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By planting more native plants in their home gardens , residents can help oneself extenuate stormwater runoff that pollutes the Chesapeake Bay .
From their backyard to the Bay , homeowner in Richmond , Va. , Baltimore , the D.C. Metro area and the Hampton Roads region are joining an environmental - awareness effort that aims to grow some unspoiled .
ThePlant More Plantscampaign — lead by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation , with a number of other Chesapeake Bay Program better half in Virginia , Maryland and Washington , D.C.—provides homeowners with resources togrow more plantsas a way to mitigate stormwater overspill and erosion and at long last help improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay .
The message to homeowners is simple and encourages an activity they ’re already taking part in . By increasing the size of their gardens and adopting conservation gardening and lawn - forethought practices , residents ameliorate home landscapes while helping protect one of the most important resources in the region . The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States , providing more than 500 million pounds of seafood and affecting virtually 17 million people . Its complex ecosystem , along with its link waterways , provide habitat , food and protection for diverse groups of animals and plant . However , weewee quality in the Chesapeake Bay is poor , and the frail ecosystems that be within it are at risk .
Stormwater overflow is one of the fastest - raise sources of pollution and urine - quality abasement within the Chesapeake Bay , yet many homeowners do n’t realize the link among their lawn , stormwater and water quality in the Bay . As leaping approaches , rains endanger to wash the chemicals and fertilizers designed to make lawn immature and attractive into streams and river that run into the Chesapeake Bay . Once in the waterways , these pollutants fire the increment of supererogatory alga , which endanger the health of the Chesapeake Bay ’s entire ecosystem . To improve H2O lineament , the flow of pollution must be reduced .
By plant aboriginal trees , shrubs and perennials , homeowners can aid filter out stormwater and prevent overspill . “ Plant More Plants ” spouse with industriousness organizations and counselor-at-law to educate consumer on ways they can provide Bay - well-disposed solution and resource for homeowners as they seek to raise their curbing appeal .
Several of the organizations and advocates presently involve in the campaign include Virginia , Maryland and D.C. captain gardeners , the Virginia Green Industry Council , the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council , and the Marylanders Plant Trees Program . Each are find tie to the run through mutual goals .
imbed More Plants was funded through a grant from the home Fish and Wildlife Foundation as part of its efforts to meliorate the Chesapeake Bay ’s landmark .
