One for the Bay
Help support cleaner water, healthier habitat & more abundant life in the Chesapeake Bay.
DonateThe Nature Conservancy is focused on conservation at the scale of entire ecosystems. As North America’s largest estuary, the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed—the area of land that feeds all the water draining into it—covers approximately 64,000 square miles and includes thousands of streams and rivers across six states and the District of Columbia.
Much of the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed lies within the Appalachians—another priority landscape for TNC. Due to their importance in tackling climate change and protecting biodiversity, we are committed to conserving these two globally important landscapes in this critical decade. And in order to succeed, we need your partnership and support.
![Map of the Chesapeake Bay watershed showing an area that span the Appalachian Mountain range from New York to Virginia.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/Chesapeake_Bay_and_Apps.jpg?crop=367%2C0%2C4064%2C2700&wid=828&hei=550&scl=4.909090909090909)
The stories below highlight the variety of ways that TNC is working across Delaware, Maryland/DC, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
EXPLORE OUR WORK ACROSS THE BAY STATES
Partnerships
Stormwater in D.C.
The District’s innovative approach to stormwater management has become a globally examined model.
![An aerial view of ocean with wind turbines.](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/NOAA-Offshore.png?crop=0%2C0%2C1322%2C1322&wid=640&hei=640&scl=2.065625)
Press Release
New Study Uses Electronic Tags to Explore Relationship Between Fish Behavior and Offshore Wind Energy Construction
This first study of its kind, results will fill knowledge gaps to better inform fisheries and wind energy construction practices in the Atlantic Ocean
Protecting Land to Protect the Bay
![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_74575742.jpg?crop=0%2C86%2C3872%2C2420&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.3609756097560974)
![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_85933975_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/5/5/55_-_Nanticoke_River_Photo_(C)_Harold_Malde_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/f/r/frenchmans-bluff-staff-day_20858433861_o.jpg?crop=0%2C86%2C3872%2C2420&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.3609756097560974)
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![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/k/i/KittatinnyRidge-CoveMountaiinEricKrukowski.png?crop=0%2C0%2C2504%2C1565&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.526829268292683)
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![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/m/IMG_7635_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_16440267.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2504%2C1565&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.526829268292683)
![Nassawango Creek Preserve Maryland's Nassawango Creek flows southward into the Pocomoke River, a major tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. © Alan Eckert Photography](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_74575742.jpg?crop=0%2C86%2C3872%2C2420&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.3609756097560974)
![New Point Comfort Strategically located on a peninsula jutting into the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia's New Point Comfort is a key stopover point on the Atlantic Flyway. © Dana Blackmer Photography](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_85933975_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Middleford North Preserve This Delaware preserve hugs a portion of Gravelly Branch, a last undisturbed portion of the Nanticoke River watershed, one of the bay’s most productive tributaries. © Harold Malde](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/5/5/55_-_Nanticoke_River_Photo_(C)_Harold_Malde_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Frenchman's Bluff Preserve At the northern extent of the bay watershed, this New York preserve overlooks the Chemung River, a tributary of the Susquehanna River. © Mathew Levine/The Nature Conservancy](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/f/r/frenchmans-bluff-staff-day_20858433861_o.jpg?crop=0%2C86%2C3872%2C2420&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.3609756097560974)
![Choptank Wetlands A survey of natural areas conducted by the Smithsonian Institution ranked this Maryland marsh system as one of the most important Chesapeake Bay natural areas. © Mark Godfrey / TNC](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_67212115_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Great Falls Park At Virginia's Great Falls, the Potomac River builds up speed and force as it falls over a series of steep, jagged rocks and flows through the narrow Mather Gorge. © Devan King / TNC](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/tnc_36319871_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain The 353-acre preserve on Pennsylvania's Kittatinny Ridge is part of the Susquehanna River watershed. © Eric Krukowski](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/k/i/KittatinnyRidge-CoveMountaiinEricKrukowski.png?crop=0%2C0%2C2504%2C1565&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.526829268292683)
![Nanjemoy Creek The "green thumb" of the Potomac River and one of Maryland's most pristine watersheds. © Alan Eckert Photography](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_38230107_4000x2200.jpg?crop=180%2C0%2C2646%2C1654&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.613658536585366)
![Dragon Flats Widely considered Virginia's most pristine blackwater stream, Dragon Run widens to form the Piankatank River, a key site for our oyster reef restoration efforts. © Andy Lacatell / TNC](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_69818821_2504x1565.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2504%2C1565&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.526829268292683)
![Bear Rocks Preserve Situated high above the Canaan Valley of West Virginia, this preserve is located in an area that acts as part of the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. © Kent Mason](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/tnc_13378146.jpg?crop=0%2C64%2C4000%2C2500&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.4390243902439024)
![Robinson Neck Preserve Upland forests provide an important buffer in the protection of these Maryland marshes and the entire Chesapeake Bay. © Matthew Wroblewski / flickr Creative Commons CC by 2.0](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/34061138825_5d83edae2e_o_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Cumberland Marsh The preserve protects a pristine marsh habitat on Virginia's Pamunkey River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. © Daniel White / TNC](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/i/m/IMG_7635_4000x2200.jpg?crop=240%2C0%2C3520%2C2200&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=2.1463414634146343)
![Pike Knob Preserve This preserve in West Virginia's Central Appalachians is located in an area that acts as part of the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay. © Kent Mason](https://natureconservancy-h.assetsadobe.com/is/image/content/dam/tnc/nature/en/photos/t/n/tnc_16440267.jpg?crop=0%2C0%2C2504%2C1565&wid=1640&hei=1025&scl=1.526829268292683)
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