeake communities. We are working on science and policy to improve fishing and marine ecosystems for generations to come.

TNC works in Delaware to restore wetlands, floodplains, and streams at the edges and downstream of agricultural fields, and works with trusted advisors and farmers to implement practices in field to keep nutrients growing food and out of our waterways.  This improves water quality in local streams and rivers and downstream into the Chesapeake Bay.

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TNC Maryland’s work in the Chesapeake Bay helps restore wetlands, forests, and coastal habitats across the estuary, which is especially critical in a state where roughly 90% of its more than 7,000 miles of shoreline borders the Bay.

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From the Bay’s northern headwaters, TNC works in New York to protect and restore aquatic habitats, supporting healthier ecosystems throughout the watershed.

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TNC helps restore wetlands, floodplains, and streams at the edges and downstream of agricultural fields in Pennsylvania, and works with trusted advisors and farmers to implement practices in field to keep nutrients growing food and out of our waterways.  This improves water quality in local streams and rivers and downstream into the Chesapeake Bay.

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In Virginia, TNC supports large‑scale oyster reef restoration and is restoring wetlands, floodplains, and streams in agricultural landscapes and fringing the Chesapeake Bay. 

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In West Virginia—part of the Bay’s Appalachian headwaters—TNC focuses on restoring forests, streams, and wetlands to improve clean water flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.

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