The October Confluence is here! This month’s newsletter is all about celebrating the Alliance’s impact, the history of October’s favorite squash, farming on unique landscapes, and much more! See the full newsletter: mailchi.mp/allianceforthebay… Subscribe to the Confluence: allianceforthebay.org/get-in…

The Alliance’s Brittany Smith, Senior Agriculture Projects Manager, and Joe Jurgielwicz of Joe Jurgielewicz & Son. Ltd. recently joined @PoultryTimes for the Coop Scoop podcast to discuss collaboration for farm conservation. The Alliance has been working with the Jurgielewicz farm for several years to help bring conservation practices to the farmers. Listen to the full podcast! allianceforthebay.org/2026/1…

Amelia Street School construction has officially broken ground! Thank you to everyone who came out to join us. We’re excited to begin transforming this schoolyard into an accessible, outdoor nature trail. Everyone deserves the opportunity to spend time in nature. However, traditional outdoor spaces were not designed with all communities in mind. The Alliance has been working with partners to enhance the use of the open space at the Amelia Street School. Learn more allianceforthebay.org/projec… and stay tuned for project updates. Thank you to our partners @RPS_Schools, @vcusustain, Amelia Street Urban Forest, Marvel Designs, Amelia Street Wellness for making this exciting project possible.

Welcome to the Amelia Street Construction update series! We will post periodically so you can follow along with us as we transform this schoolyard into an accessible, outdoor nature trail. At the pre-construction meeting, our contractor, Greenfield Landscaping, was given the green light to begin prepping the site with protective fencing and building the construction entrance, and this week, we broke ground! Learn more richmonder.org/amelia-street… Thank you to our partners Richmond Public Schools, GreenfieldLandscaping, and AmeliaStreetWellness. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting project!

Take a look at our latest project with a Lancaster County Amish dairy farm! With about 70 cows and 70 acres of cropland, efficiency is paramount. While traditional manure storage helps farmers prevent nutrient runoff, it still releases greenhouse gases. With help from TeamAg and @QUBErenewables, a first-of-its-kind (in the US) liquid manure storage cover system has been installed. This innovative new system captures and reduces methane gases. In the future we hope to reuse this gas to power equipment on the farm. Stay tuned to see what this exciting pilot project has in store!

Thank you for a great final 2026 Taste event in Annapolis! We had an amazing time at the Atreeum at Soaring Timbers with the 125 friends and partners who celebrated the Chesapeake with us! Congratulations to our 2026 MD Watershed Champion, Les Knapp. Les exemplifies the spirit and impact of a Watershed Champion through his steadfast support of local governments in their efforts to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Another congratulations to our Fran Flanigan Environmental Leadership Awardee, Al McCullough! Albert McCullough was a scientist, engineer, mentor, and Chesapeake Bay advocate whose legacy lives on in restored waterways and inspired lives. His ingenuity, dedication, and leadership have created a lasting legacy for Chesapeake Bay coastal restoration. Thank you to Al's son and business partner, Seth McCullough, who accepted the award on his late father's behalf. We also had a very special guest join us in Maryland. Environmental pioneer, and the Alliance’s first Executive Director, Fran Flanigan herself! There's still time to leave a congratulatory message for our award winners. We hope you will help us celebrate their accomplishments! bit.ly/4AxA9ot Finally, many thanks to our incredible sponsors for helping us raise over $140K leading up to last night's event! See you next year!

Learn how to keep our local waterways and air clean and healthy with a RiverSmart Homes Showcase! Join us this Saturday to see how Jones Memorial utilizes green infrastructure (a rain garden, cistern, shade trees, and conservation landscaping) to mitigate flooding, increase natural habitat, cool the air, and beautify its property. There will be native plant and native tree giveaways, free gardening tools (while supplies last), and children's activities. The event is free. All are welcome. RSVP: tinyurl.com/RSHShowcase2026

