Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund
$10,000 / 2008 / Environment
For continued support of programs to educate conservation voters about public policy issues and decisions at state and local levels. Through enhanced e-mail lists, the league will continue to educate and mobilize conservation voters around timely conservation issues, in particular, global warming.
Patuxent Riverkeeper/EarthReports, Inc .
$20,000 / 2008 / Environment
Toward the implementation of the Patuxent 20/20 program, a plan designed to stem unchecked growth in the Patuxent watershed. Part of the plan calls for recommendations for legislative reform of the Critical Area laws, strengthening growth-management policies, joining in litigation to abate pollution infractions, and monitoring the impact of Base Realignment and Closure’s (BRAC) 11,000 new households moving into the watershed.
University of Maryland Environmental Finance Center
$5,000 / 2008 / Environment
Toward the launching of a virtual farmers’ market website, connecting buyers and sellers with availability of local produce. This project is among the first of its kind in the country, and provides an online venue for informing the general public about when food is harvested, how much is available, and where it can be purchased from local farmers’ markets.
Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc .
$30,000 / 2008 / Environment
Toward support of the Chesapeake Stormwater Initiative, a collaborative project of local waterkeepers organized to monitor and initiate legal action against noncompliant developers known to be polluting the waterways. The regional office coordinates the activities of the “Get Out the Dirt” campaign, focusing on the reduction of stormwater from construction sites.
West/Rhode Riverkeeper, Inc.
$5,000 / 2007 / Environment
For continued support of outreach activities in efforts to protect, preserve, and restore the West River, the Rhode River, surrounding tributaries, and watershed. The group plans to enhance preservation and restoration efforts by operating a waste-water pump-out boat on the rivers, and expanding water quality monitoring and bacteria testing efforts to 12 sites. It will continue to advocate for greater enforcement of the Critical Area Act.