Goals

The primary goal of the Chesapeake Club is to curb the use of fertilizers and other yard maintenance practices that can lead to the creation of excess algae and runoff water. This poses a threat to the overall health of the bay and it's estuaries as well as the tasty seafood native to the bay area.

The behavioral changes that the Chesapeake Club are addressing starts with proper lawn care. By discontinuing the use of fertilizer in the fall, residents of the bay area can help stop runoff water with chemicals in it from enter in the bay. The organization also encourages residents to plant trees and shrubbery that is local to the area. These native plants require less fertilizer because they are meant to thrive in the current conditions. Another added benefit of planting more trees and shrubs is shade. More shade means less runoff and less runoff means a healthier bay.

Next the Chesapeake Club encourages residents to maintain their septic system, to ensure nothing from the system is going into runoff, and eventually contaminating the bay. 

Finally the organization encourages the use of rain barrels to collect water from resident's gutter systems to further prevent excess runoff from entering the bay and estuaries.