Thank you to Marvel Designs, @BAESystemsInc, @PNCBank, Environmental Systems Analysis, @OrganicValley, Otherside Beverage, and @TroegsBeer, for being paw paw-level sponsors for this year’s Taste! Don’t miss your last chance to join us this Thursday at the Atreeum at Soaring Timbers in Annapolis to celebrate the Chesapeake, our MD Watershed Champion, and our Fran Flanigan Environmental Leadership Awardee! Get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Last night was a special occasion, as we held our inaugural Washington, D.C. Taste event! We had an amazing time at the @HillCenterDC with the 75 friends and partners who celebrated the Chesapeake with us! Many thanks to our incredible sponsors for helping us raise over $140K leading up to last night's event! Congratulations to our 2026 D.C. Watershed Champions, Bill Ferrell and Will Avila. The Chesapeake is lucky to have advocates like Bill and Will fighting in her corner! There's only one more opportunity to join us at our 2026 Taste events. Our final event will be held on September 24th at the Atreeum at @SoaringTimbers in Annapolis, Maryland. We hope to see you there! Get your tickets now. allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Interested in learning more about invasive species in Pennsylvania? Don’t miss your chance to join the Alliance this Saturday, September 19 for a walk through Denver Memorial Park to identify invasive species common to the Eastern PA. Bring comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle! This event is free and open to all ages. Register now! events.humanitix.com/invasiv…

Thank you to @DaveyTree, A Labour of Love Designs, GFT, @Luck_Stone, @Alewerks, Bob O'Rourke, Jack and Marti Detweiler, and Kate Fritz and Stefan Kunz for being paw paw-level sponsors for this year’s Taste! We can’t wait to see you tomorrow at @HillCenterDC at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington, DC to celebrate the Chesapeake and our DC Watershed Champions. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Thank you to Dairy Farmers of America, @IPC_Chesapeake, @GunpowderValley, @EurofinsEENA, and TeamAg for being white perch-level sponsors for this year’s Taste! Join us this Thursday at Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital in Washington, DC to celebrate the Chesapeake and our DC Watershed Champions. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Interested in learning more about invasive species in Pennsylvania? Join the knowledgeable staff at the Alliance on Saturday, September 19 for a walk through Denver Memorial Park to identify invasive species common to the Eastern PA. Bring comfortable walking shoes and a water bottle! This event is free and open to all ages. Register now! events.humanitix.com/invasiv…

Thank you to Hilton, Lancaster Farming, Murray, McGehrin & Shiery, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., and The Steinman Foundation for being blue crab-level sponsors for this year’s Taste! Don’t miss your chance to join us tomorrow at Robins Nature Center at Maymont in Richmond, VA to celebrate the Chesapeake and our VA Watershed Champion. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

We’re hiring! The Alliance is seeking an Agriculture Projects Coordinator to provide farmer support to the Agriculture team’s poultry partnership frameworks, and work directly with a diverse set of project partners on water quality improvement, climate smart practices, farmer engagement, and upland biodiversity efforts. Learn more and apply! allianceforthebay.org/job/ag…

Thank you to M&T Bank, Giant Foods, American Dairy Association North East, Blue Green Connector, and Google for being blue crab-level sponsors for this year’s Taste! Don’t forget to join us this Thursday at Robins Nature Center at Maymont in Richmond, VA to celebrate the Chesapeake and our VA Watershed Champion. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Last night we celebrated the first of four Taste Celebrate the Chesapeake events! Thank you to the 100 friends and partners who joined us last night at the Railroad House Inn in Marietta, PA. Many thanks to all of our incredible sponsors for helping us raise over $140K leading up to last night's event! It was our pleasure to award Melissa Erdman as our 2026 Pennsylvania Watershed Champion. The Chesapeake is lucky to have advocates like Melissa fighting in her corner! If it looks like we had a good time at the Railroad House Inn, you'll love our venues in Richmond, VA, Washington, D.C, and Annapolis, Maryland. Learn more about our remaining events and get your tickets today! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Thank you to Smithfield for being an oyster-level sponsor for this year’s Taste! Don’t forget to join us tomorrow at the Railroad House Inn in Marietta, PA to kick off this year’s Taste. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…

Thank you to McGuireWoods LLP for being an oyster-level sponsor for this year’s Taste! Don’t miss your chance to join us this Thursday at the Railroad House Inn in Marietta, PA to kick off this year’s Taste. Find your Taste and get your tickets now! allianceforthebay.org/event/…