Responsible boating includes good stewardship of the waters we love. Choosing to be a little more forward thinking than the throwaway mindset many of us grew up in and finding the motivation and energy to make minor changes in our behaviors and ways of approaching our world can make some big differences for our Bay and Mother Earth.
1. Use your boat net to scoop trash out of the water when you see it
2. Use absorbent cloths and spill bottles when you’re fueling up to ensure none of it goes in the water.
3. When you choose your boat preservation and maintenance products, use products designed to keep the environment safe.
4. Choosing organic, local products at the grocery store can help the Bay by reducing the demand for chemically fertilized agriculture and reducing the agricultural effluent running into the bay, the worst offender for pollution according to Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
5. Avoid using your boat in very shallow waters, where it can stir up sediment, harm sensitive habitats and put your propeller and hull at risk for damage. Following speed limits and no-wake laws helps avoid churning up sediment, harming underwater grasses and eroding nearby shorelines.
6. Never dump bait or aquarium species into a storm …show more content…
We’ve already made great progress. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Bay report card uses the number 100 to represent a pristine bay such as John Smith encountered in the 1600s. The Bay is currently at 34 but, take heart, that number has been steadily rising upward over the past 20 or so years. “Some scientists now are speculating that we are reaching a “tipping point” where man has done just enough to reduce pollution that the ecosystem itself is beginning to accelerate its recovery.” Knowing we left the bay better than we found it for our children and grandchildren is such a good reward for all our good
1. Use your boat net to scoop trash out of the water when you see it
2. Use absorbent cloths and spill bottles when you’re fueling up to ensure none of it goes in the water.
3. When you choose your boat preservation and maintenance products, use products designed to keep the environment safe.
4. Choosing organic, local products at the grocery store can help the Bay by reducing the demand for chemically fertilized agriculture and reducing the agricultural effluent running into the bay, the worst offender for pollution according to Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
5. Avoid using your boat in very shallow waters, where it can stir up sediment, harm sensitive habitats and put your propeller and hull at risk for damage. Following speed limits and no-wake laws helps avoid churning up sediment, harming underwater grasses and eroding nearby shorelines.
6. Never dump bait or aquarium species into a storm …show more content…
We’ve already made great progress. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Bay report card uses the number 100 to represent a pristine bay such as John Smith encountered in the 1600s. The Bay is currently at 34 but, take heart, that number has been steadily rising upward over the past 20 or so years. “Some scientists now are speculating that we are reaching a “tipping point” where man has done just enough to reduce pollution that the ecosystem itself is beginning to accelerate its recovery.” Knowing we left the bay better than we found it for our children and grandchildren is such a good reward for all our good