ANNAPOLIS, MD – Greek-American Congressman John P. Sarbanes who represents Maryland’s Third Congressional District on July 6 released the following statement on restoring the Chesapeake Bay Watershed:

As Marylanders fight to restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and bolster its defenses against climate change and pollution, we need to enlist a valuable, yet underappreciated ally: trees. Throughout the Bay Watershed, trees are a natural infrastructure, protecting our environment and communities by improving water quality and reducing soil erosion.

That’s why I was pleased to secure funding in this year’s omnibus spending package to help the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay purchase, plant and maintain 4,700 new trees on environmentally sensitive lands in Anne Arundel, Howard and Montgomery Counties.

Last week, I joined the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay to visit a tree planting site on a private farm near Annapolis. Sitting within the Bay Watershed, the trees on this farmland have a critical role to play in reducing the amounts of nutrients and sediment flowing into in our streams and rivers. Planting trees in this area buffers the Bay from pollution and stormwater runoff and shields waterways from the impact of nearby land use.

This site serves as a strong example of how the Alliance will use new federal funding to plant streamside buffers and achieve our regional conservation and climate goals.

Trees are essential to our environmental efforts in many ways. They can improve air quality, support wildlife habitats, make our urban spaces more livable and lower home energy costs.

One tree at a time, we can save the rich ecosystem of the Chesapeake Bay and ensure Maryland can continue to enjoy this treasure for generations.

Sincerely,

John P. Sarbanes

Maryland’s Third Congressional District