Great news! U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08), second-term U.S. Representative and former three-term Maryland State Senator, will be the honored speaker at our In Defense of Waterevent on Thursday, September 5 from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m., at the Audubon Woodend Sanctuary in Chevy Chase.
“Protecting our beloved Chesapeake Bay – and all its tributaries – is essential to the long-term well-being of our eco-system and our natural resources,” Raskin says. “I am proud to join Waterkeepers Chesapeake in recognizing the invaluable work of local activists who protect our precious waters.”
This year, we will honor Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks and James Riverkeeper Jamie Brunkow with the Waterkeeper Outstanding Win (WOW!) Award. They worked for years in local communities and the courts, with other advocates, legislators and citizens, to find a common sense solution to a legacy of toxic coal ash stored on the banks of Virginia’s rivers. In 2019, this hard fought campaign resulted in the bipartisan Virginia Safe Disposal of Coal Ash bill (SB 1355) that mandates the safe disposal of 28 million tons of toxic coal ash Dominion Energy now has stored in leaking ponds on the banks of the Potomac, James and Elizabeth Rivers. This bill sets a national precedent for how to safely remove a legacy of toxic coal ash stored along our waterways in our region and across the nation.
At In Defense of Water, we will shine a spotlight on our new campaign: Clear Choices Clean Water – Chesapeake Bay – a campaign to increase awareness about choices residents make and their impact on our rivers and streams – and ultimately the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays – by inspiring people to pledge to implement water friendly practices to reduce polluted stormwater runoff and to volunteer with their local Waterkeeper.
Come celebrate the hard work of our Waterkeepers, toast to our clean water successes, and raise much needed funds to keep up the fight for clean water for all!
See you in September!
Betsy Nicholas Executive Director
WATERKEEPERS® Chesapeake
